advice on introducing ducklings

[chickenmomma6]

any advice on introducing ducklings to chickens. i have a huge run and will have them in a separate pen in the run so they can see and be near but not actually with each other. any other advice and what age can they go outside

 

[PirateGirl]

What age they can go outside depends on your current weather. Generally speaking, once they are fully feathered, they can live outside comfortably 24/7 provided they have a shelter from wind/rain/snow.

Every integration experience is different, every flock is different. When I integrated chickens, everyone was fine after just a few hours. When I integrated ducks, it took close to a month and was a much slower process.

Start with a cage or a divider where they can see and hear but not touch each other. If everyone seems to be ignoring each other, you can try putting them together while you are there to interrupt any bad behavior. I found a long stick or broom helpful to separate birds or keep back an aggressive bird while I caught others to separate them once again when things weren't working (break up fights or breeding attempts). Try putting them together supervised for an hour. Keep increasing the time until you are comfortable that no one will be seriously injured. I got to a point where most got along and there was one "bully" picking on the new birds and instead of separating the new birds from the old birds I just separated out the bully until things settled down. Again, this could all happen in a day, or over a month, or longer, everyone's flock dynamics are different.

 

[chickens really]

I have Ducklings momma raised outside with over night temps as low a 8C and they do great. Momma isn't covering her Ducklings anymore and are two weeks old. Sleep in a crate with Momma on shavings and straw.
Also have newer hatchlings doing the same. Wild Ducks raise Ducklings without any heat or shelter..
I do not keep my two species together. My Ducks hate Chickens and Chickens are filthy Birds. Ducks are just messy..

 

[PirateGirl]

I do not keep my chickens and ducks together either. Some people make it work. I'm pretty sure mine would be miserable and stressed and I'd no longer get eggs.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

My chickens and ducks are separated too. I do allow them free time in the yard when I am out in the evening (or during the day if I have time). They don't always get along though. I have even let them go at it a bit thinking it would get out of their systems. Nope.
They can see and touch each other through their divider fence in the run. They are pretty silly.
But, some people are able to have their ducks and chickens altogether. I just don't see the need all of the time as the duck area stays pretty wet and the chicken area is pretty dry - set up just for the different poultry.