naughty ducks

[DurhamDuck]

Oh dear... our week old Blue Swedish ducklings (10 of them) didn't take well to the introduction of our new 3 day old goslings. The poor little goslings were attacked and pecked by all the ducklings! I had hoped to raise these little ones all together, but I don't think that is going to work now. I'll try again once the goslings are larger than the ducks and see how that goes.
Anyone else have trouble introducing new babies to established duckling flocks? I had thought because they were all babies that this would go smoothly...silly me!!

 

[mandelyn]

I had the same issue when my last duckling hatched out of a staggered hatch. I took the wire top to a rodent cage and put it in the brooder, with some water and food, for the new duckling to finish drying out and get stronger. That way the others could see and hear it. After 4 days, I set it free with the rest, and we've been good to go. It's why I have a big wooden brooder, so I have room to make any needed allowances. Like having space to put a 1ft x 1ft cage top. Or whatever else I can come up with for a needed divider, to avoid having two brooders.

 

[DurhamDuck]

Quote:
That's a great plan, unfortunately for our goslings we don't have that room so now I have two brooders.