Intro. new ducks to flock

[ChcknLady]

I have the opportunity to get 3 Blue Swedish females and 1 Black Swedish male and I want to introduce them to my pekin female and my 2 mallards (unknown sex, they are only 3 months old).
Is introducing new ducks to the flock as stressful as chickens or do they accept new members ok? Any advice?

 

[ChickBond 007]

IMHO, I believe it is more stressful than chicken introductions. My drakes are just plain mean to newbies, especially other drakes if smaller in size. I have 7 ducks right now, traveling in 2 groups because we just can't get along...

 

[ChcknLady]

Oh no! Do you think it will still be that way if I have only one drake? They will all be around the same age and the mallards will be the smallest I believe?

 

[tonini3059]

They are usually fine after the first day. The Oldies usually pick on the newbs then the next day they are buddies.

 

[DuckFanatic]

I had basically the same situation a month or two ago when I was introducing a runner drake and two buff hens to my 3 month old babies (One drake and two hens) I think that it'a better introducing ducks into a flock that has young ducks in it. The runner drake was VERY mean and protective of his hens at first, though! He would attack my drake and try to mount my hens and he chased them so badly. I soon found out it was because it was breeding season, so we locked him up in a separate pen. When we let him out with the others about 3 weeks ago, he was really nice and didn't chase them at all. Now they all roam around their area together and get along fine

Good luck with your ducks!!

 

[duckboatprincess]

I had issues introducing new ducks to the flock. I had 2 pekins and 4 rouens (I'm not sure how many of each sex) and I was introducing 2 fawn and white runners (supposedly one male and one female). They first day the new ducks got picked on a lot. Everyday though, it seems like they are getting along better and better. I got them on Monday and today they are fine.

 

[GrannySue]

This pic was taken about an hour after I introduced Fawn to my white runners.

 

[ChcknLady]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to get them now so I'll post some pics and let everyone know how it goes! Thanks again! Wish me luck

 

[Sasa]

I am trying to integrate 2 flocks of Runners. I have a flock of 3 drakes and 4 hens in one area and 1 drake and 4 hens in another and In had to move the smaller flock because the drake was picking on the Calls ( he did mate with one and now I have 7 Call/Runner babies, I was not planning on babies). Anyway, I put the 2 flocks together, (4 drakes and 8 hens should be okay right?), and the drakes began mating with the new hens which I expected and the drakes fussed with each other, I expected that too, but they are not joining into one flock. I have probably enabled the separation by separating them most of the time because the smaller flock has been running away from the bigger one and hiding and I didn't know if I should just let them work it out or if that would cause even more problems. I put them all in the same night pen last night and had a duck melee this morning and the smaller flock is completely freaked out. I don't know what to do with this.

I would gladly re-home the small flock (both Lavender and black Runners, very pretty) if I could find a good home for them. I see so many ducks left in little dirt pens with a dirty playpool that I've been afraid to sell them to anyone, plus too many people eat them. SO, integrating the flocks is all I can think to do. Do I leave them all together and let them figure it out? or would separating the 2 most dominant drakes out make it possible for the rest to join together?

I am wide open to suggestions. This is the flock that needs a new home, there is Khaki Campbell hen too that runs with them but I would probably keep her because she has a damaged eye (her first home used her to train their collies to herd animals).

 

[Sasa]

Beautiful ducks Granny Sue!