New ducklings.

[Diane H]

I know chickens can be real peckers if you try and slip a new chick under them that isn’t theirs. But what about duck mama’s?
One of our Cayuga hatched a duckling about 6 weeks ago. I separated her with the Drake when she went broody until the youngster was about 4 weeks old. Reunited everyone and there was acceptance all round. Everyone happy to be back together and all the hens raising the little one.
Would the flock be accepting of a couple of ducklings from our local TSC?
Thanks.
Diane

 

[AltonaAcres]

I am guessing no. At this point she's had her babies for quite a while and knows how many she is raising and what they look like. Adding more would probably not go well, and the ducklings would be confused as they've never had a momma duck before.

 

[Diane H]

Thanks. It’s our first time with ducks hatching babies and they seem so much more accepting than chickens.
Probably best to leave the happy family as is and just hope for more next spring.
Thanks.
D

 

[nao57]

I know chickens can be real peckers if you try and slip a new chick under them that isn’t theirs. But what about duck mama’s?
One of our Cayuga hatched a duckling about 6 weeks ago. I separated her with the Drake when she went broody until the youngster was about 4 weeks old. Reunited everyone and there was acceptance all round. Everyone happy to be back together and all the hens raising the little one.
Would the flock be accepting of a couple of ducklings from our local TSC?
Thanks.
Diane

A lot of people in the past have encouraged people in writtten comments here that acceptance seems to be better through careful exposure in small bursts chaperoned at first. Let them see each other a bit with careful controlled interactions first. Then full mixing after a brief bit of time.