Advice From Duck Experts..or anyone with opinion!

[Bettyboop7499]

Hey BYC, here I am again looking for advice! Who would have thought raising fowl would be so difficult!? So, for five weeks I've raised my four Pekin ducks with my chicks. I couldn't believe how fast the ducks were growing, they seem too big for five weeks and they don't need the same type food as the chicks do at this age(5-6 weeks). Also, in the covered area they never seem to walk upright, and one def has a something wrong with leg. The area we had them in was approx 10'x22'x4.5' for 17 chicks and four ducks. I moved the ducks out of the covered portion, now they are in an area atleast twice as big with a pool. Though they are just separated by a net they seem devasted. I setup the food and water just a couple of feet away from where is was w/chicks, so they could still be near them during eating but separated. I setup the exact same style sheltered area. I'm really concerned because one seemed physically distressed. Will they adjust? They are sleeping next to the net not in shelter and so are all the chicks. For some reason if I don't have the heatlight turned on at night the chicks don't go into their shelter-this is not new just side note because I forgot to turn on heatlight in time. They are sleeping all huddled up but not chirping, they are fully feathered and low tonight will be 60F-should I force them up and into the brooder?

Do ducks have the same air predators as chicks? They are remarkably bigger but I've never seen them flutter around like chicks.

Thanks for response in advance! This is emotionally draining!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your ducks bonded with your chickens which can be bad. Separating them is a good idea. Drakes raised with chickens will sometimes try to mate them as adults which doesn't turn out well for the chickens. They will adjust to the separation. I personally wouldn't let them see the chicks.

Many times young chicks won't go inside without encouragement or a light. So either use a light than shut it off after they are in or herd them in before dusk. They will eventually put themselves away when they mature more. They don't need the heat anymore. They will complain without it but they too will adjust.

Ducks do get taken by the same predators. Hawks sometimes kill ducks only to realize they can't carry them away.

Poultry should be enjoyable, not draining.

 

[llombardo]

I raised my 3 ducks and 4 of the chickens together. They have seperate areas now. They do lay along the fence together during the day at times. They look out for each other. The whole pen is netted. On a couple occasions there has been a hawk and the rooster alerted all and then all of them were talking to each other. The younger 4 chickens get along well with the ducks, even though they were not raised together. Every now and then I leave the gate open and they can visit each other--supervised because the male duck did try to mate with a chicken once. It was only once and I was there to seperate.

When I look out my window, this is what I see

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Your ducks bonded with your chickens which can be bad. Separating them is a good idea. Drakes raised with chickens will sometimes try to mate them as adults which doesn't turn out well for the chickens. They will adjust to the separation. I personally wouldn't let them see the chicks.

Many times young chicks won't go inside without encouragement or a light. So either use a light than shut it off after they are in or herd them in before dusk. They will eventually put themselves away when they mature more. They don't need the heat anymore. They will complain without it but they too will adjust.

Ducks do get taken by the same predators. Hawks sometimes kill ducks only to realize they can't carry them away.

Poultry should be enjoyable, not draining.

Oh, I enjoy them! I was just so worried about my decision, had I screwed up by separating them or raising them together. And, because MY ignorance can cost them.

I am glad I made the decision to separate them though, the ducks looked so much better today! Even my teenage son noticed how much better they looked!

I am suppose to have four female ducks, but I did buy female chicks earlier in the year and ended up with a Rooster so...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ducks can be so messy, so often it's better to keep them separately due to that. Ducks splashing around in the water can make things wet enough to cause frostbite on chickens in winter.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

I raised my 3 ducks and 4 of the chickens together. They have seperate areas now. They do lay along the fence together during the day at times. They look out for each other. The whole pen is netted. On a couple occasions there has been a hawk and the rooster alerted all and then all of them were talking to each other. The younger 4 chickens get along well with the ducks, even though they were not raised together. Every now and then I leave the gate open and they can visit each other--supervised because the male duck did try to mate with a chicken once. It was only once and I was there to seperate.

When I look out my window, this is what I see

View attachment 1534542

You have a nice setup, I like the black iron fence-a lot! I would love to do something nice like that but until I figure out my husband pig issue, it won't happen. We are going to have chickens, ducks, and pigs in the pasture, the chicks and ducks will have covered run and an area to free range without the pigs, they will also be able to leave the area all together and free range with pigs if they so desire.

 

[llombardo]

You have a nice setup, I like the black iron fence-a lot! I would love to do something nice like that but until I figure out my husband pig issue, it won't happen. We are going to have chickens, ducks, and pigs in the pasture, the chicks and ducks will have covered run and an area to free range without the pigs, they will also be able to leave the area all together and free range with pigs if they so desire.

I've also got regular bird netting. Even with that I have had a couple chickens get into the duck area. It's been when they are getting chased and they manage to get over there. One of the younger ones ended up in the duck house, the ducks were just looking at it like um you don't belong here. One of the older girls will sneak over there whenever she has the opportunity.

I like that they are familiar with each other and don't try fighting or chasing each other when they interact. I think that is a big plus of raising them together. They can coexist together, apart or kinda together.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

I've also got regular bird netting. Even with that I have had a couple chickens get into the duck area. It's been when they are getting chased and they manage to get over there. One of the younger ones ended up in the duck house, the ducks were just looking at it like um you don't belong here. One of the older girls will sneak over there whenever she has the opportunity.

I like that they are familiar with each other and don't try fighting or chasing each other when they interact. I think that is a big plus of raising them together. They can coexist together, apart or kinda together.

I know that a couple of my chicks spend the whole day just looking for away out. Just last night, I went out to check on them before bed and one was sitting on top of the net in between the ducks and chicks! Like me, chicks don't seem see well at night and that's a good thing because had it not been for that she would have flown out and then who knows!

 

[llombardo]

I know that a couple of my chicks spend the whole day just looking for away out. Just last night, I went out to check on them before bed and one was sitting on top of the net in between the ducks and chicks! Like me, chicks don't seem see well at night and that's a good thing because had it not been for that she would have flown out and then who knows!

I was painting boards putside last night with very little light and 4 of the chickens hung out with me. I was surprised that they were cleaning themselves and eating bugs with it being so dark. They stayed put on top of the coop(I lvked them up when I was done for the night) but they did move around.

 

[happy duck]

it is good that your ducks are getting better about separation! It was a good idea that your ducks and chickens are separated.