Naughty Duck Help

[the_kitchen__drawer]

So, i have 4 Welsh Harlequins. All four looked like ducks as babies (which, I bought 3 girls and got the usual bonus chick). Anyway, they're now turning 4 weeks old. While the girls have dark beaks, one doesn't. But she *is* the smallest and the one with the least feathers, so I'm holding on to hope..

With this maybe-duck-maybe-drake named Tongs in mind, I come to today's issue. We're introducing the ducks to our chickens. 5 Starlight Green Eggers, all turning 3 weeks old, and 2 White Leg horns, who are turning 2 weeks.

We introduced them in a controlled environment, neutral ground. I understand you can do look-no-touch, but these are babies, and I have seen many users recommend introducing the young to each other. The Leg Horns, being so young, were heavily monitored.. but they're the same size as their big sisters, lol. Everyone was fine. There was confusion, but nobody was having issues. They were all vaguely interested in each other, and the bolder chicks often ended up in the duck herd as they moved.

Then, Tongs decided to remind us why she got her name. She waddled over to a chick (who had been a few inches away) and pecked. I was on alert, but one peck to say "move!" or "what are you?" is fine to me. They don't have arms, after all. The chick (can't recall which) startled and before she could move Tongs was going after her. One peck turned into an attempted several, all right on her neck. I reached down immediately and picked Tongs up and then set her in naughty duck jail. I left her separated for several minutes. In this time, the girls settled down. Spatula, the bravest, even laid down. They investigated the chicks more, ttrying to follow them, leaning down, etc.

We let Tongs back in. it goes well for a bit. One of the chicks pecks one of the girls butt, everyone is getting closer, there's no tense behavior. Two of the girl ducks lay down, one gives a curious nibble to a chick, the other pecks to tell a chick to get out of her space. Its after this, and not immediately after, i mean a minute or two, when Tongs again lives up to her name. She corrects a chickto get her out of her space. Gives her a few seconds, and then reaches out and immediately goes for her again. Back in jail she goes.

Now thateveryone is back in their brooders, i ask, am iI handling this naughty girl right? Should I be doing something different?

 

[the_kitchen__drawer]

bump, any advice is well appreciated nextt weekend is whenwe're introducing the coop- so its nice and sunny!

 

[the_kitchen__drawer]

bump!

 

[Quatie]

I don't have chickens, but with ducklings, the look and no touch method is always the best way to go. Ducklings can be rather assertive sometimes, and I often find they pick on my adult ducks till they settle in.

@Miss Lydia has chickens too and can provide you with more info related to chickens.

 

[the_kitchen__drawer]

I don't have chickens, but with ducklings, the look and no touch method is always the best way to go. Ducklings can be rather assertive sometimes, and I often find they pick on my adult ducks till they settle in.

@Miss Lydia has chickens too and can provide you with more info related to chickens.

thanks! the definietly girls are really laid back and don't care, luckily!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I always use the look, not touch method, last summer I introduced 6 new chicks to my flock of geese chickens and ducks by setting up a dog pen in the area and let my chicks be in that during the day once it was warm enough. The ducks and chickens would come around to meet them and this worked great for 2 weeks before I had to cover the top so the chicks wouldn't fly out. After a few weeks I took the top off and left the pen where they had a place to go for protection in case someone picked on them. I'd see them in there often but I think they just like being able to go in and out.
You can of course keep on with the way you are they will eventually get use to each other. But I wouldn't leave them alone in a coop till you know for sure everyone is getting along okay. My ducks and chickens share a coop but when my chicks or ducklings are tiny they have their own space inside the coop for a while. Now chickens roost ducks sleep on the floor.
Your little Tongs might not do much more than peck at the chicks try not to get her too soon and see if she stops or the chicks get away from her. Even now with all my birds being adults there can still be some squabbles among them chickens pretty much know to stay out of the ducks way. But I also see them all eating together and laying around together so basically they are one big family.