6 week runners with the rest of the flock?

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

I have suffered some losses, down to 4 hens, and one drake who is too feeble to mate them, he gets to the food and water and that’s about it. I responded to an ad for 1.5 months old runners, I should be able to sex them by voice, but how about mixing them in with the rest? Do you think I would get away with it at this stage? I was looking for some that were a bit older.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Introduce with the look no touch at 1.5 months they are still young and your flock may not accept them right off but doing the look no touch gives everyone time to get to know each other. When I put my 1.5 month olds out I use a dog X pen and set it up right in the middle where my adults hang out they stayed that way for about 2 weeks at night they slept in the coop in a large dog crate for protection.
I'd love to see some pictures of your new ducklings.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Introduce with the look no touch at 1.5 months they are still young and your flock may not accept them right off but doing the look no touch gives everyone time to get to know each other. When I put my 1.5 mounth olds out I use a dog X pen and set it up right in the middle where my adults hang out they stayed that way for about 2 weeks at night they slept in the coop in a large dog crate for protection.
I'd love to see some pictures of your new ducklings.

I know how to voice sex, but do you think 6-8 weeks is too early to be reliable?

 

[Miss Lydia]

You should hear a honk/quack/ peep every once in a while. Maybe try the pick up and walk away from the rest sometimes that can get a quack out of a female.

 

[KathiQuacks]

I know how to voice sex, but do you think 6-8 weeks is too early to be reliable?

4 weeks has been reliable for me, so 6 - 8 weeks should be well old enough.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I wouldn't throw in birds from another farm without quarantining first.