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chickens, rooster and a duck

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by sadieshill, Dec 5, 2010.

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  1. Dec 5, 2010 #1
    sadieshill

    sadieshill New Egg

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    May 23, 2010
    One of our chickens hatched a duck egg Nov. 1 of this year. We've kept the duck in the basement in a dog kennel since then. (with playtime and bathtime in the tub).
    He is currently under a heat lamp.

    What do you think will happen if/when we put him in with our chickens in a few weeks? We have 10 chickens and a rooster. It's snowy, freezing temp here.
    We can't keep him in our basement forever. I don't think he's happy there.
    I worry that when we put him in with the chickens, the rooster (a bantam) will whip his butt if not kill him...altho, even now, the duck is twice the size of that rooster.

    thoughts please.
     
  3. Dec 5, 2010 #2
    sourland

    sourland Broody Magician Premium Member

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    May 3, 2009
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    Either the chickens will be afraid of him or they will attack him. Introduce the duck in a cage or seperated pen. Do not turn him loose in the chicken pen immediately. Also you have the problem of acclimating the duck to temperature change depending upon where you are located. As in you can't move a duck from a heated environment to freezing conditions without serious health consequences.
     

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