paraisomistfarms
In the Brooder
- Apr 22, 2020
- 21
- 45
- 36
Hi again!
Well, the time has finally come for the ducklings to leave their cozy pen in my house and move outside. They're just shy of six weeks old and almost fully feathered. The weather here is finally staying mild enough that I'm confident they'll be able to keep warm both outside in the run, and inside of the coop.
We have 10, four month old Lohmann Brown hens that the 3 ducks will be sharing a living space with (5ftx10ft coop, 15ftx10ft partially covered but fully enclosed run). For the last week, I have been setting up a dog pen inside the fenced coop for the ducks to be outside in. This way, the ducks and chickens can see each other and share the same space without fully interacting. In the afternoons, I've been puttering around in the yard and during this time, opening the pen so the birds can fully interact. The problem I'm facing is that the ducks seem pretty scared of the hens, and the hens totally love chasing the ducks. So far it seems harmless -- the first time, one hen managed to peck one of the ducks and pluck some feather down, but obviously the duck was more or less unharmed. Is there anything I can do to help make this transition easier on my ducks? I am clearly quite attached to the stupid critters, so I feel badly ditching them with the hens if they're scared. Am I being crazy? Should I just leave them for a day and let them adapt? Also, should I be worried about the ducks at night when they're sharing the coop with the hens? It is obviously plenty big enough for them, but I do worry they'll feel more trapped than they do outside. We live in an area abundant with predators so we have always tucked the gals inside each night and I would definitely feel a bit nervous leaving the ducks out (brrrr) and keeping the chickens inside.
Anyways, any insight would be appreciated! I've attached a picture of the ducks (gahhh aren't they adorable, ugly little teenagers? Haha) and a picture of our coop (pre-fenced run, which is obviously now complete)!
!
Well, the time has finally come for the ducklings to leave their cozy pen in my house and move outside. They're just shy of six weeks old and almost fully feathered. The weather here is finally staying mild enough that I'm confident they'll be able to keep warm both outside in the run, and inside of the coop.
We have 10, four month old Lohmann Brown hens that the 3 ducks will be sharing a living space with (5ftx10ft coop, 15ftx10ft partially covered but fully enclosed run). For the last week, I have been setting up a dog pen inside the fenced coop for the ducks to be outside in. This way, the ducks and chickens can see each other and share the same space without fully interacting. In the afternoons, I've been puttering around in the yard and during this time, opening the pen so the birds can fully interact. The problem I'm facing is that the ducks seem pretty scared of the hens, and the hens totally love chasing the ducks. So far it seems harmless -- the first time, one hen managed to peck one of the ducks and pluck some feather down, but obviously the duck was more or less unharmed. Is there anything I can do to help make this transition easier on my ducks? I am clearly quite attached to the stupid critters, so I feel badly ditching them with the hens if they're scared. Am I being crazy? Should I just leave them for a day and let them adapt? Also, should I be worried about the ducks at night when they're sharing the coop with the hens? It is obviously plenty big enough for them, but I do worry they'll feel more trapped than they do outside. We live in an area abundant with predators so we have always tucked the gals inside each night and I would definitely feel a bit nervous leaving the ducks out (brrrr) and keeping the chickens inside.
Anyways, any insight would be appreciated! I've attached a picture of the ducks (gahhh aren't they adorable, ugly little teenagers? Haha) and a picture of our coop (pre-fenced run, which is obviously now complete)!
!
Pretty ducks and nice coop.
