intergrading ducks is it like chickens with a pecking order?

[Mom2Cool]

If you already have a a pair of ducks & you want to add more do you have to do it gradual like you do with chickens or can you just allow them t mix in & they'll all get along? I have a pair of silver appleyards & I'm debating getting a 2 or 3 adult ducks in the next couple of weeks or waiting till March to get some ducklings. The pond here is frozen over & so for their protection I've been sending them to the enclosure that adjoins the chicken coop. They have the option of going in with the chicken if they wish but we've set up a place that blocks them from sind snow within the confines of the enclosure & they seem more than happy to go back to that each night. I'm afraid to break up their routine right now until the pond is open again & they're free to spend the night on the pond if they wish & I'm afraid new ducks would be disruptive etc. These ducks had been in the yard but separate from the rest of the chickens last summer until I allowed them to the backyard pond when they mixed in & so I'm wondering can I just add 2 or 3 more appleyard ducks or do I need to have them side by side like I'd do with the chickens? Normally the chickens I keep side by side & let them free range at the start till they are accustomed to one another. If it's a huge issue then I think to just wait till early spring & get ducklings. I'd been looking for hatching eggs but can't seem to find any & I think by the time I got them & hatched them at this point I might as well just wait till March to get the ducklings...

Any advice?

 

[1lpoock]

You probably should keep them seperate just to make sure they have no diseases, but then other than that, you can put them right in. They will mess up the pecking order for a little bit. During this time the ducks will fight for a few minutes. Don't break them up because they are just establishing a new pecking order and will be done quickly, they have to do it some time.

 

[Myra]

I've been wondering about the same thing. I have 4 hens and 2 pekings about 9 months old that have been raised together & housed together since were ducklings/chicks. I'd like to get 2 more female ducklings in the Spring. So how do I integrate the new ones.......keep them in the house under lights until old enough to go outside then.........

Help!

Myra

 

[rainplace]

... then let them out. If they are still small when you let them out, you may want to do it under supervision the first few times. I've only had a problem with one duck, a drake, so I sent him packing. Usually there's some chest butting among the females, some chasing and fighting among the males, but they do work it out, and I don't interrupt it. Just integrate them when you have time to watch what's going on.