When can my ducklings mix in with my older ducklings safely?

[Feathered Friend 252]

I have 4 ducklings that are 2 months old and 4 ducks that are 3 years old. One of the 3 year olds is a drake and I think 2 of the ducklings are drakes. When can they be put together safely? My older drake seems very interested in mounting all of the ducklings. Is this a domination thing?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any young duckling not of laying age should not be put in with a mature drake he can seriously injure them if he was to mate them.

Keep them side by side where they can see each other until the young ones are older and no chance of the drake hurting them. I use a large dog crate to keep my young ones in overnight once feathered in that way they can sleep with the adults but no one can hurt them, They stay in a dog X pen during the day unless I can be with them to supervise.