Older ducks not happy with new ducklings

[Wv Farm Mom]

I have a momma Rouen who hatched out her first ever set of 5 ducklings in May. 3 days ago she hatched out another 5 ducklings. She brought them out of the duck house 2 days ago for their first time outside since being born. My 2 older drakes were not bothered by the ducklings (this is their second set of hatchings in 10 weeks) however 4 of the 5 ducks from the first hatchings were no too happy. They were being very aggressive towards the new ducklings. They were grabbing them at their necks & swinging them around (almost like they were trying to kill them)!! I immediately separated them!! I tried again yesterday putting them all in the same area together & the ducks from the first hatching did the same thing! Momma tries to protect them but I think there are too many of them for her to protect. Momma's not happy being separated from her mate (he isn't either) but I don't want anything to happen to my ducklings!! Will I ever be able to put them all together again? Will this continue to happed every time she has new ducklings?

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC!

You will almost always need to separate ducklings from older ducks if they are in a enclosed area.Many people have great success with the no touch but see method which is basically where they can see each other but cannot physically touch each other.

As long as mamma can see her mate i think she will be fine.Putting the babies back with the older ducks right now would be taking a huge risk.Give them some time to get used to each other and im sure it will work out.

 

[Duckworth]

Welcome to BYC!

You will almost always need to separate ducklings from older ducks if they are in a enclosed area.Many people have great success with the no touch but see method which is basically where they can see each other but cannot physically touch each other.

As long as mamma can see her mate i think she will be fine.Putting the babies back with the older ducks right now would be taking a huge risk.Give them some time to get used to each other and im sure it will work out.

This is especially true while the size difference is so great.

 

[Wv Farm Mom]

I was wondering about that. The first hatching went so smoothly but then again I only had a total of 4 adult ducks counting momma. Now I'm up to 13! Do you know how long I should wait until I put them all together again? I'm also having an issue with momma being aggressive with one duckling. It's like she's trying to bite him? It's just him though. He was the last to hatch so he is a tad smaller than some of the others & he is solid black. Could it be because he looks different? Her last hatching she had an all yellow one & never treated her differently.

 

[Duckworth]

@Miss Lydia

 

[Miss Lydia]

I agree with all the above, very good advise!

 

[Isaac 0]

I was wondering about that. The first hatching went so smoothly but then again I only had a total of 4 adult ducks counting momma. Now I'm up to 13! Do you know how long I should wait until I put them all together again? I'm also having an issue with momma being aggressive with one duckling. It's like she's trying to bite him? It's just him though. He was the last to hatch so he is a tad smaller than some of the others & he is solid black. Could it be because he looks different? Her last hatching she had an all yellow one & never treated her differently.

Increasing there run space or maybe even letting them free range would help extremely with the fighting.I have hatched many ducklings and have never had a problem with bigger ducks attacking them,but that's because i free range my birds.


I would let the ducklings get bigger so they can at least defend themselves then slowly integrate them to the flock.Once they are a month old or so then you can start integration.As long as the mom isn't full on attacking the duckling i wouldn't worry too much.Sometimes they give there babies a little kiss.

Best of luck!

 

[Wv Farm Mom]

Thanks so much for all the advice!! I will keep ya posted on how they do going forward!!

 

[Wv Farm Mom]

Just went home & checked on my babies. Momma was chasing the little black duckling around the pen & nipping at him. I'm not sure what she's doing?!?! Do you think I should remove him from the rest before she hurts him? If I do remove him will he ever be able to be integrated back into the flock once he gets bigger or will he be bullied?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds to me like this one may need to be brooded inside bring a buddy in with him and when the time comes to move outside you’ll just do the same with these as your going to be doing with the rest. Just keep them all where they can see each other and they will eventually be one flock