Chick Thinks it's a Duck

[TassieSheDevil]

A week ago I was given a white 2-week-old chick (so now 3 weeks) that was being picked on by its flock. I put it in a shed where I have both chickens and ducks (black Australorps, white Muscovies and Runners). There are two Muscovies sitting on eggs next to each other. At night Shorty, the chick, squeezes himself in between the two ducks and sleeps there. During the daytime, instead of mixing with the other chickens, he hangs around with a dozen or so ducklings. He has no interest in any of the chickens.

Is this unusual behaviour for a chicken "orphan"? My theory is that he is attracted to the ducks because they are the same size and colour as him, and also because the mother ducks are not rejecting him. Does anyone have a different idea?

 

[azygous]

All you said plus the body heat all add up to compatibility between the ducks and the chick.

But the compatibility ends the second the mama duck starts out with the ducklings toward the pond. The chick is a drowning victim if it isn't prevented from joining the swim party.

 

[TassieSheDevil]

All you said plus the body heat all add up to compatibility between the ducks and the chick.

But the compatibility ends the second the mama duck starts out with the ducklings toward the pond. The chick is a drowning victim if it isn't prevented from joining the swim party.

The ducklings Shorty hangs around with in the daytime are pretty independent and if any of them decide to go swimming he stays behind with the ones who don't. He seems like a pretty cluey little chick, probably due to necessity.

 

[azygous]

Keep an eye on this plucky chick anyway. It may decide to follow its pals if they all jump into the pond. I've been around these forums long enough to have read a few sad tales of that happening.

 

[aart]

Hopefully chicks instincts keep it out of the pond.....
...made my think of a story were a chicken hen brooded ducklings,
and freaked out when they all went into a pond .

 

[chickens really]

I hatched a single Call Duckling last summer and all I could get was a chick to be his friend. It was cute to see how bonded they were. Well it was short lived because when the Duckling and chick were 3 weeks old the Duckling broke the Chicks neck. That's the only experience I have raising the two species together as friends.

 

[BDutch]

I wonder if the chick will pick on the newly hatched ducklings if they come out? Is that not to be expected or a problem?

 

[casportpony]

I hatch and brood chicks, peachicks, poults, and ducklings together all the time and they do okay as long as they don't snuggle with the wet ducklings.