- Feb 19, 2013
- 55
- 8
- 43
This is my first year raising ducks and don't have a clue of what I'm doing!! First things first... I think I have a drake and a hen but not 100% sure... The duck I think is a drake is larger and he is developing his feathers faster. But his feather color is the same as a female Rouen. What do you think?
Also, I just moved them into the back half of our coop with three month old chicks (some bantams, other standards like black giants, anconas, etc.) I have about 18 chicks in the back. The ducks don't go outside when I'm not out there that I know of, only when they see me and start following me everywhere. I wish they were more independant, because I can't stay out there with them all day! So I have to go into the coop and wait for them to follow me in. Once they start eating or drinking, I have to slip away. I also notice the chicks don't really fight with the ducks but follow them around and sometimes chase them. The bigger hens also chase them and tried pecking them this morning when they followed me into the hens side of the coop. I free range all of my birds by the way (besides the roosters.) I have a bad feeling though that they are being harrassed at night when the chicks come in to roost or early in the morning when they get down from their roost. Are they ready to free range, and when will they become independant?
Also, I just moved them into the back half of our coop with three month old chicks (some bantams, other standards like black giants, anconas, etc.) I have about 18 chicks in the back. The ducks don't go outside when I'm not out there that I know of, only when they see me and start following me everywhere. I wish they were more independant, because I can't stay out there with them all day! So I have to go into the coop and wait for them to follow me in. Once they start eating or drinking, I have to slip away. I also notice the chicks don't really fight with the ducks but follow them around and sometimes chase them. The bigger hens also chase them and tried pecking them this morning when they followed me into the hens side of the coop. I free range all of my birds by the way (besides the roosters.) I have a bad feeling though that they are being harrassed at night when the chicks come in to roost or early in the morning when they get down from their roost. Are they ready to free range, and when will they become independant?
