Chicks and ducklings

[jason892]

hi all. Newbie post so thanks for patience.... I have searched the forums but haven’t found my problem... My boss (wife) and I bought 10 chicks and 2 ducklings from TSC last Saturday. The folks at TSC we’re extremly helpful and seemed knowledgeable so when I verified my internet research with real life opinions that young chicks and ducklings would get along when purchased together and of realitively the same age/same introduction to brooder date, we made the leap to get the ducks my boss so dearly wanted. When I placed all of them in the brooder, there was some squabbling amongst all of them, but an hour later they all seemed to be getting along. Unfortunately, as of today I have one dead duckling and my 2nd one has lost an eye. Although I can’t conclusively say the chicks caused either, they (the chicks) do seem to run roughshod over my last duckling and it seems to be isolated from the group. It will huddle with the chicks if i let it get too cool in the brooder but spends the vast majority of its time at the opposite end of the brooder. I will be getting 2 more ducklings to keep it company but was also planning 4 olive egger chicks at the same time to place in a combined brooder (separate from the brooder the initial flock is in). So.... here are my questions:
1. Should I isolate my lone duckling and keep him in solitary confinement until my next batch are older? If so, is 4 weeks old enough (the loner would be 6 weeks)?
2. Is the isolation in the brood described above because the duckling is now a species loner or more attributable to the loss of an eye?
3. Although there have been obvious successes in raising ducklings and chickens together, would it be better to isolate them during the brood stage and do a controlled intro once the two species are older and more resilient?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

@Miss Lydia @casportpony

 

[sylviethecochin]

What breed of chicks are there? How old are they? Can you post a picture of your setup? Of the duckling? Was the other acting strange before it died, and are there any wounds?

Unless there are knives in your brooder, I agree that the chicks probably pecked out the duckling's eye.

If those chicks are so determined to go after shiny stuff that they pecked out a duckling's eye, I wouldn't put anything else in with them (they might go after the next poor animal in which they sense weakness, and teach themselves to keep doing it, re-enforcing their own behaviour via practice) and I'd keep a very careful eye on them from this date forward.

If you do get that second set of ducks/chickens, you could probably raise them together--but I reiterate, I would keep them far away from that initial set of chicks. At this point, it might be better to have three brooders, one young chicks, one ducks, one older chicks. Ducklings of different ages can be kept together quite easily.

Generally, if the two species are raised together initially, they tolerate each other better later. Integration later is messier. But they're likely to make their own flocks later,no matter how integrated they are; my ducks and chickens always separate themselves about the time the chickens start perching on roosts. Which is preferable, since drakes can injure hens trying to mate them.

 

[jason892]

Had a set back last night, on my bedtime check of the chicks, I discovered my lone duck had succumbed, so most of my questions above are now moot. We will still have ducks but are going to raise this batch of chicks and the olive eggers first and then raise the ducks by themselves.

For educational purposes for the next person with my question, I will provide additional details to see if a root cause may be gleaned from my experience.

My chicks are:
2 Barred Rock Pullets
2 red Rock cross with ? Pullets (one died the evening I brought them home so think it was transplant shock)
3 Wyandottes
3 Welsummer
And the ducklings were:
2 Rouen ducks

Ages for all of them are the same (per TSC) hatched on 3-4, purchased 3-9. So as of today they are a week and 3 days old.

Daily brooder conditions:
Persistent temperature between 85 and 95. With extremes being short periods. Average temp is 90.
Constant water provided with Sav-A-Chick probiotic and splash of apple cider vinegar.
Constant supply of Purina medicated flock raiser crumbles.
Heat provided by pad under tub and lamp 34” above but not directly shining into tub.


Conditions at time of death:
1 red rock chick died 3-10 - became listless/lethargic within a few hours of being brought home. At bedtime check it was alive but appeared to be breathing heavily.

1 Rouen duckling died 3-12 - nearly the same symptoms as the chick, listless and lethargic for a few hours and then dead.

1 Rouen duckling died 3-13 - noticed missing eye 3-11. did not exhibit the same symptoms, but segregated itself from the flock. Did not believe he was ill but he was significantly less active than the chicks.

Picture of brooder is attached.