Integrating a single duck that thinks its a chicken into a younger duck flock

[Evadig]

I just had a thought. Can i put the cockrel in with the ducks? I’m sure he will integrate just fine thanks to having an in with L’Orange and when i thought the CCL’s were all pullets, i purchased a cockrel chick so i will end up with 2. I tried to give one away but the only other people i know that have chickens are either hatching their own and keeping a cockrel from that batch or don’t want a roo because they don’t want to piss off their neighbors. I realize i may have to rehome them both if they become obnoxious and “rooster-y” but I am hoping that the neighbors will accept a bribe in the form of eggs from time to time.
If i can put that one in with the ducks (since he essentialy grew up with a duck and is attached to a duck and probably partly identifies as a duck) and then let the little boy in the brooder joint the hens in a month or two, i can hopefully buy myself so time.

I think that could work. I haven't personally raised a cockerel with ducks, but I think it could work for some time. You'd probably have to install a roost in your duck house though.

Is this cockerel friends with L'Orange? If so, maybe that will help L'Orange integrate into the duck flock easier. Just be aware that as they get older (especially if L'Orange does end up being a drake) they may start to fight.

 

[LtDanFan]

I think that could work. I haven't personally raised a cockerel with ducks, but I think it could work for some time. You'd probably have to install a roost in your duck house though.

Is this cockerel friends with L'Orange? If so, maybe that will help L'Orange integrate into the duck flock easier. Just be aware that as they get older (especially if L'Orange does end up being a drake) they may start to fight.

Yes, they get along and follow each other around like all the other pullets that were brooder-mates. Ive noticed that when the adult hens pick on the younger chickens (cockerel included), L’Orange get up in arms. Of course he is very shortly beaten down by those same hens but when i go out to check on them all, invariably the younger chickens and L’Orange are al huddled together and the older hens are wherever they want to be. It’s like they have created two distinct flocks that only come together at night (they all coop up in the same coop- we have two, but they are always together).

I would happily provide the cockerel (tentative name “Russel Crow”) with a ladder to roost on within the duck coop. Im more worried about poor L’Orange being separated from “his” flock given that he was raised among chickens.

Of course, if there is any strife, i will not hesitate to separate them according to species.

 

[Evadig]

I would happily provide the cockerel (tentative name “Russel Crow”) with a ladder to roost on within the duck coop. Im more worried about poor L’Orange being separated from “his” flock given that he was raised among chickens.

Of course, if there is any strife, i will not hesitate to separate them according to species.

I understand. I am actually raising two ducklings with one chick (that was hatched under a turkey!) just now, so integrating them all will be interesting.

I like the name Russel Crow .

 

[LtDanFan]

Here is the most recent pics of L’Orange and the others. They definitely prefer to flock together. Any ideas about sex for that white duck?? I don’s see drake feathers, but i dont know how to tell otherwise, except just wait for a giant white egg among the browns, greens and blues that i expect my chickens to lay lol. Based on when i purchased it and that it was probably 1-2 weeks old based on size and how fast it got big in the weeks after the fire, I’d say it is at least 8 weeks old, maybe 10 or so.

 

[Evadig]

Any ideas about sex for that white duck??

Can you get a closer photo? A drake ought to have or start developing a curly tail feather. He might be too young yet though.

What’s his quack like? Loud drawn-out QUACK! Or a soft sawed-off quack?

 

[LtDanFan]

Can you get a closer photo? A drake ought to have or start developing a curly tail feather. He might be too young yet though.

What’s his quack like? Loud drawn-out QUACK! Or a soft sawed-off quack?

I can get a closer up picture tomorrow, next time i am at the house. We are currently staying in a hotel due to repairs on the house needing to be done after the fire.
“He” makes a whistle sound and a quack. But it does not sound as loud or “quacky” as the quacks that the younger (female) ducks make. I wouldn’t say its raspy though. When would he develop a drake feather if he is indeed a boy?

 

[LtDanFan]

Can you get a closer photo? A drake ought to have or start developing a curly tail feather. He might be too young yet though.

What’s his quack like? Loud drawn-out QUACK! Or a soft sawed-off quack?

Ok, so i was there today and since the ducklings were moved to their big girl pen, i put L’Orange in just for fun and stood in the corner (like a creeper) the whole time. No overt aggression, just a few little half hearted pecks and lots of raspy quacks. Now i know what that means lol. I never heard him quack like that before but i am convinced he is a boy. It was definitely raspy and not obnoxious like the girls. As soon as my iCloud updates and the video i took is available i will post it. I didn’t leave him with them unsupervised but im curious if he is displaying normal drake behavior or if hes not versed in “duck” as much as “chicken”.

 

[LtDanFan]

Ok, i can’t upload video. I tried but it doesn’t seem to be an option. I can find it in my photo library but when i click on the icon, it only gives me options for still photos.
In the meantime, this is L’Orange and his harem of chickens lol

 

[Evadig]

Ok, so i was there today and since the ducklings were moved to their big girl pen, i put L’Orange in just for fun and stood in the corner (like a creeper) the whole time. No overt aggression, just a few little half hearted pecks and lots of raspy quacks. Now i know what that means lol. I never heard him quack like that before but i am convinced he is a boy. It was definitely raspy and not obnoxious like the girls. As soon as my iCloud updates and the video i took is available i will post it. I didn’t leave him with them unsupervised but im curious if he is displaying normal drake behavior or if hes not versed in “duck” as much as “chicken”.

Raspy quacks definitely means he's a boy . I'd say he's just trying to figure out who these new birds are - they don't look like his chicken friends! (He looks adorable with the pullets, by the way!)

Definitely start slowly integrating him into the duck flock as soon as possible.

Ok, i can’t upload video. I tried but it doesn’t seem to be an option. I can find it in my photo library but when i click on the icon, it only gives me options for still photos.
In the meantime, this is L’Orange and his harem of chickens lol

You have to upload to youtube in order to post it here. I think there's a another way, but I've never tried it. If you don't want it seen by the world, just set the view option to "unlisted" and copy the link here.

 

[LtDanFan]

Raspy quacks definitely means he's a boy . I'd say he's just trying to figure out who these new birds are - they don't look like his chicken friends! (He looks adorable with the pullets, by the way!)

Definitely start slowly integrating him into the duck flock as soon as possible.

You have to upload to youtube in order to post it here. I think there's an another way, but I've never tried it. If you don't want it seen by the world, just set the view option to "unlisted" and copy the link here.

I am hoping he can be a good ambassador (am-bill-sador?) to the chickens when I eventually let them free range during the day on the back half of my small property. But i started introducing him to his own kind today just in case. Just don’t tell my BF that’s the plan… he is hoping that the gazebo he will be building in the backyard won’t have bird poop all over it … poor guy