ducks with chickens? duck baby eggs questions

[rosy123]

we had 2 ducks, the hubby duck died almost 2 weeks ago. not sure how but it might have been a relatives dog but there was no blood. but if thats the case, rehoming might be what needs to be done to keep the female safe. theres a person who can take her but they have no other ducks, they have chickens. was wondering if thats ok. the female has been looking for her hubby, though it seems shes starting to accept that hes not here.
she also has eggs that shes been sitting on, at least thats what we think. 3 weeks ago we thought she was missing but she found a hidey spot (that we cant get to) and only comes out maybe 2 times a day. so if we're right theres about a week left until they hatch. today she came out right after we came home from somewhere with an egg and tossed it in the air and it cracked. we're wondering why she did this. egg looks raw so maybe she knew it wasnt a good egg?

 

[Aunt Angus]

She needs ducky friends. Can the person who wants to adopt her get a 2nd duck?

I have no idea about the egg. She may have known it was dead. Are the eggs she's sitting on fertilized?

 

[rosy123]

She needs ducky friends. Can the person who wants to adopt her get a 2nd duck?

I have no idea about the egg. She may have known it was dead. Are the eggs she's sitting on fertilized?

if it was my choice she would already be gone to a duck family. but everyone isnt on the same page. im only looking out for her safety and mentally. dont want her to get loney or get killed by whatever killed her hubby. they were so attached. hubby would keep guard over her from a distance while she sat on her eggs. we have no idea if the eggs are alive or how many. they are in a tough spot to get to and she hisses at me when i go back there.
i googled it appearanly ducks hiss?! i had once followed her to her hidey spot because we didnt know exactly where her nest was. so i waited till she came out then kept my distance while she went back to the nest. next day, after hubby died, i put food near her to encourage her to eat if she was gonna become depressed. thats when i heard a hissing nose. couldnt see her but heard her. first i thought it was a cat but then thought no way she will allow an animal get near her nest.
but i def agree she needs to be around at least with one other duck. hopefully i can convienced them to rehome her

 

[Aunt Angus]

Where are you located? We have state threads on BYC. You might be able to find someone - a duck enthusiast - to take her. I would. I'm in California. Ducks are so much easier to integrate than chickens. I have a rescued duck that just kinda fit in. I always say that I don't have 5 ducks - I have 1 big duck because they all move as a single unit. It's pretty funny. They herd together like my goats whereas chickens just kind of go their separate ways in the yard.

And, yes, they hiss! It's breeding season, too. My 5 ducks live with my chickens, but my Runner has gotten very territorial with the onset of spring. She guards her nest. I don't have a drake, so those eggs won't hatch.

She might be depressed, too, since her hubby died.

 

[rosy123]

im in arizona. her hubby was a drake. my family are all over the place with what to do. its not my decision. seems like they want to get a duck friend for her which im against if they dont build her an enclosed area first.

 

[Aunt Angus]

im in arizona. her hubby was a drake. my family are all over the place with what to do. its not my decision. seems like they want to get a duck friend for her which im against if they dont build her an enclosed area first.

Do you know what got your drake?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Do you know what got your drake?

Wait. I just reread your 1st post.

My ducks are in a big dog kennel. Hoop coops are pretty cool and inexpensive-ish to make. There are options with sheep panels or electric netting.

 

[rosy123]

i have a dog playpen
its not too small for your 5 ducks? i used it before with foster kittens and even then i thought it was a tight fit.

 

[Aunt Angus]

i have a dog playpen
its not too small for your 5 ducks? i used it before with foster kittens and even then i thought it was a tight fit.

My kennel is a walk-in 7' x 10' that I expanded to 20' x 10'. I have 12 chickens, too, so I need the room. I also have a 600 sg ft yard surrounded by electric netting and covered with aviary netting. That would be too small, for sure.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like your duck maybe a Muscovy? thinking that since she hisses? You really should get her to a safe place once the ducklings hatch they will all get picked off for sure. Talk to your family if a dog gets a dog house ducks and chickens should have their own house. it's our responsibility to keep them safe. She will not be able to protect her ducklings from a predator. A storage building you might have can be cleaned out and used for a coop.Or look on Craigslist lots of free stuff on there and maybe even a shed or coop.