Hi y'all. I'm new here and have some questions.

[Chicken NanaADR]

I have 15 straight run chicks that are 6 1/2 weeks old and an 8 week old duck that thinks it is a chick as well. They have been fine up until this last week. Now several of them I have been picking at each other especially in the face pulling each other's feathers out and being just plain mean, when the Ducks around they calm down and won't fight in front of it. The duck usually breaks it up. His name is Moses and he has his 15 little chicks. His flock. I don't know if I have roosters or hens. I don't know if hens fight. I don't want to what to do please help.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

the standard answer is that yes, hens will fight or at least squabble to establish a hierarchy in the flock. You've heard the term 'Pecking order'

but there could be other issues at play here.

Are they still being kept in a brooder or have they been moved to their coop? If they are still in the brooder and space is at a premium then that could be causing some of the bickering.

also, if your duck is a male, I've heard that you shouldn't keep drakes with chickens as they have different mating habits and the male duck can harm/kill a female chicken while trying to mate them. Don't know if it's true or not but it's worth looking into.

 

[Courtney's_chickens]

Hi! So it is 100% normal for your chickens to fight/peck. As they grow with age, they have to establish a pecking order. It is all part of the process, do not worry. I know it is kind of sad to watch a hen get beat up on, but it will stop evenutally. But you must remember that they are fine and it is all a part of natures course Your chickies will be fine!

 

[Chicken NanaADR]

Thank you for your help! My duck and have 3 acres to free-range in. We haven't had any signs of predators or at least none that have bothered them. I don't know the sex of my duck or the chicks for that fact I just hate that they're fighting. I have one that is much much smaller than the rest I would say maybe a quarter of the size. Same age I don't know the breed. But they don't seem to bug it one bit

 

[Courtney's_chickens]

Do you have any pictures you could post? I bet some of us could point out possible hens and roosters

 

[Chicken NanaADR]

Hi! So it is 100% normal for your chickens to fight/peck. As they grow with age, they have to establish a pecking order. It is all part of the process, do not worry. I know it is kind of sad to watch a hen get beat up on, but it will stop evenutally. But you must remember that they are fine and it is all a part of natures course Your chickies will be fine!

That really made me feel better thank you so much you're right I hate to see them fighting just like I do any animal. They love to free range and I love it because the duck is like a mama duck and keeps track of them all, breaks up fights and it's kind of their leader. My 8 week old duck is afraid of water other than a little mud puddle here in there. He has never liked to swim and he has had a pool and a pond so he has had much access to water but prefers to just get his toes wet LOL

 

[Chicken NanaADR]

 

[Chicken NanaADR]

I will take some more chick pics in a few moments because they are much larger now

 

[pennyJo1960]

so glad you decided to join us here, I am from Mossyrock, Washington state

 

[Chicken NanaADR]

Thank you. I am from smack dab in the middle of nowhere Missouri