Introducing new ducks

[Ducklovers dad]

Current duck arrangement.

We have a pond on our property. There was a wood duck (male) abandoned as a chick. We purchased two chick (silver appleyards - male). These three seem to be getting along with occasional peking orders. My daughter has fallen in love with ducks and wants a call duck because the others are not very cuddly.

Please share with me thoughts on introducing a pair (male/female) of call ducks with our boys. I am concerned about the ratios.

 

[KathiQuacks]

I would definitely not get 1 female with 4 boys. She will almost certainly be drowned from over mating.

 

[Blue Andalusian]

Current duck arrangement.

We have a pond on our property. There was a wood duck (male) abandoned as a chick. We purchased two chick (silver appleyards - male). These three seem to be getting along with occasional peking orders. My daughter has fallen in love with ducks and wants a call duck because the others are not very cuddly.

Please share with me thoughts on introducing a pair (male/female) of call ducks with our boys. I am concerned about the ratios.

As KathiQuacks said. You need more Females Then Males or a Equal amount of Males and Females, From my Experience. It is not pleasant, they mate every day. And aggressively, you need to Cull off some males when they are older, Give them away or get more Females. You should have 3 Ducks minimum, But. As for Introducing. Make a fenced in area outside for them, by the pond (or/and in the coop) and let them see the ducks. Then you can soon let them roam by them, but always Supervise. Some ducks may try to drown ducklings or hurt them

 

[Ducklovers dad]

Thank you for the information. We are new to the duck world so this is very informative.

 

[Blue Andalusian]

No Problem. If you have any questions, I'll be free to answer. I've basically been Owning Chickens and Ducks my Whole life, so I'm kinda a Expert lol

Thank you for the information. We are new to the duck world so this is very informative.

 

[Duck Breeder]

Current duck arrangement.

We have a pond on our property. There was a wood duck (male) abandoned as a chick. We purchased two chick (silver appleyards - male). These three seem to be getting along with occasional peking orders. My daughter has fallen in love with ducks and wants a call duck because the others are not very cuddly.

Please share with me thoughts on introducing a pair (male/female) of call ducks with our boys. I am concerned about the ratios.

I will share a trick we learned on accident get the call ducks when they are just hatched and raise them inside we used a large plastic storage container and a heat lamp hooked on to the back of a chair for a brooder and put puppy pads in the bottom and saw dust on top it was to cold that year to have them out so the were in the house for two months wit us. They imprinted on us now the follow us around the yard like puppies will eat from our hands and they will sit on us if we put a blanket on the lawn. your daughter would have the best friends she cold ever want.

 

[Duck Breeder]

I will share a trick we learned on accident get the call ducks when they are just hatched and raise them inside we used a large plastic storage container and a heat lamp hooked on to the back of a chair for a brooder and put puppy pads in the bottom and saw dust on top it was to cold that year to have them out so the were in the house for two months wit us. They imprinted on us now the follow us around the yard like puppies will eat from our hands and they will sit on us if we put a blanket on the lawn. your daughter would have the best friends she cold ever want.

My wife was working from home then an sat them right next to her and talked to them all day our ducks are Australian spotted duck so they are part call duck they can see when she pulls in the driveway and the call until she comes to visit it hilarious.

 

[3bird]

There is some good advice above.

When we bring a new duck onto our farm, we quarantine the new duck. Depending on myriad factors, that QT may last 10 days or a full 30 days. There is some great info on BYC about QTing, and it tends to be a little easier with ducks, but if you have duck-specific QT questions, feel free to reach out.

For us, we shoot for at least three females for every drake (preferably four). Even then, some flock management may be necessary, so it's good to have an easy and effective way to separate them while keeping them together.

When you're ready to introduce a new bird to an established flock, it's best to start with the see-but-don't touch approach. Take it slow and let them get to know each other.

...and thank you for working with silver appleyards. They only recently left the Livestock Conservancy threatened list and are now on the watch list. They are an important heritage breed, and it's great to see more of them!

Good luck!