I had to separate my drakes from my chickens because they were trying to mate them. They have their own houses but the gate in the yard that separates them closes off both houses. Now, it is getting cold and am worried that the ducks don't have access to shelter in the cold and snow. I usually switch them out later in the day so they are all happy, but the ducks won't have access to their house until then. And with winter coming not until 4 pm on weekdays. I have nowhere to build a house for them on the other side of the gate. They do have access to the deck that has a cover and straw to keep dry if need be, but just a top cover.
A couple of question: With the drakes' testosterone cool off so they can be with my chickens over the winter? Do they actually go into shelter in the cold? I don't recall them ever going inside the coop during the day last year, but alas, I have a full time job and may have missed it. My chickens also rarely go into the coop during the day unless it is super cold, raining or snowing.
The only thing I can think of, is to keep a shed open so they can go in there if they need to, but it's loaded with lawnmowers, snowblowers, etc. They could fit in, but it wouldn't necessarily be comfortable.
I have 2 female ducks and 2 males. And please don't judge my situation. Getting ducks was not planned in the first place, and we did try to rehome them, but no one wanted them. We got 2 girls to see if it would help with their obsessiveness over the chickens (which didn't even work)
Thanks in advance
A couple of question: With the drakes' testosterone cool off so they can be with my chickens over the winter? Do they actually go into shelter in the cold? I don't recall them ever going inside the coop during the day last year, but alas, I have a full time job and may have missed it. My chickens also rarely go into the coop during the day unless it is super cold, raining or snowing.
The only thing I can think of, is to keep a shed open so they can go in there if they need to, but it's loaded with lawnmowers, snowblowers, etc. They could fit in, but it wouldn't necessarily be comfortable.
I have 2 female ducks and 2 males. And please don't judge my situation. Getting ducks was not planned in the first place, and we did try to rehome them, but no one wanted them. We got 2 girls to see if it would help with their obsessiveness over the chickens (which didn't even work)
Thanks in advance