putting ducklings in with older ducks

[veronicasmom]

After seeing how many people have ducks they raised from birth, or a very young age, and they are so friendly, I was thinking of getting two babies sometime.
I have a few questions though. I have two hens and a drake. I do not want another drake. How old are ducks before you can definitely tell the sex?
How old do they have to be before I can put them in with our older ducks?
If I get some that are old enough to be sexed, will I still be able to tame them?
Thanks for any answers that are offered.

 

[Birdcrazy]

I got my ducklings at 5 weeks of age and tamed them perfectly, but I could tell the sex at about 8 weeks (bigger feet and bills of males) mine are muscovies. I'm pretty sure it also depends on what breed you get, to tell the sex. I also hear there are DNA sexing avaliable from the vet, though expensive. You'll still be able to tame the slightly olders ones, they will be friendly just not as much as the lil ones that imprint on you. I know from scovies that they love human company

If you have two hens with the drake, he should be ok with your ducklings when they are old enough to go out. My duck was sitting on a nest ignoring the drake and the introduction didn't go well

so I had to take my lil ducks back home again. I don't really know if its because of the breed, presonality, or something that for my drake to get upset at the new guys. He was mostly ok but just not enough that I'd trust my duckies there.
Anyway, good luck

 

[newchickmom09]

How old are ducks before you can definitely tell the sex?
Unless you get a breed that you can tell at birth like a welsh harlequin (I think you can tell by the color of there bill, someone correct me if I am wrong please) then you most likely are going to have to wait until they are about 6-8 weeks old for them to get there voise and loose the ducklings squeek.
How old do they have to be before I can put them in with our older ducks?
I would wait until they are at least 8 weeks old. A grown duck could really hurt a little duckling is they wanted to. I tried to introduce my chicks to the older ducks and the ducks litteraly tried to pick the chicks up by the head. All it would have taken to end my chicks life would have been for my duck to get that head in his mouth.

Once the ducklings are big enough and fast enough to run away then you can mix them together. You just have to think about how much stronger those grown ducks are compared to the ducklings.
If I get some that are old enough to be sexed, will I still be able to tame them?
Yes. I got my younger then that (1 and 3 weeks old) but they had a pretty hard life those first few weeks. They were SO terrified of people or anything coming at them. It was so sad. It took a couple of weeks of just sitting with them in there pen holding some blueberries or pees and just letting them come to me. They adventualy understand where the food and treats come from and except you. Mine will walk right on to my legs when I sit down, but they hate to be picked up. Thats fine with me cause I would hate to be pooped on.

If you put a lot of time and effort into them then you will get it back in return.