Hi everybody
I'm a total newbie and just got my first flock - they are only about 4 weeks old bless them. 2 ducks and 3 chicks. It was meant to be 2 chicks but i fell in love with a pekin bantam. Anyway, Elvis the bantam she was the lowest ranking but as i got her 2 days after the original 4 they are oK with each other. The chicks cuddle up with the ducks at night but i felt sorry for Elvis and yesterday bought another chick of a smilar size and age she is supposed to be a sister but I'm not too sure as she doesnt have the feathered feet. Anyway, she was out scratching in the back garden on her own, the flock were a short distance away doing their own thing. All good so far. When she went past the ducks they billed her a couple of times, but nothing too bad. The chicks just ignored her. Then it came for bed time.
They were all feeding out of their round feeder quite happily but then I heard her screech and it turned out that when she walked past the ducks one of them pulled her wings. This happened three times. They didnt chase her, only when she walked past them. I dont know if I ve done the right thing but i separated her and put her upstairs in the nesting section and all but closed the door - left a gap big enough for the chicks to get in but they sleep downstairs with the ducks anyway.
So i checked her this morning she's ok there were no injuries last night. She was scratching and peeping away and seems OK but i feel desparately sorry for her up there on her own. One of the chicks came to investigate but went back down. I dont know if i've done the right thing getting her but i really dont want to take her back to the pet shop she's just lovely and I felt sorry for Elvis the bantam being on her own but now i feel even worse for Raven the new one. I have read that the youngest is the lowest in the pecking order and there is some bullying until they establish their place, but should I separate the ducks and chicks? I really dont want to as they all sleep and eat together.
Any advice would be really appreciated thank you. I feel terrible.
Thank you
I'm a total newbie and just got my first flock - they are only about 4 weeks old bless them. 2 ducks and 3 chicks. It was meant to be 2 chicks but i fell in love with a pekin bantam. Anyway, Elvis the bantam she was the lowest ranking but as i got her 2 days after the original 4 they are oK with each other. The chicks cuddle up with the ducks at night but i felt sorry for Elvis and yesterday bought another chick of a smilar size and age she is supposed to be a sister but I'm not too sure as she doesnt have the feathered feet. Anyway, she was out scratching in the back garden on her own, the flock were a short distance away doing their own thing. All good so far. When she went past the ducks they billed her a couple of times, but nothing too bad. The chicks just ignored her. Then it came for bed time.
They were all feeding out of their round feeder quite happily but then I heard her screech and it turned out that when she walked past the ducks one of them pulled her wings. This happened three times. They didnt chase her, only when she walked past them. I dont know if I ve done the right thing but i separated her and put her upstairs in the nesting section and all but closed the door - left a gap big enough for the chicks to get in but they sleep downstairs with the ducks anyway.
So i checked her this morning she's ok there were no injuries last night. She was scratching and peeping away and seems OK but i feel desparately sorry for her up there on her own. One of the chicks came to investigate but went back down. I dont know if i've done the right thing getting her but i really dont want to take her back to the pet shop she's just lovely and I felt sorry for Elvis the bantam being on her own but now i feel even worse for Raven the new one. I have read that the youngest is the lowest in the pecking order and there is some bullying until they establish their place, but should I separate the ducks and chicks? I really dont want to as they all sleep and eat together.
Any advice would be really appreciated thank you. I feel terrible.
Thank you
