Introducing ducklings, signs of aggression vs curiosity

[PirateGirl]

Eventually the ducklings need to move in (or should I say out) with the rest of the flock. So far they go on field trips on the opposite side of the fence where the adult ducks and ducklings can all see and hear each other. Eventually they all need to be in the fence together. What are signs of aggression to look out for to indicate that it may not go well? What are signs of curiosity or that they like each other? How do you decide it's safe? How do you determine everyone is ready to mingle? Do you put all of them together or let them meet one on one?


Also I feel like there is an article on this somewhere and I can't seem to find it.

 

[Jpat]

I spose common sense would say pecking and picking for awhile would be normal, Ide check for bald spots in the morning, where they might pull each others feathers out

There nature tells them to group together

 

[Miss Lydia]

@blayt90 you just did this any tips?

 

[blayt90]

I did just move my ducklings in with some that are 7 weeks older and the older ones are running through them knocking some down and some pecking. I just put mine together yesterday and they were doing better this morning. Just make sure that you have them in a look but not touch pen for a while.

 

[PirateGirl]

My drake went after my ducklings ! He reached through the fence and usually they just check each other out and nibble grass together and yesterday he grabbed a duckling by the neck and had I not been there it might not have ended well. They are still little and not ready to move outside, but I hope by the time they are bigger in a few weeks he will accept them into his harem. Anything I can do the next few weeks to help them learn to get along?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If these new ducklings are female they don't need to be in with your drake till they are of laying age. But once they can move outside set up their pen area where they can all see each other but not close enough the drake can reach in and grab. Thank goodness you were there. Do your ducks get to be outside of their pen? if so once ducklins are older you can let them all out together to forage and scarf up some good treats together. meeting on neutral territory can help their pen is THEIRS for now.

 

[happy duck]

Hope you get this worked out. I will just say that my friend put her "ducklings" out on the pond with her big ducks and they are in 2 different groups. I would just make sure when they are a bit older you can introduce them for a bit of time.

 

[PirateGirl]

If these new ducklings are female they don't need to be in with your drake till they are of laying age. But once they can move outside set up their pen area where they can all see each other but not close enough the drake can reach in and grab. Thank goodness you were there. Do your ducks get to be outside of their pen? if so once ducklins are older you can let them all out together to forage and scarf up some good treats together. meeting on neutral territory can help their pen is THEIRS for now.

Yes. The 2 KC ducklings are supposedly sexed females. Depending how the hatchery breeds them their color can be sex-linked so they are most likely really females, though not quite quacking yet. There currently is not a safe area they can roam together beside the duck run itself. One neighbor lets their dogs roam and the coyotes have been here 3 times this week, soooo yeah, all the outside birds have fully fenced runs. I do have plenty of materials though and could build something if needed, or make a temporary divider in the existing run. We have plans to fence a bigger section of yard this summer so the birds can come out some days when we are home, perhaps it's time to start digging in the fenceposts! The first time I let them see each other I refilled the pool with fresh water so the older ducks were excited and distracted by the pool, perhaps I will do that again too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Got some good ideas there. Let us know what you decide to do it will most likely help someone else going through this.

 

[PirateGirl]

I will keep up with the supervised evening visitations with the temp pen I already made (modified so the drake can no longer reach in anywhere of course) and brainstorm modifications for future. I've got a few weeks to figure something out while the ducklings feather out. Hmm... I've got 3 pallets too that I was going to use for another project, but they could be useful for this!