Need integration advice.

Enigmius

Crowing
7 Years
Jan 5, 2018
628
1,370
271
Mansfield, Tx
I need advice.
I hatched 8 little black runners, and they are about a month give or take. I also have three chocolate runners that are 1+ years old. The coop is 8x16 and the adjoining run is 11x16.
When I moved the ducklings outside the older ducks were quite mean, so I created a small little pen for the ducklings so that no actual contact could occur. I thought that after the older ducklings saw them for a while then they would be fine with them.
At first the older chocolate runner ducks had the full range of the coop/run minus the small pen area of the coop where I put the youngsters. But the the youngsters grew so fast. Anyway, during this times I would take the youngsters out of their pen to join the older ducks each day for a couple days or so. Each time the older ladies would start to peck at them after a little while so I would separate again. I then thought that perhaps the older ladies are just being territorial because they think the youngsters are invading their area, so I then divided the coop in half but allowed one side to have access the run(this is the lion share of the whole set-up). I gave the larger portion to the youngsters and the smaller to the older ducks to see if that would break up the territorial nature of the older ducks when I brought them over. My rational is that perhaps the ladies would think they are intruding on the ducklings area. It had been two days since this new set-up so I brought one of the older ladies into the area where the ducklings are and for 15 minutes all was fine. But after a few more minutes, the older chocolate runner began chasing and nipping at the ducklings again. So, I put her back with the two other older chocolate runners in the smaller area.
Ugh! I have got to find a way for them to all play nice. Any ideas? Here is a pic of the latest set-up. You can see the divider. I am standing in the run section.
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I'm going through a similar situation where I have 2 separate runs and pens also. I had the 4 babies (now 2 months old) in one area and gradually put one older duck at a time in with them. I picked the youngest older duck first, then another and now there are 3 with them. It's trying to find the right combination that's the trick. Trial and error I guess. I have one girl that is in with the older drake who is just plain loud and mean. I don't know that she'll ever be nice to the babies unless one of them kicks her butt!

I would love to have all mine together too but I don't want my drake mating with the 2 babies female babies so for now, I'm having to keep the 2 groups apart. It's been easy for me to do. I have 3 drakes (only 1 is "active") and 8 girls so I'm really going to have issues that I don't even want to think about right now.
 
@Enigmius wow you've added to your set up since I last saw pics - nice job - I love it! I too just went through this and have to say at now 4+ months, everyone can FINALLY be in the same space without major incident - still some chasing every once in a while but nothing major. Sorry for you and @DuckyDonna - it's not a fun period but it does get better... :hugs
 
Yes it does get better you just have to be patient and let them work it out, once your ducklings are the size of your adults things will start getting better. You should see my adult Runners push my adult Muscovy around then it will be vise versa no fighting just a nod or peck if they get too close and I have my 4 babies in with them and they are finding their place now. To me it’s interesting to watch the flock dynamics and how things change. Another thing to take into consideration is your females are still hormonal once fall starts coming around that should wane some too and help with attitudes.
 
I'm going through a similar situation where I have 2 separate runs and pens also. I had the 4 babies (now 2 months old) in one area and gradually put one older duck at a time in with them. I picked the youngest older duck first, then another and now there are 3 with them. It's trying to find the right combination that's the trick. Trial and error I guess. I have one girl that is in with the older drake who is just plain loud and mean. I don't know that she'll ever be nice to the babies unless one of them kicks her butt!

I would love to have all mine together too but I don't want my drake mating with the 2 babies female babies so for now, I'm having to keep the 2 groups apart. It's been easy for me to do. I have 3 drakes (only 1 is "active") and 8 girls so I'm really going to have issues that I don't even want to think about right now.

My only drake was taken by a hawk, so I collected the eggs from the mommas and incubated them. First time I hatched eggs and got a hatch rate of 8/11. Pretty good. I was told their hatch rate was going to be poor, that’s why I collected so many eggs. I was hoping one would be a drake, and I’m prettier certain that I have at least one. It’s voice is raspy in comparison to the others eventhough it’s theoretically too early to tell. But I’m pretty certain.
Anyway all of that to say that at last in this integration drama I don’t have to worry about premature breeding. Lol
 
@Enigmius wow you've added to your set up since I last saw pics - nice job - I love it! I too just went through this and have to say at now 4+ months, everyone can FINALLY be in the same space without major incident - still some chasing every once in a while but nothing major. Sorry for you and @DuckyDonna - it's not a fun period but it does get better... :hugs

Yeah. I just thought needed more space with the new babies and all. And I have to say that it makes viewing the birds from afar much better.
 
Yes it does get better you just have to be patient and let them work it out, once your ducklings are the size of your adults things will start getting better. You should see my adult Runners push my adult Muscovy around then it will be vise versa no fighting just a nod or peck if they get too close and I have my 4 babies in with them and they are finding their place now. To me it’s interesting to watch the flock dynamics and how things change. Another thing to take into consideration is your females are still hormonal once fall starts coming around that should wane some too and help with attitudes.

Well. I put the mommas in with the youngster for about an hour. So far they only seem to nip at the ducklings when they flock too close to the older mommas.
I snipped the ties on the divider and am watching from the cooler porch. I’m hoping that after awhile the youngsters will get that the mommas need more space. It makes me super nervous, but we shall see. The divider was only held in place by zip ties so I can quickly put it back if I have to.
I put the baby pool in the run too, so they have three water choices.
Ugh I hope they can work it out soon. Fingers crossed .
I’ll post a video in a moment.
 

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