The duck house (mansion?) is about complete - we just have to finish the roof today. It has plenty of room for the 2 existing ducks and 3 ducklings (1 of the 3 that is here now and 2 others on their way). Also has room for a few chickens.
Sadly, one of the bantam chicks at school, that hatched with the 3 ducklings that were at school, pecked the living daylights out of 2 of the ducklings there. One died just after the last kid left yesterday and another died overnight. The 3rd seems pretty free of pecking. Chicks were sent home yesterday. Lone duckling at school has a stuffed animal and I'll pick him up tonight to bring him home and get him settled with the 3 here. Hopefully that intro will go well.
But that experience has us asking if they really will live happily together? We only want 2, maybe 3 chickens - for eggs.
Do we get them as chicks and brood them or find almost adults? What's the best way - it isn't the mess I'm worried about - that's under control, it's the getting along bit - I don't want my ducks pecked.
Sadly, one of the bantam chicks at school, that hatched with the 3 ducklings that were at school, pecked the living daylights out of 2 of the ducklings there. One died just after the last kid left yesterday and another died overnight. The 3rd seems pretty free of pecking. Chicks were sent home yesterday. Lone duckling at school has a stuffed animal and I'll pick him up tonight to bring him home and get him settled with the 3 here. Hopefully that intro will go well.
But that experience has us asking if they really will live happily together? We only want 2, maybe 3 chickens - for eggs.
Do we get them as chicks and brood them or find almost adults? What's the best way - it isn't the mess I'm worried about - that's under control, it's the getting along bit - I don't want my ducks pecked.
