Bachelor Introduction
DISCLAIMER: Always remember to quarantine any new bird before introducing them to your flock!
Introducing a Grown Drake into a Group of Grown Drakes. I had never introduced a new duck to a flock before, let alone a group of only drakes.
Why is it More Challenging to Introduce a Boy to a Group of Boys?
Boys, or drakes in the duck world, have a huge amount of hormones. Their natural response to other drakes is that they're rivals for a potential mate.
All male birds—whether roosters or drakes—tend to work better together if they've grown up together. That's why introducing a grown male to an established group of grown males can be a real challenge.
Why Did I Decide to Increase My Flock of Drakes (Bachelor Flock)?
I learned the hard way that the second mating season for drakes is the hardest. This is when their hormones reach their peak.
Having an uneven number of boys is not a good choice, as one will always be left out and bullied during the mating season. It's just nature. Since I learned this the hard way, I realized that when I had to separate them during fights, one drake was always left alone.
The Solution: Even Numbers in a Bachelor Flock
Having an even number of drakes allows them the option to form two groups during mating season. This way, you can avoid the bullying issue and keep the group dynamic more balanced.
KEY POINTS
for a sucessful introuction
Introducing a New Drake to the Flock
I didn't have much to go on when it came to introducing a new drake, so I relied on what I knew from introducing chickens to each other.
Timing the Introduction
Introducing a new drake in late fall tends to be more successful since their hormone levels drop as mating season ends. I, however, did my introduction in mid-summer out of desperation—and it worked just fine!
Choosing the Right Drake
My new drake had to be able to keep up with the fast pace of my runners, so it needed to be an Indian Runner or a mix. Otherwise, there's a risk the newbie might fall behind or struggle to escape bullying.
The drake also couldn't be too young or a duckling. The older the drake, the better. Older drakes have more control over their hormones, which is key in reducing aggression.
Avoiding Alpha Males
I was very specific in choosing a docile male. An alpha drake would have likely caused serious fighting during the introduction. By choosing a calm drake, I reduced the risk of major conflict.
Using Compost Fencing
Compost fencing made the introduction process much easier. Keep in mind, though, that a good flying breed of duck can easily fly over this type of fencing, so be aware of that.
Integrating the New Drake
Once the fighting starts to decrease, you can let the new drake out with the flock 24/7. Allow them to free-range together as well. Be prepared for some chasing and nibbling, but as long as there's no blood, I say let them work it out.
Sucess?
The Perfect Match
The drake I chose as a partner for my new drake during the mating season was the one who naturally started hanging out with him—like a match made in heaven!
The Integration Process
It took about a month for the flock to fully accept him, but most of it was due to my newbie's curiosity and eagerness to be part of the group. It went from him being 10% integrated to 100% in just one day. One day, it was like he had always been with them.
Unexpected Influence
Even though he was the lowest in the pecking order, he actually had a positive influence on the flock. His presence brought about changes in their behavior, showing that sometimes the underdog can be the one to set a better example.