Need help introducing foster duckling to mixed flock

[traceykindall]

Help please! We have a flock of mixed ducks and geese. They were raised together and are about 4 months old now. They all hang out together and get along just fine. A few weeks ago, we rescued a lost baby mallard. She was ready to go outside a few days ago, and the ducks have all accepted her, but the geese are trying to attack her. I have been separating the ducks and geese to accommodate the newbie, but this is very challenging and inconvenient, since they share a pen and I have to keep alternating and herding the two groups. Everyone is discombobulated and confused about where they belong now.

Will the geese ever accept the new duckling? How do I get them used to being together? Will they actually kill her if I don't keep close watch? I can't keep moving the groups around separately like this - everything is set up for them to free-range together and be in their shared pen together at night. Any suggestions? The duckling is fairly large now - still rough/downy plumage but almost the size of our adult female 4-month old mallards, so not tiny. Thanks so much,

-- Tracey in Idaho

 

[Alaskan]

Geese can be incredibly opinionated.

Your hope is that the ducks bond enough with the new duckling, that they decide to protect her from the geese.

Until that happens, yes, the geese might kill her, and you will need to keep them apart.

Sorry. I know it is disappointing.