Adding to mixed flock- mixing it up even more

BorealRanch

Chirping
Aug 31, 2018
62
72
86
Northwestern ontario
Looking for some advice on introducing birds to other birds. We have some chickens and ducks that free range that we intend to keep over winter. More specifically 7 ducks and 2 chickens (1 ee hen and one barred rock rooster). We also have chickens and turkeys in tractors in another area of our property so they haven't had much introduction to our freerangers. We do plan to keep a breeding trio of turkeys and about 5 Rhode island red hens and one rooster. All to ultimately free range and winter with our current free range flock. These birds are all about the same age but as I said haven't really interacted with each other yet. I was thinking of pulling the tractors over to where the freerangers coop is and letting them hang out with each other for a couple of weeks. Do you think this would be the best way to introduce them all to each other to avoid conflict?
Second part to my question is regarding introducing a duckling... I hatched eggs last week and much to my dismay only have one duckling... one out of 36 eggs hatched (in still learning). The last hatch I did only one egg hatched as Well and I was able to find a duckling around the same age to keep it company. This time around I won't be able to get another duckling. I don't want him/her to get lonley. We are handling him/her as much as possible but think SOME sort of interaction with ducks is needed ((when we introduced the two little ducklings to as higher. Last time, the one I hatched was actually scared of the other duckling because she had never seen another duck before)... I was thinking of using a clear rubermaid-like tote as an almost portable brooder and take the duckling to our big ducks to have "supervised play dates".. thoughts?
Pic is of our free range flock :)
If this is too much for one post let me know and I'll take it down :th
 

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Maybe fencing would work better for introductions in regards to the ducks. Just make sure it is something the duckling cannot get through.
As far as your other questions, I will let someone with more experience answer those.
 
Welcome to BYC!

I was thinking of pulling the tractors over to where the freerangers coop is and letting them hang out with each other for a couple of weeks. Do you think this would be the best way to introduce them all to each other to avoid conflict?
It's a good start...not sure it will totally deter conflict.
Free ranging can be most helpful when birds have the first physical contact as there is plenty of space for subordinates to get away from their superiors.
Will paste my integration notes below.

What are your plans for winter housing?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
upload_2018-9-5_7-28-21.png



Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better.
Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
 
Welcome to BYC!


It's a good start...not sure it will totally deter conflict.
Free ranging can be most helpful when birds have the first physical contact as there is plenty of space for subordinates to get away from their superiors.
Will paste my integration notes below.

What are your plans for winter housing?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1525187


Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better.
Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.



Sorry for the delay! Two small kids and just under 70 animals so it's a busy busy place! We have 160 acres but the birds have easy access to about 15-20 acres bordered by forest (no fence so TECHNICALLY the have access to all of it, And the whole world I suppose). The existing birds don't venture far from us, there are alot of animals around who would love to have chicken/duck/turkey for dinner so they don't go far from the hound dog. This week we put the tractors near the existing flock keeping the reds in theirs but have let the turkeys out to forage. The roosters that are in the tractors and our free range guy (Brock) have got into spats but can't get to each other... we will be keeping all the animals that we keep in the same shed over winter. It's a 20×30 steel building that will house our 8 ducks, 3 rabbits (plus whatever babies we have), 2 goats (plus whatever babies they have in the spring) 3 turkeys and whatever chickens we keep. Will this be enough room?? We are in northwestern Ontario Canada. Coldest winter days here were -30 for about a week.
 
-30C or F?
20x30 meters or feet?
Depends on how you separate it out, I guess.
Goats need to be kept away from poultry feed, as they can gorge on it-sometimes fatally.
Ducks are often best kept separate from other poultry due to their wet-messiness.
Chickens needs to be dry to stay warm.
Not sure about turkeys.
Outdoor space in winter there could be tricky depending on snow depths.
Lots to think about.
 
-30C or F?
20x30 meters or feet?
Depends on how you separate it out, I guess.
Goats need to be kept away from poultry feed, as they can gorge on it-sometimes fatally.
Ducks are often best kept separate from other poultry due to their wet-messiness.
Chickens needs to be dry to stay warm.
Not sure about turkeys.
Outdoor space in winter there could be tricky depending on snow depths.
Lots to think about.
-30C and 20×30 feet. The goats will have there own stalls... all the animals will have outdoor opportunity daily as long as it's not TOO cold... I plan to stack up straw as a wind barrier/wall outside and make paths in the snow for walking around...also will be cutting down a couple of our evergreens and putting them beside the shed which would create a barrier and shelter (going to give the goats branches from them daily.. or if they decide they want to go outside to munch). Our days are cold but it's a dry cold (usually) and quite often the days are very sunny.
 
Nice building....are soffits open for ventilation..and I see ridge vent?
Yes... lots of ventilation... it defiantly was not originally built with the intent of housing animals I don't think... the previous owner stored his wood working prices for sale in it so it's pretty immaculate... only downside is no hydro to it
 

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