Integrating ducklings

[MeoWusical]

Hello all! It’s been a while since I’ve posted. All my duckies are well and happy, and I now have two new Harlequin x Cayuga babies that are now almost 25 days old!
Unfortunately, I’m in a trailer, and they’re slowly getting too big for us
I have some female ducks that seem broody, but never hatched eggs on their own. The ducklings and the ladies have all been around each other quite a few times, and all of my girls either avoid the babies or tolerate their existence. Even my male ignores them, and they sometimes swim together in the pool.

So here’s my question: I’m thinking of making a separate pen next to the coops to put the babies in. Would it be a good idea to put one of my girls in there to keep them company and be new momma?
Whenever I leave the babies they cry and cry, and I don’t want them to think they’ve been abandoned if I put them out there alone.

*this is Onyx and Garnet, with their egg-donor momma Harley

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I would just put them beside the big ducks for a while, I wouldn't give them full access to each other unsupervised for at least a couple weeks. They may seem ok with each other... until they arent. It can go south very fast for a little one.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I had a young single drake I had integrated with my flock, my adult drake didn't bother him at all for weeks. Suddenly once the young drake got a bit older, and I can only assume my adult drake finially saw him as competition..
He attacked and nearly killed him. Ripped all the feathers off his back before I got home and saw what was happening.
Even females sometimes like to establish dominance by jumping on top of another female. When shes twice the size of your young ones that can end in drowning or serious injury. Not saying it WILL happen but it can.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

They see you as mom. So, I would but them in the seperate pen and then either sit in or next to the pen or do yard work near by. Decrease the time you stay neaby each day. You are trying to teach them that you are all members of the flock which includes the big ducks. Then, when they are older (around 4 months) you can try them together supervised. As shawluvsbirds said, mixing unsupervised can go south quickly.

 

[MeoWusical]

Thank you @cheezenkwackers and @shawluvsbirds !! I’ll take your advice and do what you’ve suggested, I do know that my male is a bit dominant towards his girls, so considering your advice I’m sure if I leave the babies alone with him, he’ll probably try something unpleasant. (Trying to get things set up so he can leave his girls alone during the day too, my ladies are becoming bald )
When I get the mini’s integrated, I will try to remember to let you guys know how it went!