Ducklings - head dunking question & living with peeps

[Cabinsink]

Hi There -

Okay, have done some searching on ducklings and I see that it is important to allow them to dunk their whole head in the water. Then I also read about the homemade water holder posted by Highlander but it doesn't seem that the holes in the plastic lid would allow for that to happen...

We have 16 peeps living happily with two Rouen ducklings but everyone is correct, the ducklings are adorable but messy little water-loving beasts!! However, separating them is heartbreaking - the cacophony is tremendous so we have been keeping them together. I could certainly rig up some hardware cloth to divide the swimming pool in two but here is my next dilemna...

Of the 16 peeps, 5 are Black Jersey Giants - the reason I mention this is that someone recently advised me to house the ducklings and the Black Jersey Giants separate from the Aracuna and Buff Orpingtons as they should each be moved to feed for meat poultry production after two or three weeks and off of the chicken starter. In truth, I should have done more research on raising all the different breeds since I have a bad feeling that allowing everyone to free-range once they are bigger is going to be a challenge in and of itself - who eats what...

Then again, if I move the Black Jersey Giants and the ducklings together, the issue of too much/little niacin in their drinking water becomes an issue...

Right now everyone is still on organic chicken starter, treating their drinking water with Apple Cider Vinegar and we are changing the wet litter a few times a day to keep the peeps dry. Space is an issue too.

Would love to hear any and all advice!

Thank You!
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[BrambleFoxFarm]

Don't over think it! We have ducks, chickens, and guineas all happily eating together. Everyone eats whatever the majority needs here. Example: If majority are chicks running around at that time we feed everyone chick feed. If we have majority layers everyone eats layer mash. Ours are free range and are getting plenty of bugs! Everyone here drinks out of a kids sandbox. Never had any disease or deaths. In fact everyone is healthy, shiny, and happy.

 

[Cabinsink]

Thank you for the response BrambleFoxFarm!!

I am so glad that you have had good luck intermixing everyone! That is a weight off my mind since I will be introducing the peeps in five weeks to our one year old Barred Rock hens and I would rather know that the peeps are eating their starter and not the hens layer feed.

For the transfer, I am thinking to make a smaller opening for the peeps to be able to go in the area that holds their chicken starter so that I can continue to free range and keep available the layer feed for the older girls. Someone mentioned that there may be a week long pecking order tradition too and to allow the peeps a safe harbour, so that would work out for that purpose too...

Even in WI, our chix are gobbling up any and all bugs they find too - I am hoping that the ticks will be taking a huge hit as Lyme's Disease is a concern for me and my family. Have heard that Guinea Fowl are great tick eaters and we are thinking about bringing some home in June when they seem to be available - any advice on which breeds or what to consider, would be great!

We just checked out 'Free-range Chicken Gardens' since we free range and it would be really nice if our girls didn't harvest before we do - happened twice last year and once they have success, they are tenacious! How do you handle it?

Many Thanks Again!
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