Introducing ducklings, signs of aggression vs curiosity

[Miss Lydia]

 

[chickens really]

Hello....When you first introduce them to the older Hens. Keep the Drake locked up. It's breeding season and his hormones are high..I just introduced two young Calls to my Flock and only while they free range. Still separated when locked up though. All is going good here.

 

[PirateGirl]

Hello....When you first introduce them to the older Hens. Keep the Drake locked up. It's breeding season and his hormones are high..I just introduced two young Calls to my Flock and only while they free range. Still separated when locked up though. All is going good here.

I was wondering about this. The girls don't seem to care that the ducklings exist, so I'm less worried about letting them meet. Perhaps they can all get along, minus the drake, for awhile. In general I think he is a relatively gentle drake, but the current size difference definitely changes the dynamic a bit. It won't be long before the ducklings are huge I'm sure.

Right now brainstorming the best way to build a divider in the existing run as this will be safest from the coyotes.

 

[chickens really]

I was wondering about this. The girls don't seem to care that the ducklings exist, so I'm less worried about letting them meet. Perhaps they can all get along, minus the drake, for awhile. In general I think he is a relatively gentle drake, but the current size difference definitely changes the dynamic a bit. It won't be long before the ducklings are huge I'm sure.

Right now brainstorming the best way to build a divider in the existing run as this will be safest from the coyotes.

Yes...Drakes are walking Hormones and attack any other Ducks over their Hens. I currently free range all my Ducks together. Two Drakes and five Hens , plus the two 8 week old Ducklings..Drakes are okay so far because the one is in eclipse still and the other is young..
Keeping him out of the equation during free range time will definitely help getting them accepted by the Hens...

 

[PirateGirl]

Sounds good. I will work on the hens and ducklings for now and the drake can spend an hour of his day locked in the duck house. It will give the hens a break from him as well How much of the year is still considered peak breeding season? Is it all summer until days get significantly shorter again?

 

[chickens really]

This is crazy...I planted seeds in this one flowerbed about two years ago or more..Nothing came up at all. This year one actually is coming up and I can't remember the name either..They self seed though....I'll move it into my other spot today...

 

[Lil Drake40]

Sounds good. I will work on the hens and ducklings for now and the drake can spend an hour of his day locked in the duck house. It will give the hens a break from him as well How much of the year is still considered peak breeding season? Is it all summer until days get significantly shorter again?

Yes

 

[PirateGirl]

This is crazy...I planted seeds in this one flowerbed about two years ago or more..Nothing came up at all. This year one actually is coming up and I can't remember the name either..They self seed though....I'll move it into my other spot today...

All I want to do is work on my garden. My hubby supports my failing endeavor and brought me some old windows so now my one bed can be a hot box and he had a truckload of topsoil dropped off yesterday and brought a bunch of little trees home! He works in excavation so when they clear a lot and dig a foundation for a house there tends to be good dirt and little trees. I just saw a maintenance tech at work (I work in property management) with some old windows this morning and asked if I can bring them home too!

 

[chickens really]

All I want to do is work on my garden. My hubby supports my failing endeavor and brought me some old windows so now my one bed can be a hot box and he had a truckload of topsoil dropped off yesterday and brought a bunch of little trees home! He works in excavation so when they clear a lot and dig a foundation for a house there tends to be good dirt and little trees. I just saw a maintenance tech at work (I work in property management) with some old windows this morning and asked if I can bring them home too!

My Chickens Coop window if from a 100 year old house..

 

[PirateGirl]

I took advantage of a few hour break in the stormy weather and built a safer and more permanent drake jail/duckling playground from some pallets. When the thunder snow stops we can test it out. For now the ducklings can use it on nice days and once the hens accept them the ducklings can live with the hens and the drake can go in the enclosure until he is ready to rejoin the flock.