Introducing my hand raised ducklings to existing flock

[GoofySara]

How do I introduce my hand raised ducklings to my already existing flock

 

[Papaye]

Hi!

You would need to be more specific...

• How old are your ducklings?
(How many are they?
What breed are they?)

• How old are the ducks from your flock?
(How many are they?
What breed are they?)

• Do you have sexually mature drakes in your existing flock?
(If so : how many?)

• Do your ducklings and the ducks from your flock already know each other?
(Can they see each other?
If so : since when?)

Please : give as many details as possible.

If ever you have even ONE adult drake in your flock, keep your ducklings separated - at least until they are 4-and-a-half-months-old!!

Also : don't put tiny ducklings together with adult ducks.
Instead, wait for them to be grown up enough, so they are not bullied (or worse) by your older ducks...!

 

[GoofySara]

Hi!

You would need to be more specific...

• How old are your ducklings?
(How many are they?
What breed are they?)

• How old are the ducks from your flock?
(How many are they?
What breed are they?)

• Do you have sexually mature drakes in your existing flock?
(If so : how many?)

• Do your ducklings and the ducks from your flock already know each other?
(Can they see each other?
If so : since when?)

Please : give as many details as possible.

If ever you have even ONE adult drake in your flock, keep your ducklings separated - at least until they are 4-and-a-half-months-old!!

Also : don't put tiny ducklings together with adult ducks.
Instead, wait for them to be grown up enough, so they are not bullied (or worse) by your older ducks...!

Thanks for the advice. Yes I do have One adult drake, and you recommend waiting until they are about 4 to 4 1/2 months old before introducing. What if I have a momma who is expecting to hatch her next with the next couple of day to week?
The picture of the four ducks are my adults. The Runner at the far left is my drake and the one at the far right is the momma that has been sitting for awhile now. The two pics on the left were taken 5/22/2025 and the ducklings were taken 5/19/2025. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I know that my drake aka Sun Flower is a Runner, Ginger Bread is a Roen or a campbell, and I believe that Ginger and Big Bertha are Buffs not sure. No clue what the ducklings are. My daughter and grandson seen them and brought them home.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Yes I do have One adult drake, and you recommend waiting until they are about 4 to 4 1/2 months old before introducing.

Yes.

You need to wait for your ducklets to be sexually mature before putting them with your drake, ESPECIALLY DURING MATING SEASON (when hormones make a drake out of control) : if you don't, your boy could seriously hurt the girls - or even kill them - by mating with them (read : by raping them).

What if I have a momma who is expecting to hatch her next with the next couple of day to week?

You need to keep her separated from the other ducks : even if the mom try to protect her ducklings, the other ducks could still kill them.

Do be careful : I have heard and read about adult ducks being real sweetheart with ducklings raised/freeranging with them... but then eventually killing them while the owners were away...!!

Where is mama duck currently nesting?
...Can you put some panels or something around her, so she and the babies are protected from your other ducks?

The picture of the four ducks are my adults.

They are so cute...!!
I particularly like your drake: he is beautiful - oh my God! (I love his colours!!!)

The Runner at the far left is my drake and the one at the far right is the momma that has been sitting for awhile now.

Is... your hen sitting on 23 eggs? (Amazing...!)
Can she cover them entirely?

I know that my drake aka Sun Flower is a Runner, Ginger Bread is a Roen or a campbell, and I believe that Ginger and Big Bertha are Buffs not sure.

Don't know if Sun Flower is a purebred Indian Runner : we would need more pictures of him to be sure...

Ginger Breed looks to be a Rouen : Khaki Campbell are Dusky patterned, and so don't have strips on the face.
(Khaki Campbell also don't have blue wing speculum...)

No clue what the ducklings are. My daughter and grandson seen them and brought them home.

DO NOT take my word for it, since I am just guessing here... :
• White duckling could be a Pekin,
• Brown duckling could be a Khaki Campbell,
• Black Bibbed duckling could be a Black Swedish,
• Black duck could be a Cayuga,
• Dark Brown and Yellow (with strips) duckling could be a Rouen.

But I really could be wrong...(?)