Mean duckling(s)!! Help!!

[RaisingGentlemen]

This is my first year with ducklings. We got 4. I assume 2 Pekin and 2 Rouen at the same time and 4 chicks! They get along great and are about 4 weeks now (guessing) and holy moly the Pekin are huge!

I have the ducks and 3 of the chicks they started with (we now have 10 chicks) in the transition coop because they’re big and all over but today I tried to re-introduce the younger ones (the banty was purchased with the ducks but he/she is so tiny) to the ones in the transition coop and it was a disaster!

All of these birds were in the same pen together at one point for a while but this time one of the Pekins got aggressive and then it seemed the other Pekin and a Rouen became roughians too and started attacking the little chicks. I saw them attacking the barred rock and the Marans before I separated them and took the younger ones back to the coop.

The silkies are 10 weeks (aren’t they gorgeous?!) but they are fairly new to us so I was TRYING transition them to the transition coop haha!

Anyway will the ducks get better and what is going on?! Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

Pics are of the babes in the transition coop and then pics of the babes under the heat lamp. The duck in front is the instigator!!

 

[TheAmundsons]

Even though they used to be in the same space, I bet you should still gradually reintroduce the one. Allow them to "see but not touch" so they familiarize each other, then gradually supervise times that they are together! Hopefully that will help!

 

[RaisingGentlemen]

Even though they used to be in the same space, I bet you should still gradually reintroduce the one. Allow them to "see but not touch" so they familiarize each other, then gradually supervise times that they are together! Hopefully that will help!

The littlest one? Well all the little ones i was going to. That seems like the best option for now.

 

[TheAmundsons]

The littlest one? Well all the little ones i was going to. That seems like the best option for now.

You should do this with any new bird you are adding to a flock, regardless of age. It helps them all get to know each other without being attacked right away!

 

[RaisingGentlemen]

You should do this with any new bird you are adding to a flock, regardless of age. It helps them all get to know each other without being attacked right away!

Right. They aren’t new. They’ve literally o my been separated a few days haha but I get what you’re saying!

 

[TheAmundsons]

Right. They aren’t new. They’ve literally o my been separated a few days haha but I get what you’re saying!

Oh, I didn't realize it had been that short of a time! I must've missed that somewhere. I suppose you might need to still go through the same process though?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Ducks and chicken together is never a good idea…

 

[TheAmundsons]

Ducks and chicken together is never a good idea…

It works great for us! I think each person just has to decide what they like, and the best set up that will work in the space available!

 

[RaisingGentlemen]

It works great for us! I think each person just has to decide what they like, and the best set up that will work in the space available!

Thank you!!