Introducing Single Duckling to Young Flock

[Peppercorn_1949]

Sorry if this post ends up a bit long, there's a bit of a backstory involved that I'm still a little sad about.
Three weeks ago, I got two blue Swedish ducklings from the farm supply store. Unfortunately, within about two days, the larger of the pair started showing leg problems. I increased the amount of niacin I was giving both ducklings, and the problem seemed to be getting better. But the same day the leg problem started looking better, the duckling started having serious neck issues! I separated the ducklings and took the sick one into the house so I could hand feed/water him. He managed to hang on for a few days, but eventually he passed. For the other duckling, named Bugs, I put him in a sock diaper and let him run around the house since he would follow me. I put him back in his tote/brooder at night. Bugs would peep terribly every time I left him alone, but would quiet down after a few minutes. I gave him a buddy called "Mirrory" whom Bugs was afraid of at first, but is now "friends" with.

I have 5 big ducks who are a little over 8 weeks old. I'm pretty sure they're all female, but I have no idea what Bugs is (I use "he" because Bugs reminds me of Bugs Bunny, hence the name). The big ducks have briefly met Bugs before (I was holding Bugs), and they were all very curious about him, but poor Bugs was terrified, and I heard one of my big ducks hiss at him! Some of them have nipped/lunged at him as well. Today was the first time I let Bugs alone outside with the big ducks. I used some extra fencing to make a little area for him so that all the ducks could see each other while still being safe. I had to go inside because the entire time I was out there, Bugs had no interest in the other ducks; he just wanted to be with me. Most of the big ducks still just seem curious, but one of them did lunge at Bugs twice, and when I gave them some treats near Bugs, they snapped at him like he was going to steal their treats.

Bugs still stays in his tote at night, which we have now brought into the house in my mother's bedroom. I want to move him out with the others ASAP since
a) He's a duck, and he needs to be with other ducks, not me or my mother or Mirrory.
b) I have to go back to school 2 1/2 hours away, and my mother works, so neither of us can spend all day with him.
c) I think he's getting fat spending so much time in that tote.

Is there anything I could possibly do to speed things up and/or make things more comfortable/smoother for Bugs or for my older ducks? Is there anything I need to change or stop doing?

 

[Peppercorn_1949]

Sorry if this post ends up a bit long, there's a bit of a backstory involved that I'm still a little sad about.
Three weeks ago, I got two blue Swedish ducklings from the farm supply store. Unfortunately, within about two days, the larger of the pair started showing leg problems. I increased the amount of niacin I was giving both ducklings, and the problem seemed to be getting better. But the same day the leg problem started looking better, the duckling started having serious neck issues! I separated the ducklings and took the sick one into the house so I could hand feed/water him. He managed to hang on for a few days, but eventually he passed. For the other duckling, named Bugs, I put him in a sock diaper and let him run around the house since he would follow me. I put him back in his tote/brooder at night. Bugs would peep terribly every time I left him alone, but would quiet down after a few minutes. I gave him a buddy called "Mirrory" whom Bugs was afraid of at first, but is now "friends" with.

I have 5 big ducks who are a little over 8 weeks old. I'm pretty sure they're all female, but I have no idea what Bugs is (I use "he" because Bugs reminds me of Bugs Bunny, hence the name). The big ducks have briefly met Bugs before (I was holding Bugs), and they were all very curious about him, but poor Bugs was terrified, and I heard one of my big ducks hiss at him! Some of them have nipped/lunged at him as well. Today was the first time I let Bugs alone outside with the big ducks. I used some extra fencing to make a little area for him so that all the ducks could see each other while still being safe. I had to go inside because the entire time I was out there, Bugs had no interest in the other ducks; he just wanted to be with me. Most of the big ducks still just seem curious, but one of them did lunge at Bugs twice, and when I gave them some treats near Bugs, they snapped at him like he was going to steal their treats.

Bugs still stays in his tote at night, which we have now brought into the house in my mother's bedroom. I want to move him out with the others ASAP since
a) He's a duck, and he needs to be with other ducks, not me or my mother or Mirrory.
b) I have to go back to school 2 1/2 hours away, and my mother works, so neither of us can spend all day with him.
c) I think he's getting fat spending so much time in that tote.

Is there anything I could possibly do to speed things up and/or make things more comfortable/smoother for Bugs or for my older ducks? Is there anything I need to change or stop doing?

Here's a picture.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Welcome to BYC! Bugs is a cute little bug!

Keep doing the see-no-touch method, although you might want something with less spacing so the older ones can't get their heads in, or Bugs stick his out or even escape. This may take a little while.

 

[ruthhope]

Welcome!

Don't try and rush things with one little fluffie that is vulnerable to aggression by bigger ducks.

You might find that after another week, Bugs might have one of the curious non agreessive ducks in with himn for company. But it might be another month before Bugs is big enough to duke it out with the full flock. THere will be pecking order issues.

When a new duckling is big enough, I put it in a dog crate in the coop at night for at least a month, but let it mix freely during the day when it has room to run and hide.

I had two in dog crates in May as one was being mean to the other, then from June, when I got two juvenile rescues, the two shared a dogcrate so that the two new ones could have a crate each. Affiliations in the flock change all the time!! But your little one has to be big enough and I think that wont be for another 4 weeks

 

[Peppercorn_1949]

Update as of September 10th. Bugs is hanging out with the flock during the day. The others will occasionally chase him away from the food bowl and kiddie pool, but they otherwise get along fine. No one is getting hurt anyway. And Bugs is persistent, he's clearly nervous around the others, but he still tries to join in and be near them. We still bring Bugs in the house at night though.

 

[ruthhope]

Good progress!