Can human imprinted ducks ever be with or mate with normal ducks?

[Dynasty and Delta]

Hello Backyard chickens. I have only have two ducks being both human imprinted drakes. They are 2 1/2 years old and although they probably won't be integrated with other ducks for another year and a half or so I have some questions. I've heard varying information from several sources with some stating that human imprinted ducks could never be apart of a normal duck flock and won't ever breed with them. While others said that human imprinted ducks have no issue being with and mating with normal ducks over time.

So I thought I'd ask the experts here and ask the question is it possible for human imprinted ducks to ever be around, breed, and socialize with normal ducks if done under proper procedures? Will instincts take over, will they have to learn, or can it never be done?

 

[Canadian Wind]

Don't know where you read that but I see absolutely no issue integrating the imprinted ones. Especially since they already know what another duck is, being together. As for breeding, well... 4 years without a female may handicap them at first but animals are pretty good at figuring out reproduction!

 

[sourland]

My experience was with a human imprinted gander. When Gus was several years old, I purchased a number of goslings. He was intrigued by them from the time that I got them, and eventually adopted them. As they matured he mated with one goose, and they raised several broods of goslings. I have no experience with human imprinted drakes.

 

[KathiQuacks]

The most recent hen I took in was raised alone. She’d never even seen another duck until I took her in at 5 months old. She bonded to me instantly, flirting with me, following me, etc.

It took her 2 weeks to be accepted into my flock and about 4 more weeks to move on from me and begin flirting with my eldest drake. Now, at around 8 months old, I finally saw him and her mate with each other today.

It’s definitely possible. Like Canadian Wind said, they’ve got an upper hand in already knowing what a duck is. While they are much older, I’m still certain your boys will figure it out in time.

 

[ruthhope]

I raised my Daffy [a muscovy drake] from probably day 2 after hatching. He was at death's door when he came to me, and required a lot of resuscitation above the usual newly hatched duckling care. I couldn't get him ducky friends of similar size until he was 6 weeks old [the only ducklings of the same age for sale were 4 hours drive away and I couldn't drive there and back with a sick duckling in a box on the front passenger seat.] He spent 6 weeks with me, on my table between me and my laptop [he loved trying to peck off the Microsoft 4 squares in the bottom left of the keyboard] or in the brooder by my side where he could look up and see me. Once out of the brooder he followed me round, and slept between my feet when I was sitting, or on my shoulder.

He was then moved to my duck coop and introduced to a similar sized but likely older rescued muscovy drake and an older but smaller pekin drake that had survived a raccoon attack. The three remained together for two and half years, until the pekin died a year ago. Other drakes have been rescued, stayed a while [6-8 months] but then been rehomed. Some drakes have been rescued or rehomed and added to my flock. Daffy is Boss Duck most of the time, but slips down the pecking order when he is molting. He also bites me when he is molting. I understand molting is a miserable time for a drake! Daffy follows me around when I am in the garden and still tries to get into the house at every opportunity. He loves to sit by me and be cuddled, except when he is molting! I am sure he thinks he should live in the house and not in the coop "with ducks" but he is just fine living in the duck house!!!

I can't answer about being a drake in a flock of female ducks as I keep female rescues separate until they are rehomed. I expect they would work out quite quickly all about mating with a female duck

 

[Squawkers]

I raised my Daffy [a muscovy drake] from probably day 2 after hatching. He was at death's door when he came to me, and required a lot of resuscitation above the usual newly hatched duckling care. I couldn't get him ducky friends of similar size until he was 6 weeks old [the only ducklings of the same age for sale were 4 hours drive away and I couldn't drive there and back with a sick duckling in a box on the front passenger seat.] He spent 6 weeks with me, on my table between me and my laptop [he loved trying to peck off the Microsoft 4 squares in the bottom left of the keyboard] or in the brooder by my side where he could look up and see me. Once out of the brooder he followed me round, and slept between my feet when I was sitting, or on my shoulder.

He was then moved to my duck coop and introduced to a similar sized but likely older rescued muscovy drake and an older but smaller pekin drake that had survived a raccoon attack. The three remained together for two and half years, until the pekin died a year ago. Other drakes have been rescued, stayed a while [6-8 months] but then been rehomed. Some drakes have been rescued or rehomed and added to my flock. Daffy is Boss Duck most of the time, but slips down the pecking order when he is molting. He also bites me when he is molting. I understand molting is a miserable time for a drake! Daffy follows me around when I am in the garden and still tries to get into the house at every opportunity. He loves to sit by me and be cuddled, except when he is molting! I am sure he thinks he should live in the house and not in the coop "with ducks" but he is just fine living in the duck house!!!

I can't answer about being a drake in a flock of female ducks as I keep female rescues separate until they are rehomed. I expect they would work out quite quickly all about mating with a female duck

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Oh my goodness! Those pictures are absolutely adorable! I want a duck now

 

[Canadian Wind]

Oh my goodness! Those pictures are absolutely adorable! I want a duck now

DOO EET! But you have to get two.

 

[ruthhope]

Oh my goodness! Those pictures are absolutely adorable! I want a duck now

He's a great fat lump of duckiness these days

 

[Squawkers]

He's a great fat lump of duckiness these days

Adorable!!!