Introducing ducklings

[JillZaHulk]

At what age do you introduce ducklings to the rest of your flock?

We have 8 ducklings.. The oldest is almost 9 weeks and the youngest is about 7 weeks old.

 

[johntfs]

That's likely old enough, @WannaBeHillBilly received five six-weeks olds from people who'd hatched fertilized eggs from him but couldn't deal with the reality of raising ducks. He was careful about it, though, making sure that the old and new duckie could see each other for a while before interacting.

 

[Dougdilman]

At what age do you introduce ducklings to the rest of your flock?

We have 8 ducklings.. The oldest is almost 9 weeks and the youngest is about 7 weeks old.

How many males in your old flock?

 

[JillZaHulk]

The

How many males in your old flock?

The adult flock I'd be introduced the ducklings to have 3 Drake's and 1 hen. Currently separated 2 and 2 with a wire wall between them in the coop and down the middle of the run. My hopes are to be able to introduce the babies and be able to open the coop and run back up so all the space is shared. We got lucky with the babies being 6 possibly 7 girls and 1 boy.

 

[Dougdilman]

The


The adult flock I'd be introduced the ducklings to have 3 Drake's and 1 hen. Currently separated 2 and 2 with a wire wall between them in the coop and down the middle of the run. My hopes are to be able to introduce the babies and be able to open the coop and run back up so all the space is shared. We got lucky with the babies being 6 possibly 7 girls and 1 boy.

That is lucky if you got all those girls,

i personaly dont let the full grown drakes around young hens untill they are 15 weeks old and their bodies are fully developed, But alot of people do... theres a chance theyd be fine but i dont chance it

and its turning into full on breeding season soon you will have your hands full with 4 drakes

 

[JillZaHulk]

That is lucky if you got all those girls,

i personaly dont let the full grown drakes around young hens untill they are 15 weeks old and their bodies are fully developed, But alot of people do... theres a chance theyd be fine but i dont chance it

and its turning into full on breeding season soon you will have your hands full with 4 drakes

There are atleast 6 ducklings who have the hen "honk" lol and one tiny little boy squeak quack. The youngest is kinda in between so I'm not sure which way it'll go.

I agree I think we’ll wait a few more weeks. The ducklings coop like space isn’t near the adult ducks to where they can all see each other but they do have direct access from where they’re at too one side of the run. So they can still get visitation with the wire wall.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

7-9 week old ducklings are not ducklings anymore, they are loud and cheeky »ducknagers«. The girls should already be quacking.
How big is the "rest of the flock"? - If the numbers are equal, or you have more ducknagers than grown up ducks, i would just let them loose and they will "fight" it out quickly.
To merge a few ducknagers with a larger flock you must keep them separate for 1-2 weeks and observe their behavior. First the grown ups will be somewhat aggressive to the "intruders", but will get used to and in the end accept them. Well fed ducks with enough space are usually very welcoming to additional ducks after a short phase of disapproval.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just my humble opinion drakes will rape young females if given the chance I’d keep the young ones separated from the adults until at least 4 months old oh and drakes will also rape young drakes too. If me I would keep them where they can see each other but that’s it, breeding season is ramping up and those drakes are going to be after everyone. You could try your adult female in with the young ones that may work just watch she doesn’t start picking on them.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Just my humble opinion drakes will rape young females if given the chance I’d keep the young ones separated from the adults until at least 4 months old oh and drakes will also rape young drakes too. If me I would keep them where they can see each other but that’s it, breeding season is ramping up and those drakes are going to be after everyone. You could try your adult female in with the young ones that may work just watch she doesn’t start picking on them.

X 2! Don't let your babies with the drakes until at least 4 months old!

 

[JillZaHulk]

7-9 week old ducklings are not ducklings anymore, they are loud and cheeky »ducknagers«. The girls should already be quacking.
How big is the "rest of the flock"? - If the numbers are equal, or you have more ducknagers than grown up ducks, i would just let them loose and they will "fight" it out quickly.
To merge a few ducknagers with a larger flock you must keep them separate for 1-2 weeks and observe their behavior. First the grown ups will be somewhat aggressive to the "intruders", but will get used to and in the end accept them. Well fed ducks with enough space are usually very welcoming to additional ducks after a short phase of disapproval.

The rest of the flock is 4 adults (3 Drake's 1 hen) they’re probably about a year old. There are 8 ducknagers lol so twice as many.