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Adding a duckling to the hen house

Discussion in 'Ducks' started by vermontgal, Oct 28, 2008.

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  1. Oct 28, 2008 #1
    vermontgal

    vermontgal Songster

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    Mar 24, 2008
    Salt Lake City / Sugarhood
    I have heard that you can possibly introduce chicks into the hen house if you can get one of the chickens to "adopt" the chick - preferably by popping it under her on the nest. Would the same work for a duckling?

    What's the best way to add 1 duckling (Khaki Campbell) to the henhouse? I will have 2 adult hens in the spring, a couple chicks, and the duckling.

    Thanks for any advice!
     
  2. Oct 29, 2008 #2
    ametauss

    ametauss Songster

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    Aug 20, 2008
    Shepherdsville, KY
    I don't know about getting a hen to accept a duckling but I raised a chick and a duck together and the duck thought it was a chicken.... It wasn't until we got another duck that he actually started to act like a duck... getting in water and not doing a chicken walk....

    Of course the chicken walk was extremely funny!!
     
  3. Oct 29, 2008 #3
    chickmommar

    chickmommar Songster

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    Jun 7, 2007
    Central SC (recently central OK)
    If you have a truly broody hen, you theoretically can sneak a very young chick or duckling or keet, etc., under her in dark of night. But the baby needs to be really young - a hatchling, and the mama has to be really broody and at it long enough to feel maternal. I've had a hen hatch a duckling for me and be its mama until I was ready to take over for her a week or two later. I do think you want a backup plan in case the hen won't be fooled. And it is risky because if she's not fooled, she may well decide to kill the baby. Good luck.
     

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