Introducing ducklings

[Saxony3]

I have a year-old Saxony drake that has been raised by himself. I have 2, 8-week old female saxony ducklings. I have them in pens next to the other so they can see one another. I just want to know how to tell when it will be safe for me to put the ducklings in with the drake? The drake sleeps next to the ducklings (without being able to get to them). The drake accidentally got in about 2-weeks ago and instantly went after one of the babies. Please let me know what I should look for and how long it is recommended that they stay separated.

Thank you,

Saxony3

 

[Amiga]

It is mostly up to the ducks.

I would, in a couple of weeks, let them be together and be ready to immediately split them again if it goes beyond a little chasing, shoving, poking, or yelling.

And then I would separate them again, and do that three or four times.

Go with your instincts, but I would err on the side of caution.

Feed them all treats at the same time, might help.

 

[nayeli]

What your doing is right, but I wouldn't put them together until the girls are old enough to mate... otherwise he could attack them again or seriously injury them trying to mate them. They don't have a mother to protect them so you need too.

 

[Going Quackers]

It takes time especially with him being a drake and them being ducks... probably i'd lean more towards the 3-4mth range because he will want to mate and at that age(8wks) will terrify them, their company being there is good.

Melding flocks is a drawn out process that involves close observance, the only good news is it's not as nasty as chickens those meld together like oil and water often.. pecking orders with ducks exist but tend to be not so brutal.

Good luck!

 

[nayeli]

It takes time especially with him being a drake and them being ducks... probably i'd lean more towards the 3-4mth range because he will want to mate and at that age(8wks) will terrify them, their company being there is good.

Melding flocks is a drawn out process that involves close observance, the only good news is it's not as nasty as chickens those meld together like oil and water often.. pecking orders with ducks exist but tend to be not so brutal.

Good luck!

Thanks for an age range. I know to wait til they are bigger, but since I got adult ducks and then ducklings I have no clue how they grow or their "stages" =) It is nice to know when to expect that they are big enough.

 

[Saxony3]

Thanks Nayeli! I figured that I would wait at least 4-6 more weeks! I'll keep a close eye when I do introduce them.