Combining different groups of juvenile ducks

[Roseofsharing]

Hi, I’m looking for suggestions to help combining a couple groups of juvenile ducklings into one flock. After losing our ducks to a dog who jumped the fence while we were at work I started over this past week with a group of 3 golden 300s about four weeks old. This morning I introduced two Indian runner/welsh harlequin mixes that are about five weeks old. Since the goldens we’re here first and are younger and smaller I let them out of their house first and got them in their yard. I thought they’d need the advantage since they were smaller and honestly they didn’t seem to have very strong personalities. Kind of blank slates. (I’d love to hear more people’s experiences raising golden 300s)
Anyway, the runner mixes are mild tempered and sweet and the goldens are ruling the roost. One golden has been the obvious top of the pecking order and she seemed to evaluate them, see if they were a threat and after a few pushes and nips she seems to have assimilated them. However, little miss next in line golden is being a bully and being rough with the newbies. They are still very much two distinct groups with the runners going off to nap by themselves. I know it’s only been one day but I’d love any early on suggestions so I can hopefully nip the bullying in the bud. My ideal would be to have the older and better tempered runner mixes as my leads in this new little flock! Thanks in advance!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

They are beautiful ducks!
I am kind of doing the same thing. I have 4 -13 month old Muscovy ducks, and 6 -10 week old Muscovy ducklings.
They have been staying in two separate groups so far. They seem to avoid each other.
I haven’t seen fighting yet (it’s a few days), but I’m watching to see how it developers.

 

[FeatherLace]

When I introduced my younger ducks to my slightly older ducks (only a few weeks difference and both juveniles), there was a lot of nipping at first. I put them right beside eachother with a barrier between so they could see eachother but not touch, and at least once a day every day I'd take all the ducks out and place them in the pool so they'd be together but with a distraction. The nipping decreased every day and they were fully integrated with no problems after about 6 days

 

[Trisseh]

I integrated a 6 week old duckling into my older flock of 2 mature birds, and then added a second, younger duckling a few weeks later. He was around 4 weeks by the time he went out. Initially I put the 6 week old in a separate small pen, inside the larger duck pen so everyone could see each other but do no harm. At night, he went into “duck jail” inside their house while the girls went into the main space, again see but not touch. 2 days later I started taking him out for supervised time with the girls. The one was scared of him, the other didn’t like him and he’d run from her. About a week later, everyone could go into the house together with no issues. About 2 weeks after beginning, everyone was good. Then I introduced the smaller one, to the (now) 8 week old duckling, again by putting the babies in the smaller pen. They went into duck jail together every night, and now they’re all integrated well, all in all about 3 weeks. It took way less time to get the newest integrated because he just stuck close to the older duckling and became part of the flock by proxy. Lol. It may help to pen them separately, but side by side for a while, and then try to integrate the quieter ones first. Ducks are easier than chickens for sure, once they get it figured out, they’re good, with a lot less drama. Lol.

 

[Roseofsharing]

I integrated a 6 week old duckling into my older flock of 2 mature birds, and then added a second, younger duckling a few weeks later. He was around 4 weeks by the time he went out. Initially I put the 6 week old in a separate small pen, inside the larger duck pen so everyone could see each other but do no harm. At night, he went into “duck jail” inside their house while the girls went into the main space, again see but not touch. 2 days later I started taking him out for supervised time with the girls. The one was scared of him, the other didn’t like him and he’d run from her. About a week later, everyone could go into the house together with no issues. About 2 weeks after beginning, everyone was good. Then I introduced the smaller one, to the (now) 8 week old duckling, again by putting the babies in the smaller pen. They went into duck jail together every night, and now they’re all integrated well, all in all about 3 weeks. It took way less time to get the newest integrated because he just stuck close to the older duckling and became part of the flock by proxy. Lol. It may help to pen them separately, but side by side for a while, and then try to integrate the quieter ones first. Ducks are easier than chickens for sure, once they get it figured out, they’re good, with a lot less drama. Lol.

Yes I love that they really are like a little family and stick together. I think I will put a partition down to keep them separate for a little while, that makes a lot of sense. I don’t know how I’d be able to create a duck jail in my particular duck house but I will work on that. I actually put them all in there last night, not knowing if it was the right decision and they all seemed to sleep together in a cozy little duck pile so maybe they are integrating just fine. I just don’t want my runners to get overrun. They are so sweet and just trying to get along!

 

[Roseofsharing]

Another question I had was that none of them seem very interested in treats? My rouens and blue Swedish (beautiful birds all gone now ) would run to the gate every day when they’d see me coming because they knew I’d bring dandelion greens, shrimp, watermelon, whatever I brought they loved. Both my runner mixes and the goldens love their regular feed/yeast combo but look at me like I’m crazy for putting greens in their water?

 

[Flyinbolts]

Another question I had was that none of them seem very interested in treats? My rouens and blue Swedish (beautiful birds all gone now ) would run to the gate every day when they’d see me coming because they knew I’d bring dandelion greens, shrimp, watermelon, whatever I brought they loved. Both my runner mixes and the goldens love their regular feed/yeast combo but look at me like I’m crazy for putting greens in their water?

Different upbringings will produce different reactions. Some birds just don't like things. Some just don't like it when someone they don't know gives it to them.

My drake WILL NOT eat from my hand if I pick him up. He's the only one of the flock that wont. I raised him the same as the others. But set him down and he'll come running for meal worms.

Give them time to adjust and keep giving them the good stuff. eventually they'll catch on.

 

[Roseofsharing]

Different upbringings will produce different reactions. Some birds just don't like things. Some just don't like it when someone they don't know gives it to them.

My drake WILL NOT eat from my hand if I pick him up. He's the only one of the flock that wont. I raised him the same as the others. But set him down and he'll come running for meal worms.

Give them time to adjust and keep giving them the good stuff. eventually they'll catch on.

Thank you. I’ll keep trying and see if they’ll warm up. Getting both groups a few weeks old has its benefits but also it’s drawbacks for sure. They seem to be enthusiastic foragers though so maybe mealworms is the secret! I’ll give them a try!

 

[MeeMoo]

When I introduced my younger ducks to my slightly older ducks (only a few weeks difference and both juveniles), there was a lot of nipping at first. I put them right beside eachother with a barrier between so they could see eachother but not touch, and at least once a day every day I'd take all the ducks out and place them in the pool so they'd be together but with a distraction. The nipping decreased every day and they were fully integrated with no problems after about 6 days

Thank you very much for the information I have a batch of 12 juveniles that were hatched by one of my hens. Now I want them to all stay together as one flock but the younger ones keep getting pecked

 

[CHlCKEN]

Another question I had was that none of them seem very interested in treats? My rouens and blue Swedish (beautiful birds all gone now ) would run to the gate every day when they’d see me coming because they knew I’d bring dandelion greens, shrimp, watermelon, whatever I brought they loved. Both my runner mixes and the goldens love their regular feed/yeast combo but look at me like I’m crazy for putting greens in their water?

It takes some time for them to get used to it. My ducks think I’ve placed a bomb in there with them whenever I try to give them something lol. Start putting things out and leaving it there with them. Eventually they should catch on. It helps to carry things out in a recognizable container- I have a big red bowl that they immediately know means snacks- to get them excited and understand what is coming up. Don’t worry, they’ll figure it out, ducks are just a little dim sometimes lol.