Introducing new ducks

[inkedlady]

At what age do u make the transaction of introducing new ducks , I have 2 pens side by side the big one has 4 girls and a drake all 1 year old n 2nd pen 4 nine week old mixed flock

 

[MooseHabit]

I would test it and keep an eye on it. See how everyone reacts to each other. Do it a little bit every day, until they are fully "weaned" onto each other.

 

[Going Quackers]

I would wait till their larger/older.. an established flock of that many and especially with a drake? i would aim for a bit longer yes, sometimes it does work okay younger but being 1yo they are fully mature, mating and laying ducks now..

what breed? are they big babies or wee birds, same breeds or different.. do you know their sexes? all those play a role in the transition, for what it's worth i often continue to house new young birds separate till they have come into their own so closer to 3-4mths and even then some are still kept apart at night...

The biggest thing is ensure everyone has access to feed/water and plenty of room to get away from on another. Some birds are quite laid back and newbies drift in others have very tight pecking orders and dislike newcomers.


Have you ever introduced new ones to this flock? even young of their own? past reactions help you gauge as well. My main flock has seen quite a bit over the years, and many, many young that has given me insight to their acceptance overall of new ones.

My Motto, hope for the best, plan for the worst. ALways have a back up plan if it goes poorly.

GL!

 

[inkedlady]

The older ones are male n female black swedes, 3 grey runners and we introduced the runners to them when they were 12 weeks old n got on fine, the new babies consist on a white duck maybe pekin a mixed runner and they are girls quackin loads and got 2 mallard cross birds which I don't know sex of yet I've put pictures up but no one had put any input in yet and I will have to do this all again as I've got 3 week old female runners