|
Post by roleyranch on Nov 14, 2008 8:57:21 GMT 8
I have a pekin duck (no idea of sex) approx 14 weeks old and am wanting to get another 2 pekin ducklings to keep it company. Will there be a problem with pecking order, bullying? Any suggestions?
|
|
|
Post by horses7 on Nov 14, 2008 11:21:23 GMT 8
Sorry Roley I dont have any ducks, but I presume it would be the same principle as with the chookens, first of, how much of an age difference is there, in the 2 that you are introducing and your existing one?Please please QUARANTINE them first at least for 2 to 3 weeks, debug and worm in this time frame so at least you know they wont be bringing in any extra friends with them when they go into the pen. when you do introduce them stay and watch for a while and see what happens, if there is conflict if you can put them in a pen next door and hopefully they will start to get on a bit and keep trying until all goes smooth. Hope that was of some help
|
|
ducky
New Member
Posts: 19
|
Post by ducky on Nov 15, 2008 9:51:53 GMT 8
You should be able to tell the sex at that age. I would do what horses7 said and quarantine the ducklings for a couple weeks. Plus it gets them used to you if you handle them enough. A drake may have a go at them very quickly. I have a pacific black at the moment and as soon as my drake saw it, he had a go. He's like that with all of the ducklings.
|
|
|
Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 15, 2008 14:03:34 GMT 8
As ducky said, your duck would be sexable at that age. Does it have a feather that curls backwards towards its head on the top of its tail. If it does, thats a drake feather and its a male. When I introduce new ducklings I usually quarantine them in a large cage, keeping them away from the other birds for a couple of weeks. Then I start placing the cage into the duck pen each day so that they can interact but still be separated. I usually do that for about a week then open the door to the cage so the lil ones can go out in their own time and I supervise them. If things get too heated I just put the ducklings back in the cage again and try again later on. I would wait until your ducklings are at least 8 weeks old before you try to introduce them to your other duck, any younger than that and they'll probably be picked on just because theyre babies. Just take the introduction slowly, dont be in a rush to have them all in together.
|
|
|
Post by roleyranch on Nov 17, 2008 12:05:52 GMT 8
Hi Steph, I think there is a curly feather, tho will check again tonight, I have been wondering how to sex quacker...thanks for the advice! And will take the slowly but surely path with introduction...thanx! Kim
|
|
|
Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 17, 2008 13:57:25 GMT 8
You're welcome Kim, glad to help Let us know how you go with your new ducklings when you get them and we'd love to see some piccies
|
|