New duckling introductions

[Jford99]

So I know this has been covered before but I just wanted some clarification.
I have 8 ducks that are 12 weeks old. They have been in their outside pen for almost a month. I also have 10 ducks who are almost 5 weeks old that are outgrowing the kiddie pool in the garage.
I have spent about about 10 days having them forage around each other without touching and 3 days having them be able to interact in an open space and the pool.
They are wary of each other and the big ducks sometimes peck at them for a minute, but nothing too aggressive and they mostly ignore each other.
How do I know when they are safe to spend the night together?

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Usually, at night ducks(and all poultry in general) are very unresponsive and are sort of in a haze. (Usually ducks not as much as chickens, but still affects them) Putting the ducks together should be just fine as long an you are up early enough in the morning to check on them before they get to rowdy They should be fine especially considering that they have been around each other for a month now. Actually, the night is the best time to introduce a new flock of ducks to one another, so this would be a great time to do it.
Good luck!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@JFord how did it go did you put them all together?

 

[Jford99]

I brought them in last night, but I took the babies out this morning when I let the older ducklings out for their morning frolic while I did barn chores. They all seemed to get along fine. They’re still not integrating a lot, but even without me right there they didn’t have any issues.
One of my little ones keeps getting brave and she will run up behind the bigger ducks and peck them and then run away. It’s pretty funny to watch.
I think I will put them together tonight since this morning 4 of the little ones had decided to jump out of the kiddie pool to explore the garage on their own.
I already did the mucking out my garage every day while I was building the house and pen for the older ones. I don’t think I’m down for that again right now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully they will be fine. Keep us updated.

That's funny about the little one coming up from behind and pulling tail feathers.

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

I've been introducing our little goslings and ducklings to the big ducks and geese. They're in the meet and greet pen where they can actually safely "fight" but also escape. One time a Buff female was fighting with a little Chinese gosling, and one of the big female Pekin broke up the fight and pushed the Buff away! I was a bit surprised by that.

 

[Jford99]

They are doing well together. They still stay separated for the most part, but they’re not being aggressive. Now I have to sort out finding homes for the excess drakes we have.....