Any suggestions on how I should introduce them?
I don't have 4 acres for them to free range on, but they will have a lot of space in summer. Right now they are penned as we have 2-3' of snow on the ground. What sort of housing do they need?
The ducks are last year's hatchlings as are the Muscovies. Maybe I'll be lucky and they'll still be young enough not to be aggressive!
Since your still experiencing winter, the boys will still be on their best behavior hopefully and you'll have time to see how they are going to act towards each other, there will be some picking which isn't as bad as chickens but there has to be some dominance sorting out,. I would keep them separate at first but where they can see each other, maybe some temp fencing inside your run and house you have for them. that way they can get use to one another with out confrontations. They will need a safe place to sleep for protection from Preds, because they are high on the list as tasty to most preds. Let us know how it goes and hopefully by weeks end you'll have one happy flock!
Congrats!!! IT'S starting here "Mating" and that means eggs aren't far behind..Just gotta share... One of our ducks laid her first egg this morning.Was sooo surprised. She has only been here around a month and figure her age to be around 5 or 6 months. The Rouens we have are older than her and they have yet to even start yet we weren't expecting any eggs till spring.... AWESOME!!!!!
Great, maybe the other breeds will follow and get to laying...
They don't need anything fancy just something secure for night time protection from preds, even a large dog house would work, but it will have to have plenty of ventilation, they can get respiratory problems from breathing the damp air in an enclosed coop. they need 4sq' each I believe, but make it as large as you can because when the girls begin to lay they like their privacy.
Pretty girls
here are my girls!
they love him for the most part.
