introducing new female!!

[stumble_n_mumble]

someone is giving me a duck they have had for about a month.... it has only been with chickens and is healthy, would it be ok to introduce her to my drake and 3 hens????

 

[17roses]

Quote:
Personally, I seperate for a month for disease control. Ducks seem to get less sick than chickens but as a precaution I chose to keep my stock away from new arrivals till I can be sure they are healthy. My ducks pick on new arrivals for a short time then accept them. I think they just need to put the new one in it's place.

 

[katharinad]

There is a good point in quarantine. It may not be needed if you know the owner and you are confident enough that they are healthy. It's your call. I would keep them separated for a week, but in a way that they can see each other. After that I would introduce them for a short time while watching. There will be some pecking, but it will reside in time. You do that each day until they no longer do it. That's when they can live together.