Rehoming?

[snickers81]

Hi everyone - really need some help at the moment!
We have 3 adult Indian Runners (2 female and 1 male) and have hand reared 3 of their ducklings who are now a couple of months old.
They are ready to now live outside and although the 2 females see off the ducklings, they are not too threatening and I'm sure would be fine in time.
The problem is our drake who jumps straight on them and gets them by the back of the neck and is trying to mate although they are not mature yet. It upsets the ducklings and I'm worried they could get hurt as I've read some horror stories.
For the moment I have had to divide the garden but can't do this long-term and getting very stressed with it all.
I've tried anti-peck spray on the back of the ducklings necks but he was still straight on them!
Is there anything I can do or will I have to re-home the drake?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Kevin565]

How old are the ducklings exactly? If it's just mating I would just wait until their bodies can handle the mating to reintroduce them.

 

[snickers81]

The eldest is 2 and a half months and the other 2 are 2 months old - what age will they reach maturity?
Many thanks

 

[Mum]

What sex are the ducklings?

Whenever you introduce new birds to the flock there is going to be some rough and tumble and as much as it upsets us, it is all part of natures way. Your ducklings have to learn their place in the flock and this is what the drake is communicating to them in his drake way.

Keeping them seperated but in view of one another is a way of letting become familiar with one another, but, even when the barrier comes down, there will still be the inevitable rough and tumble.

 

[Kevin565]

The eldest is 2 and a half months and the other 2 are 2 months old - what age will they reach maturity?
Many thanks

I personally wait until 12 weeks to introduce ducklings to adults. Some people have luck introducing before then but I have not.

 

[snickers81]

Thank you - that's really helped!

 

[snickers81]

All girls

 

[Mum]

All girls

Ok, that's good. At least it isn't a case of too many drakes

Give it a few weeks and I think they'll be good to mingle; so, if you can bear to put up with the garden divide until then you can put to bed any thoughts of rehoming. Best of luck

 

[snickers81]

Thank you! BTW - 2 are pure white with dark blue eyes, are these partial albinos?

 

[Kevin565]

Thank you! BTW - 2 are pure white with dark blue eyes, are these partial albinos?

No. White ducks with blue eyes are fairly common.