Temperature change question with new baby ducklings.

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Alicia0795

Alicia0795

Chirping
5 Years
Jul 21, 2014
69
2
84
Hi! So one of our mallard duck had two babies this morning. We brought them inside with the mother because our chickens were pecking at the babies and hurting them. We have a chicken coop thing outside that has a door on it that i can close up and put the ducklings and mother in so the chickens do not get at them. Since it is so warm in the house and very cold outside (like 10 degrees) How should i get them outside with that huge temperature change??? I have heard that it can make their bodies go into shock if you do such a huge temp change like that. We are deciding to put them out tomorrow. I need some help. Should I even do it? too much of a risk? Or is their some tips that can help me.
 
Hens will peck chicks (or in this case ducklings) of other hens to show the 'pecking order'. Some hens are very aggressive about this behavior - and I typically separate the perpetrator hen, not the chicks, unless all the hens are going after a chick(s).

I've not tried to raise chickens and ducks together in the same coop. If you have a separate pen for them, even temporarily, that would likely be good. In our flock of 20 hens, when one has hatched out chicks and needs to be seperated, I've used a large dog-crate as a temporary shelter. I've also repurposed a Rubbermaid outdoor storage bin (think for outdoor cushions) as a mini-coop. I've made a PVC hoop house with 1/4" hardware cloth sides and a tarp top as a larger pen for all the chicks of a particular year before integrating back with the hens (once the hens no longer wish to care for their chicks at about 3-6wks old).

Good luck!
 
The ducks and chickens get along together very well usually. I think that since they are so small, they aren't sure of it is food or what. We have a separate thing for them to go in for now until they grow a little and then the chickens should leave them alone. How about the temperature change thing? Any tips or anything for taking them back outside in that weather?
 

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