Introducing Duckings to Adult Ducks

[SixRouens]

I have seen some threads on here about introducing new ducklings to other (older) ducklings or ducks that are a few month old. But I haven't found one that is about introducing ducklings to adult ducks. If I've missed it, I'm sorry for the repeat.

Okay, here is the background on my baby ducks. There are 11 of them. I have 1 Jumbo Pekin, 1 Mallard, 1 Cayuga, 3 Buffs, and 5 Blue Swedish. I know for sure that the 3 Buffs and 4 Blues are female. They were moved outside to a fenced off portion of my adult ducks' pen when they were 4 weeks old. They are 6 weeks old today. My adult ducks are over a year old. They are Rouens (2 males and 1 female).

My baby ducks are kept outside in a dog kennel with a kiddie pool and food for most of the day while my 3 adult ducks free range. I let my baby ducks out of the kennel and let them free range for a couple hours before they get put away for the night.

Right now when my ducklings free range the adult ducks avoid them at all cost. This has been going on for a little over a week now.


So the point of this thread... When are my adult ducks going to accept the ducklings? Right now I basically have 2 separate flocks.



My baby ducks.



These are my baby ducks. Picture was taken yesterday while they were free ranging.


My 3 adult ducks

 

[Amiga]

Take a deep breath - duck dynamics can take time.

Ducks - our flock anyway - seem suspicious of new members for a time. If drakes are involved it seems to take longer. Letting them see each other is first. Then letting them interact with close supervision. Sounds like that is not happening right now with yours. I would not push it. It is best for the ducklings to be nearly the same size as the adults when they meet. You may need to protect the adults, actually, since they are the minority. Offer everyone treats at the same time so they can associate good feelings with being around the others.

 

[SixRouens]

Thanks you for the advice. I am always outside with my ducklings when they get to free range so I can keep an eye of everything.

I do have one more question.

I noticed my adult female limping today. I checked her feet and she has an early stage of bumble foot. There are a couple of swollen spots, but no black spots yet. Neither of my males are showing signs of bumble foot.

I was wondering if it is safe for ducks to ingest Epsom salt. I was planning on filling the kiddie pool with warm water and Epsom salt to help with my female's bumble foot. My adult ducks hate to be handled so I figured that would be the best way to get her to soak her feet.

 

[Amiga]

Thanks you for the advice. I am always outside with my ducklings when they get to free range so I can keep an eye of everything.

I do have one more question.

I noticed my adult female limping today. I checked her feet and she has an early stage of bumble foot. There are a couple of swollen spots, but no black spots yet. Neither of my males are showing signs of bumble foot.

I was wondering if it is safe for ducks to ingest Epsom salt. I was planning on filling the kiddie pool with warm water and Epsom salt to help with my female's bumble foot. My adult ducks hate to be handled so I figured that would be the best way to get her to soak her feet.

I am so glad you asked!!! No, Epsom salt is a laxative - that would not be good for her.

Miss Lydia puts Epsom salt solution in a small bucket or large flat-bottomed bowl and stands the duck in the bucket-bowl for several minutes. I suspect it will be a tiny bit easier since you don't have to actually pick them up. Or, you may have to wrap her in a towel (upright, not upside down) and wrap her foot and leg in a compress.

or . . . .

Get her into a lukewarm tub for half an hour, then dab a tiny bit - just a couple of drops - of white (white - clear - not brown) iodine on the bumble. That's it for about five days or so. Then check the foot, a black scab should have formed. Then back into the tub again for half an hour to soften it up, and it may be ready to gently pull. If it does not easily, gently pull off, then dab another couple of drops of clear iodine on the bumble, wait another five days….Haunted55 discovered this method, and I think it would really help with ducks that don't like being handled, as you minimize how much you need to get ahold of the duck. And, no cutting! My favorite part.