Introducing ducks!

[pekin12ducks]

I just bought a mallard duck for my Pekin and the mallard is smaller than the Pekin and my Pekin keeps kinda pecking at her feathers and feet, but I truly don't think she is trying to be mean about it, I have had theses two together for about 15 minutes and the mallard is already following the Pekin around. What do you guys think about the behavior???

 

[pekin12ducks]

I just bought a mallard duck for my Pekin and the mallard is smaller than the Pekin and my Pekin keeps kinda pecking at her feathers and feet, but I truly don't think she is trying to be mean about it, I have had theses two together for about 15 minutes and the mallard is already following the Pekin around. What do you guys think about the behavior???

Is it normal for them to do that?

Update: they are getting better and better; the pecks aren't even happening, but why did she do that in the beginning?

 

[DuckGirl77]

Mine acted the same way when I introduced the younger ducklings to the older ones, only they actually chased each other. Maybe yours are getting the pecking order settled.
That must be interesting, having a pekin and a mallard! There must be a large difference in size!

 

[pekin12ducks]

Mine acted the same way when I introduced the younger ducklings to the older ones, only they actually chased each other. Maybe yours are getting the pecking order settled.
That must be interesting, having a pekin and a mallard! There must be a large difference in size!

Well right now there is but the other one just has to grow and they should end up being relatively the same size

 

[Quackalackin]

I've been trying to introduce my 3 new Khaki girls to my 6 anconas. It's been a few days now and the the little Khakis are still not accepted. They've been mostly separated by a chain link fence, but when I try letting them together the little Khakis get nipped and chased. The girls do it some, but the two ancona drakes are the main issue. They shun the Khakis, chase, pin, tackle... Tonight I separated the drakes and let all the girls hang out. It was mostly okay, the Khakis followed the anconas around while the anconas would nudge or nip them away if they got too close. I let them together for about 20 minutes before releasing the drakes, then they immidiatley ran after and pinned one of the Khakis down and chased them around. I watched for about 5 minutes before intervening to see if they'd settle, but I finally had to separate the Khakis again because it was getting brutal. Tomorrow they'll be separated all day across the fence again while I'm at work, then I'll do another group introduction in the evening.

I'm hoping they will come around :/ or else I'll probably end up rehoming one or both drakes...

 

[DuckGirl77]

I've been trying to introduce my 3 new Khaki girls to my 6 anconas. It's been a few days now and the the little Khakis are still not accepted. They've been mostly separated by a chain link fence, but when I try letting them together the little Khakis get nipped and chased. The girls do it some, but the two ancona drakes are the main issue. They shun the Khakis, chase, pin, tackle... Tonight I separated the drakes and let all the girls hang out. It was mostly okay, the Khakis followed the anconas around while the anconas would nudge or nip them away if they got too close. I let them together for about 20 minutes before releasing the drakes, then they immidiatley ran after and pinned one of the Khakis down and chased them around. I watched for about 5 minutes before intervening to see if they'd settle, but I finally had to separate the Khakis again because it was getting brutal. Tomorrow they'll be separated all day across the fence again while I'm at work, then I'll do another group introduction in the evening.

I'm hoping they will come around :/ or else I'll probably end up rehoming one or both drakes...

Oh, no! Mine weren't that bad, but I don't have drakes. Poor ducks! I imagine that eventually they'll get used to each other, but no telling how long it will take. Personally, I would put the drakes in "time-out" when they bother the new ones, but I don't know if it'll work or not. It worked eventually with my ducklings when they were introduced, but, then again, no drakes here.

 

[Quackalackin]

The ancona girls and one drake are getting better, still not thrilled about the Khaki presence, but they're coming around. It's just one drake that's bullying. So this morning I am trying secluding both drakes from all my hens. We'll see how it goes! Though based on some evidence today, I'm wondering if I may have been scammed and one of my girl Khakis is really a drake :/ Not hard evidence, but I've only gotten two eggs both this morning and yesterday morning from the Khakis, and this morning a couple Khakis were trying to mate. Off to research gender differences in Khakis....

 

[DuckGirl77]

Well, that makes sense, if one Khaki is a boy. If it is, it will be quieter than the females. Three drakes would not be good! Hope your research finds that he/she is a girl!

 

[Quackalackin]

I again acquired two new ducks, Cayugas, about a week ago! All my hens are getting along generally okay, there is some nipping at each other, but not much. There's a fun personality difference between the groups- the anconas dominate, the khakis are little dorks that just want to be with the big ducks, and the Cayugas are a bit more seclusive. However, my two drakes are still being butt heads. When the khakis were the new ducks they would constantly chase them, and now they won't let off the Cayugas. They don't even pay attention to their original ancona girls! I mostly keep the hens and drakes separate with one or two introductions per day to see if the drakes behave better, but they usually don't and immediately go after my Cayugas. The Cayugas now wonder away from the flock when I let the drakes out :/ I'm planning on giving it another couple weeks to see if they all get along, but I may end up getting rid of the worser behaved drake.

Has anyone else had issues introducing adult ducks together? Did they ever become one big happy flock? I know it's spring time and mating is part of the game, but my intent on getting more females was to better my ratio of hens/drakes (currently at 9 to 2) in hopes that the drakes would spread their... lovin'... around all the girls instead of picking on just one or two :/