Mean duckling(s)!! Help!!

[RaisingGentlemen]

This is my first year with ducklings. We got 4. I assume 2 Pekin and 2 Rouen at the same time and 4 chicks! They get along great and are about 4 weeks now (guessing) and holy moly the Pekin are huge!

I have the ducks and 3 of the chicks they started with (we now have 10 chicks) in the transition coop because they’re big and all over but today I tried to re-introduce the younger ones (the banty was purchased with the ducks but he/she is so tiny) to the ones in the transition coop and it was a disaster!

All of these birds were in the same pen together at one point for a while but this time one of the Pekins got aggressive and then it seemed the other Pekin and a Rouen became roughians too and started attacking the little chicks. I saw them attacking the barred rock and the Marans before I separated them and took the younger ones back to the coop.

The silkies are 10 weeks (aren’t they gorgeous?!) but they are fairly new to us so I was TRYING transition them to the transition coop haha!

Anyway will the ducks get better and what is going on?! Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

Pics are of the babes in the transition coop and then pics of the babes under the heat lamp. The duck in front is the instigator!!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Am I correct in understanding that you're trying to mix groups of ducks and chickens that are wildly different sizes together?

That's always a recipe for disaster no matter what. Birds are not exactly known for being compassionate and social with outsiders. Big chickens often attack smaller chickens. Same with ducks. Some animals are just bullies, and some animals are pretty susceptible to being bullied. Throwing bantam chickens in with LF chickens of the same age often has the same results. Also you shouldn't be keeping male ducks with chickens ever as an FYI, in case they aren't hens.

 

[RaisingGentlemen]

Am I correct in understanding that you're trying to mix groups of ducks and chickens that are wildly different sizes together?

That's always a recipe for disaster no matter what. Birds are not exactly known for being compassionate and social with outsiders. Big chickens often attack smaller chickens. Same with ducks. Some animals are just bullies, and some animals are pretty susceptible to being bullied. Throwing bantam chickens in with LF chickens of the same age often has the same results. Also you shouldn't be keeping male ducks with chickens ever as an FYI, in case they aren't hens.

Thank you! I’m not sure if they’re drakes or not. A friend of ours keeps her ducks and chickens together and they do amazing so we were just trying. We can make another coop if needed, we’re prepared.

I was not going to leave the smaller chicks in with the bigger ones. I was in there the whole time. I was more or less getting them out in the weather (the silkies, long story) and thought they’d like the company and was wrong and quickly fixed the situation.

 

[RaisingGentlemen]

Am I correct in understanding that you're trying to mix groups of ducks and chickens that are wildly different sizes together?

That's always a recipe for disaster no matter what. Birds are not exactly known for being compassionate and social with outsiders. Big chickens often attack smaller chickens. Same with ducks. Some animals are just bullies, and some animals are pretty susceptible to being bullied. Throwing bantam chickens in with LF chickens of the same age often has the same results. Also you shouldn't be keeping male ducks with chickens ever as an FYI, in case they aren't hens.

Oh and the chicks and ducks started out the same together. I had no idea how fast the ducks grew!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Yeah, ducks outstrip chickens fast. It'll probably be best if you give them separate spaces.