When will my ducks accept the new duck into their flock?

[Finny]

I have three drakes, two cayugas and one magpie. The magpie is new so he is in a smaller pen inside the larger one. This has been going on for over two weeks, but when I let them in the same pen the ducks keep pulling out the magpie's feathers and climbing on top of him. I understand they are trying to establish a pecking order but I am afraid they are going to hurt the magpie. It is also spring so I am guessing their raging hormones are not helping the situation. Should I continue to separate them or just let them figure out the pecking order? I am new to introducing ducks to a flock so any suggestions are greatly appreciated . I love the cayugas and the magpie very much and I would hate to have any of them hurt. I raised them a from ducklings. Thanks in advance!

 

[Amiga]

Keep the separating fence up. Sometimes those ducks just don't appreciate what we do for them, or how easy it would be to just get along. Silly ducks. Take a deep breath, keep setting up supervised interaction and if they cannot behave themselves, separate again. It is slow, but I believe it does happen. I know a number of people with drake flocks. This time of year, though, hormones are running high.

 

[Finny]

Thanks Amiga

 

[Going Quackers]

Take it slow, as Amiga said bad time of year, i lost count yesterday with the drake fights.. nobody got hurt they were all testing their manly hood clearly.

It definitely takes time for newbies to be accepted... slow and steady.

 

[Finny]

I am actually very encouraged by what happened yesterday and this morning between the ducks. I was outside with them all day yesterday so I let them out all out of the pen. By the end of the day all the ducks were getting along almost perfectly! This morning when I took the new duck out, I wanted to see if they would still get along so I put the new duck in the big pen and there was only a little bit of bullying! I still put the new duck in the smaller pen before I left for school because I did not want to risk anything but I have faith!

 

[Amiga]

Wise move, Finny.