New East India Duck owner-Need lots of advice, please!

[RedheadErin]

My kid just bought a pair of Black East India ducks from his friend. I am told they will eat "All Flock" feed and can live peacefully with my chickens and muscovies. They have been kept in small cages all their lives, but now will free range with my flock on 3/4 of an acre. What else should I know?

 

[Amiga]

I like to introduce new ducks with a fence between them until they get used to each other, and feed treats to both sides of the fence at the same time. Under supervision, then I will let them together, but if it is more than a little pushing and chasing, they are separated again till I am sure they are okay.

Congratulations!

Ducks can take a while to get used to new surroundings, so I would keep them confined - no free-ranging - for a couple of weeks. By confined I don't mean in a small space or coop, but set up some temporary fence near the shelter so they learn where home is, and make sure they get treats and positive interactions with you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My kid just bought a pair of Black East India ducks from his friend. I am told they will eat "All Flock" feed and can live peacefully with my chickens and muscovies. They have been kept in small cages all their lives, but now will free range with my flock on 3/4 of an acre. What else should I know?

They fly so if you don't want them to fly off you might want to clip a wing, but I see you have Scovy's so you know all about that. and all the Amiga said.

 

[RedheadErin]

Actually, nobody told me I should clip the muscovies wings until I had had them a while and nothing has ever happened. When my one muscovy was just learning to fly, she would take a trip around the garage every day, then settle down with the chickens.

I have a 25' X 25' covered pen made out of dog-run pieces next to the shed. I have been keeping the ducks in there, along with my serema hen during the day and some juvenile chickens that are not quite ready to go out with the flock. Occasionally my son's dog spends some time in there, too! There has not been much (if any) fighting or nonsense.

So I guess I can turn the ducks out with everybody else in a a couple weeks? Will they go in the shed at night with the chickens? Also, what do they consider good treats?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Actually, nobody told me I should clip the muscovies wings until I had had them a while and nothing has ever happened. When my one muscovy was just learning to fly, she would take a trip around the garage every day, then settle down with the chickens. I have a 25' X 25' covered pen made out of dog-run pieces next to the shed. I have been keeping the ducks in there, along with my serema hen during the day and some juvenile chickens that are not quite ready to go out with the flock. Occasionally my son's dog spends some time in there, too! There has not been much (if any) fighting or nonsense. So I guess I can turn the ducks out with everybody else in a a couple weeks? Will they go in the shed at night with the chickens? Also, what do they consider good treats?

Top of list is dried meal worms then lil green peas I buy frozen and thaw in warm water drain and feed. if you buy canned get the salt free. Post some pics when you can. forgot to say give the yummy treats inside the pen every eve. so they see their pen as a positive thing, after you get them all in shut the door and give out treats. I have a plastic coffee can that I use to put the mealworms and corn in and all I have to do is whistle and shake the can and I am stampeded in a couple of minutes.