Chickens picking on my duck

[TinaMarie]

I was wondering if anyone can help me. I had gotten 8 chickens and 1 duck for easter for my kids.. the chickens and duck have grown up together since i got them. Its been about 6 weeks now and the duck towers over the chickens now. BUT, the rooster is now attacking the duck and pecking at his wing (pinfeathers) causing him to bleed..

We ended up seperating them in the pen now.. and adding water for the duck to have access too, and are now in the process of building a duck coop. But my question is...... is this normal? They grew up together and it just started all of a sudden.. I would like to be able to let them all out of their pens together, but I am thinking I am going to have to do it seperately.. am i right, or will they stop after all his feathers are in?

Tina
"Malfunction Junction"

===The duck doesnt fight back at all. Very mellow tempered. ====

 

[justusnak]

Im not sure what to tell ya here. I see posts all the time about how others chickens and ducks get along just fine. Well, I started with 2 ducks...and whenever they started flying, they was not the best at aiming for a landing. A few times they landed in the chicken yard, and was mercilessly attacked by my chickens! That was a very stressfull few months, untill the ducks got better at judging thier landings! Now when I free roam the chickens....the ducks have to go to the pond, or get pecked.

 

[TinaMarie]

So what your saying is give it time and the duck will learn to get away or be attacked right? If thats the case.. Im glad!

Ill be patient and when he gets bigger, ill test them together again.. (while supervising of course!)

Thank you!

Tina

"Malfunction Junction"

 

[eggchel]

I have always free ranged my chickens ducks and geese together without problems. I also have some ducks, geese and chickens in the same pen together and they are fine.

It may be that the rooster is trying to establish dominance over the duck, especially if it is a drake.

But it could also be just that the rooster is attracted to the sheathed feathers that are growing in. This can happen because the sheaths look like a food item to him or because he needs more protein, or just because he is bored.

If you can keep them next to each other, but separated by wire, until the ducks feathers grow in, then it would be easier to reintegrate them later.

chel