- Jun 3, 2011
- 119
- 2
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I have 10 ducklings (6 weeks old), that I have moved from the brooder (which was in the garage) into the chickens' "sunroom". It is on the back of the chicken house, 12X12 and is covered in plastic/plastic panels. They have an insulated dog house so they can stay warm at night.
I moved them out 4 days ago. I haven't had a lot of time to spend with them the last few weeks, so they are afraid of me and everything else in the world, to the extent that they trample each other trying to run away. I currently have the chickens locked out, but would like to open the door during the day so the ducks can go out in the run, and the chickens can go in and turn the bedding for me. Will the chickens hurt the ducks since they are still so young? I have pullets and cockerals - 20-30 weeks old. Marens, Ameraucanas, and wyandottes. The ducks are runners and WH. I eventually want them to live together, but am not sure if I need to wait until the ducks are older.
Right now when they see something they are afraid of, (which is most everything), the ducks hide in the dog house. I am not sure they would leave the room even if the door was open at this point. In a couple of weeks, I will have more time and can sit with them for a while each day to try to get them to be less terrified. Will they get braver as they get older? I don't need to handle them often, but want to be able to feed/water them without them killing each other. They are now on gro-cal pellets and they get tomatoes and peas as treats.
I moved them out 4 days ago. I haven't had a lot of time to spend with them the last few weeks, so they are afraid of me and everything else in the world, to the extent that they trample each other trying to run away. I currently have the chickens locked out, but would like to open the door during the day so the ducks can go out in the run, and the chickens can go in and turn the bedding for me. Will the chickens hurt the ducks since they are still so young? I have pullets and cockerals - 20-30 weeks old. Marens, Ameraucanas, and wyandottes. The ducks are runners and WH. I eventually want them to live together, but am not sure if I need to wait until the ducks are older.
Right now when they see something they are afraid of, (which is most everything), the ducks hide in the dog house. I am not sure they would leave the room even if the door was open at this point. In a couple of weeks, I will have more time and can sit with them for a while each day to try to get them to be less terrified. Will they get braver as they get older? I don't need to handle them often, but want to be able to feed/water them without them killing each other. They are now on gro-cal pellets and they get tomatoes and peas as treats.