Will my ducklings ever get along? And Guesses to breeds?

[janabors]

I have always worked in the area of Dog rescue, since I grew up in Chicago we did not keep farm animals. I am now 29 and have lived in TN for the last 6 years. I say I have quit rescue but its hard to do when everyone knows thats is what you do

!

Now on with the main topic. I procured 4 chicks and 1 duckling a week ago from a rescue friend, apparently someone tried to hatch several eggs and then no longer wanted the results and asked her to take them. Out of 25 eggs or so only these 5 made it. I have the space so I was willing to take them on. In the week I have had these guys I have totally fallen in love! I never knew how wonderful owning fowl could be.

Well after 1 week of having them and much research I decided I needed to find another Duckling, although so far Psy (kids named him after Pokemon Psyduck) firmly believes he is a chicken! I assume Psy is about 2 weeks old now but for the life of me I can't figure what breed. Here are a couple pictures of him below and let me tell you not easy to get either! The chicks kept insisting on close up head shots, just when I thought I would get a perfect pic, a chick head shot up in the lens

So, after some research I posted an add on craigs list asking for a Pekin Duckling under the age of 6 weeks. I got a reply that day from a rescue

, asking if I would adopt 2 ducklings that were abandoned. The woman accepted them and had cared for them the last 2 weeks but she was not equiped to take them on. They were determined to be about a week apart in age, but that was a guess. She said she didnt know who owned them, they were just left in a box somewhere. They were determined to be about 5-6 weeks old by her but she wasnt sure. They also were not Pekin but I couldnt turn them down.
I was shocked when I picked them up, they are goliaths compared to Psy! I heard they grow fast but man I can't imagine Psy being this big in as little as 3 more weeks!

Here are pics of the 2 new Ducks to be named still below. The Black one I believe to be East Indies, but no idea on the other. They were also hard to get pic's of

, they kept trying to eat the camera, 1 out of 15 pics looked good.

I keep everyone under close watch and secured in dog crates on my patio over night. They get to play about 5 hours during the day ATM while I can watch them or my dogs are out with them, the thought of predation terrifies me. My dog's are very protective of anything I accept into our pack, so they are very gentle with the babies. Once they are older I will allow them out all day.

MORALE OF QUESTION BELOW:

I let the 2 new ducks adjust last night and let them out before the younger chicks and duckling were let out. They are shy and don't like being touched but will chase after me and quack loudly if I get out of site. If they get scared they make a beeline for my legs. They eat out of my hand as well, so I am hoping I can gain their trust.

The downside though is they instantly wanted to attack the chicks and duckling. I spent about 2 hours today sitting outside on the grass letting the chicks and psy sit under/near me. At first the 2 older ducklings charged the babies repeatedly, i would put my hand up to block the charge and said "NO" loudly. That detered them and stopped the behavior. The second outing they had together the older ducklings didn't charge and seek out to destroy.
However, if they noticed I wasn't watching they would try to sneak a peck in on the chicks/duckling. If one of the chicks wandered to close they would get a peck. OR if the chicks got into one of their flapping, super speed frenzy modes (you know where they dart and flap), that seemed to irritate the older ducklings and initiated a attempted peck. The duckling (Psy) seem's alot smarter than the chick's, he has learned the 2 older ducks mean trouble and to stay away.

I know its only been 1 day but I am clueless on duck behavior and I wan't to know if there is hope. Is Psy doomed to be a chicken?

 

[aleciasayshii]

I don't know if he's doomed to be a chicken, but theres probably a large posibility
your little duck looks like a muscovy to me, i may be wrong though.

 

[headred]

I added a couple of younger ducklings to some that were already a few weeks old. They did the pecking order for a few days and then worked it out. I think it is a natural thing and they will work it out. My 2 that were youngest and first pecked are now the leaders of the bunch of 9 total. They also turned out to be the largest.

Your dark all over duck looks to be a cayuga.

 

[janabors]

Quote:
Thanks for the replies!

I will keep hope then. I'm going to wait a few weeks before letting them work it out though, so the chicks/psy get out of the tiny fragile stage and a peck wont just about eat them.

 

[L0rraine]

My orphan duckling, raised by a hen and tormented by the rest of the flock, was eventually happy to have duck friends but always went rushing back to those chickens (who nearly beat her to death one night). She never seemed quite content or happy with 'who she was'. But now she's just hatched babies (all ducklings) and she's a lovely mom - and I'm thinking that she's finally come into her own. I 'll be making sure we keep a couple just so she keeps feeling like she's got family.

Not sure what to do with a male though - find him a mate?