newly arrived runner ducks won't eat!

[maceleneo]

Hi, I have been keeping chickens for 5 years, but these are my first ducks. Allow me to introduce you Atalanta, Wilma and Achille.

They are supposed to be 5 months old, they grew up in a big yard with no contact with humans and they are terrified by people. They arrived yesterday and when I closed them in the run Atalanta heart was beating so fast I could actually see her chest flinching, so I let them alone to settle in. Ducks arrival wasn't planned, so I don't have specific feed, I gave them chickens feed and I collect some snails for them from the garden (actually, my mother was so happy to learn that ducks eat snails that she collected snails from her garden too!).
The ducks drank a lot, but didn't touch food yesterday and I thought that could be because they were too scared, but it seems like they're still not eating this morning and I'm starting to get worried. I'm trying to reach the original owner to know what have they eaten so far, but this person doesn't use internet so it's going to take a while.
Is moving so upsetting for ducks that they could lose appetite for almost 2 days? What can I do to make them eat?
I'm wondering if I should try and let them out (my garden is all fenced), maybe they would forage some food in the grass? I'm not sure because I planned to keep the ducks in the run at least for a week to let my chickens get acquainted to them.
Chickens free range all around the run by day and when I put new chickens in the run, older ones usually approach to the net to look askances at the intruders, but they are acting as if there was no one inside now and show no interests... not sure if it's too soon to try though.
Any advice?

 

[gtaus]

Hi, I have been keeping chicken for 5 years, but these are my first ducks.

They sure are some nice-looking ducks.

I had ducks before I ever had chickens, but I raised all my ducks from day old chicks. It sounds like your ducks might be adjusting to their new surroundings as evidenced by your statement that you could see her chest flinching because she was so nervous. However, I think it's a good sign that they are drinking water.

I think it's a good idea to find out what the previous owner fed the ducks. If you can buy that same feed, it might help ease the transition. With my laying hens, even if I have to change brands of feed, I usually gradually mix in the new feed so the chickens get used to it. I'd buy a bag of duck feed and offer that to them as well. They should be able to eat chicken layer feed, but I know there are some differences between duck and chicken feed. I have never used all flock feed, but maybe that's an option.

Ducks are pretty hardy creatures and I think they will start eating soon. As long as they are drinking, I think you don't have to worry too much. Once they settle in, I hope they get their appetite back. Good luck.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Beautiful ducks!

My (chicken) pullets didn't eat for the first 24 hours or so after coming here to their new home, but they have certainly made up for it since then. I'm guessing that yours will do the same.

If you haven't already, you might want to post over on the Ducks forum. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ducks.42/

 

[maceleneo]

Thank you both! I thought I was posting this in the duck section, oops! Ducks are still not eating much (they ate something at least), previous owner was feeding them layers pellets, but I won't use that since I have a drake and I would prefer feed them all the same. How long should I wait to let them out the run? Is it possible that chickens won't be as aggressive as they would be with new chickens?

 

[gtaus]

How long should I wait to let them out the run? Is it possible that chickens won't be as aggressive as they would be with new chickens?

I have never mixed chickens and ducks together. From what I know of chickens, they pretty much go by size of the other birds in their pecking order. Your ducks look like they are good sized, and I don't think there would be problems. Like anything, put them together and watch for any aggressive behavior that could cause damage.

As far as letting them out of the run, I always waited until I was sure I could get my ducks back into their pen. They have to feel it's their home and safe for the night. My ducks were never the easiest to coax back into their pen at night, but I managed. I only mention that because you stated your new ducks are afraid of people. I never had to deal with that because I raised my ducks from day old chicks. When they saw me, they knew they were going to get fed.

 

[Yardmom]

The ducks and the chickens are different species, so it is not the same as integrating chickens together. Given enough space the chickens and ducks will ignore each other.
If the ducks and chickens need to interact due to being confined together ect. most ducks will push chickens aside, but some just stay back. It will depend on your chickens personalities for how they react to the ducks.

Pecking orders are not based on size alone. Personality has a bigger role.

 

[gtaus]

Pecking orders are not based on size alone. Personality has a bigger role.

I guess that is right. I was only saying that if the ducks are big enough, I don't think they will be aggressively harassed by the chickens. I can see the ducks going their way different from the chickens provided the run is big enough. All kinds of problems can happen if you have too many animals in too small a confined space.

 

[Penpal]

When I had both chickens and ducks they got along well. I have a pond and one group practically lived on the pond and the other foraged about the yard and woods. Can't remember which group did which.

For a while I had Moscovites and they bit the chickens the backs if they got too close. The chickens just avoided them.