Ducks afraid of chickens (what to do?)

[cnielsen]

We recently finished building our chickens new coop, (the “coop mahal” as my dad calls it), and decided we should move our ducks into the same area as the chickens, seeing as they just became fully grown. We have a bantam rooster, and 8 hens (4 more coming in march!!). Our 5 ducks, all girls, are really sweet, and super curious. We haven’t had any attacking, but our chickens seem to enjoy chasing the ducks around, scaring the heck out of them and stealing their food. Is this just going to be how it is? our chickens are friendly and wouldn’t hurt the ducks, but i feel bad seeing them so scared (they have plenty of room btw they aren’t crowded).
Would getting a drake help our girls stand up for themselves? or are they fine by themselves?
If anyone has ideas, let me know! thank you

 

[Ascholten]

Funny you mention this I recently bought a friend 4 RIR's at about 20 weeks to replace some that got taken out by a predator. (we turned his coop into Fort Knox so it wont happen again). The chicken and duck coops were side by side. Really the same building with chicken wire between them. He had a few roosters (gone now) who were rather rough on the hens so we didn't want to put the babies in there being as small as they were, so put them with the ducks instead. The ducks actually chased and nipped the chickens for a day or so but eventually they just learned to ignore each other. After a few weeks of seeing each other, and getting rid of the $%#head roosters, we put the little ones with the older females and they get along just fine.

I think your ducks should be fine with the chickens, they should get used to each other. yes the chickens are going to try to steal the duck food, but if you put enough out, everyone should get to eat. It seems it's all new to everyone in there so just give them a few days and they should get themselves sorted out. Make sure no real fighting is going on but you should be good.

Aaron

 

[cnielsen]

Funny you mention this I recently bought a friend 4 RIR's at about 20 weeks to replace some that got taken out by a predator. (we turned his coop into Fort Knox so it wont happen again). The chicken and duck coops were side by side. Really the same building with chicken wire between them. He had a few roosters (gone now) who were rather rough on the hens so we didn't want to put the babies in there being as small as they were, so put them with the ducks instead. The ducks actually chased and nipped the chickens for a day or so but eventually they just learned to ignore each other. After a few weeks of seeing each other, and getting rid of the $%#head roosters, we put the little ones with the older females and they get along just fine.

I think your ducks should be fine with the chickens, they should get used to each other. yes the chickens are going to try to steal the duck food, but if you put enough out, everyone should get to eat. It seems it's all new to everyone in there so just give them a few days and they should get themselves sorted out. Make sure no real fighting is going on but you should be good.

Aaron

alright thank you! it’s been a few weeks, but i don’t think anyone is in danger of pecking or not having enough food or anything. i’m sure they’ll coexist eventually!

 

[Callender Girl]

It's more the opposite here. My runner ducks and chickens all have separate coops/shelters. BUT, if I let the ducks out before all the chickens have had a chance to eat, the runners will descend into the chicken feeders as a group, and all of the chicken feed disappears in minutes. The runners can even leap into the raised coops, including my avatar coop, to steal food.

There are occasional squabbles. but no one has ever gotten hurt, just left hungry. However, I think the chickens MAY be getting some revenge via the geese, who will -- for no apparent reason -- suddenly walk up behind the ducks, yell at them and march the runners across the yard.

 

[cnielsen]

It's more the opposite here. My runner ducks and chickens all have separate coops/shelters. BUT, if I let the ducks out before all the chickens have had a chance to eat, the runners will descend into the chicken feeders as a group, and all of the chicken feed disappears in minutes. The runners can even leap into the raised coops, including my avatar coop, to steal food.

There are occasional squabbles. but no one has ever gotten hurt, just left hungry. However, I think the chickens MAY be getting some revenge via the geese, who will -- for no apparent reason -- suddenly walk up behind the ducks, yell at them and march the runners across the yard.

haha, those poor chickens! 2 of ours are runners, they’re hilarious.