New Ducks Old Ducks

[chickens really]

Well by separating them all the time your prolonging them from figuring out how to be a flock of Ducks. Chasing and neck tying is what Ducks do to figure each other out. How many Hen and Drakes?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are the adults actually injuring the newbies? If they are being pushy that's one issues that is normal, but if they are being relentless and stressing out the new ones then nothing is being accomplished but stress. Maybe having them side by side for a bit longer might be your best option for now. When my Runners were integrated into the flock there was pushing around but no one was so stressed they couldn't function. It can take a while for this to work but it will eventually.

 

[Quack head]

Well by separating them all the time your prolonging them from figuring out how to be a flock of Ducks. Chasing and neck tying is what Ducks do to figure each other out. How many Hen and Drakes?

Thanks for the info, I have one drake and one female, both about 10 months old, and three new females that are about three months old (+/-).

Along with me stressing about the ducks getting along, today a Bald Eagle visited and landed in a tree near the pond so I put the new ducks in the house but didn't think about the older ones in the pond. Needless to say the Eagle started dive bombing the adult ducks in the pond. Sir Quacks-a-Lot (the drake) was flapping this wings at the Eagle. My wife, I was not at home, was able to yell and get the drake and duck inside also. Quite an adventure with the ducks the past few days.

 

[chickens really]

Thanks for the info, I have one drake and one female, both about 10 months old, and three new females that are about three months old (+/-).

Along with me stressing about the ducks getting along, today a Bald Eagle visited and landed in a tree near the pond so I put the new ducks in the house but didn't think about the older ones in the pond. Needless to say the Eagle started dive bombing the adult ducks in the pond. Sir Quacks-a-Lot (the drake) was flapping this wings at the Eagle. My wife, I was not at home, was able to yell and get the drake and duck inside also. Quite an adventure with the ducks the past few days.

Definitely keep everyone locked up and secure. The Ducks will figure each other out without issues. The older hens are bossy and the Drake isn't interested yet.

 

[Quack head]

Well by separating them all the time your prolonging them from figuring out how to be a flock of Ducks. Chasing and neck tying is what Ducks do to figure each other out. How many Hen and Drakes?

Thanks for the info, I have one drake and one female, both about 10 months old, and three new females that are about three months old (+/-). Along with neck tying they are actually chasing and biting. The smaller/newer ducks would just huddle in a corner of the house or pen just waiting for another attack.

 

[Quack head]

Definitely keep everyone locked up and secure. The Ducks will figure each other out without issues. The older hens are bossy and the Drake isn't interested yet.

Thanks for the quick response

 

[sourland]

Provide multiple feed and water and areas, and as long as no physical damage is occurring just give them time to adapt to one another. If the drake were attacking and force breeding the young hens, it would be a far different situation.

Be on high alert now that the eagle knows where a possible meal exists.

 

[chickens really]

Thanks for the quick response

Your welcome....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh don’t get into false security that the drake may not be interested. He may not but I have read of many that will go after young females. Always. BEST to be safe than sorry. Hopefully very soon they will all be one flock it always just takes time. We have Eagles down below us at the River thank goodness I haven’t seen one up here. Hawks yes. I would not want an Eagle checking my birds out. Scary glad they are safe!

 

[DuckyDonna]

that eagle knows they are all there and will be back. Don't let anyone out alone. They'll swoop down in the outside run too so don't be lulled into thinking that is going to be safe. It's not! I have experience! You probably better make a plan for covering your little runs too. There is netting you can buy to put up for flying predators.