Bigger (but still baby duck) bullying smaller ducks..

[CBradley87]

My dad had ordered 3 ducklings to be shipped to us. First, let me say I was against this idea from the beginning and would have rather have found some local to us. Anyway, my mom and I went to pick them up at the post office and two of the three were dead. Despite that, my dad re-ordered three more from the same company. Again, I know. Maddening. So here is our situation. We have our Daisy duck who is doing great and has been well taken care of. This morning the other three ducklings arrived. Daisy is at least three times their size already and was less than friendly with them when we tried to see how they would get along. I'm hoping you guys can offer some advice.

My father had Mallard ducks growing up and that was his reason for wanting to have some now that we have land and a pond. He plans on building them shelter for the evenings and when it's cold, etc. Would just like to know any tips on how to help Daisy get along with them so she's finally not the only one. Thank you!

[Evy]

They grow fast, so just pen them side by side where they're within sight of each other. Put them in a neutral spot when you finally let them mingle. That way there are no territorial issues.
What place only ships 3? Even ducklings, which are hardier than chicks, need each other for warmth. Reputable hatcheries usually have a minimum of 6.

[azduckranch]

When we have new ducklings we put hem outside to run around the yard with the others supervised. If the older ones get aggressive we shoo them off. At night they stay in a box in the house up to 2 weeks until they become pooping machines. Then at night we put them in the pen in a a small house with a hardware cloth door to keep them separate from the others. Within less than a week they all get along well, although they usually have their separate cliques. Then we remove the hardware cloth door.

[judyc]

I had the same problem a day or two ago. I had a BEI egg get kicked out of a shared nest, so popped it into the incubator along with the Pekin eggs and American Buffs.

It hatched two days ago. The other incubator ducklings were way too big, although I tried to put the two smallest in a brooder with the newborn. When I came home yesterday afternoon, there the little thing was, wet, on it's back, and almost gone. I put it back in the hatcher overnight to warm back up, and kicked the other BEIs back out into the brooder.

This morning I put the newbie back in the brooder in my study, where it commenced to peep and peep. THIS was not going to fly!

My solution was to fish two (new) Bantam Barnvelder chicks out of their brooder for company. I've found that Barnevelders are not very aggressive to other babies. Well, the tiny duck says they aren't busom buddies, but they're better than being alone. More importantly, it stopped crying.

I've found that Pekin ducklings are horrible bullies to chicks or bantam ducklings at a day old! Makes it easier to put them in the oven.

I don't think you're going to be able to combine your two pens. It's a pain, but I think that once the small ducklings catch up with Daisy size-wise, you'll be OK.