Hi everybody I have recently bought 3 khaki Campbell (3 weeks old) and 3 austrolope hens (9 weeks old) They are still getting used to me so I have kept them In their coup/run and hand feed them a little every night. My questions are regarding egg laying and "herding". Should I keep them in their coup/run until they start laying so they know where to lay or should I let them start free ranging earlier? Also how do I get the ducks back to the coup at night. From what I've read ducks can be stubborn and not cooperate. Thank you
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. Australorps are my favorite standard breed; extremely hardy, calm and gentle (my children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets of them), and the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds. I'm a chicken person and don't know much about ducks (although I've had a few), but I have to admit that ducklings are the ultimate in cute. I would suggest posting on our duck section at https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks, and taking advantage of our duck experts there. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
Hi there! and our flock! Please ask us any questions, we're happy to help.I think you mean Australorps, they are one of my favourite birds and I wish you luck keeping them. From experience I've tried placing an egg sourced elsewhere in the nesting box I want a hen to lay in. Hens naturally lay eggs where they can tell another hen's egg is safe. If problems persist you may have to keep her in once or twice, but this can result in an unhappy hen! As for the ducks, I'm a chicken person, and can't really answer your questions but post here and make use of our friendly duck experts. Good Luck!
Sorry I don't know about ducks but, if you click on the link you were given it will take you to duck threads. You should be able to get good advice there. Welcome to BYC
my 2 ducks are easily herded in a night but food will get them there quicker. However they have become pretty smart and they realise that when dusk comes and the chickens put themselves away they head to their own coop! Bless them! so good luck with yours!!
Thank you so much for your replies. I love watching my flock together they are all so adorable. Also thank you for re directing me to the correct area for ducks. So I'm guessing by the 9 week stage I could start letting the chooks out to roam free as by now having them for 2 weeks they know the coup is home and will go there at dusk? Also I noticed my chooks aren't roosting yet, I just went out to clean their pen and water and they sleep huddled together on the ground, it's warm where I live so they can't be cold and also I've put up tin sheeting to stop any draft, do they not roost at a young age? Thanks again!
Hello there and welcome to BYC! Sometimes it takes birds a while to learn to roost. I like to start them early in the brooder with branches and such so that when they do go out to the coop they know how to roost. Just keep putting them up there on the bar, especially at night. Eventually they will get the hint. Don't let them sleep in the nest boxes at night and if they are, block those off at night. Sleeping in the boxes is a hard habit to break. Just make sure to unblock them in the morning. Good luck with your new flock and we do welcome you to our roost!