Should I get these????

[Hoosiermomma]

Someone on our local C.L is selling them. They are 1 yr old minature appleyards. I would love to get them but worry about them making the transition from one place to the other. I would worry about them flying off. Would clipping their wings be cruel? Can they 'bunk' with chickens or do they need something separate?

 

[froggie71]

Wow, They are beautiful. I would love to have them. I would worry about them flying off as well unless you clip their wings. Not sure I'd try to house them with the chickens either since the ducks are quite messy. We have different housing for our ducks and chickens. Good luck on your decision.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

I am really considering it, but just not 100% sure I want to buy year old ones. They are beautiful though and the person even has a female. She is supposed to send me a picture of her today.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Anyone else?

 

[19hhbelgian]

I'd go for it as long as the price is right. They are beautiful! I've kept chickens and ducks together before, but I would suggest a serious "getting used to each other" period before just throwing them in the coop. What I do is put a large dog crate (the metal kind, not plastic) in the coop. the newbies go in the crate when in the coop with the chickens. This allows every one to get used to each other with out any issues. The newbies are safe and can't get hurt in the pen, and the previous residents can see them perfectly fine, and get used to them being there.

Good Luck!

 

[spectrumranch]

Quote:
If you are worried about it- then you probably shouldn't buy them.

Luckily birds handle transitions or none of us would be able to buy birds and bring them home. Clipping wings is as cruel as getting your kids hair cut. They may not like it so much at the time, but it doesn't hurt them.

 

[JessHall]

I'd get them and clip their wings. Our ducks and chickens are together at the moment, however my husband is going to build the ducks a separate coop for them soon... they are pretty messy and they get the chickens bedding really wet with their water. Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[Dances with Ducks]

They are BEAUTIFUL! I've heard they are a very friendly, good natured breed.
They look like two drakes - they will probably want to mate with your chickens and the chickens won't be happy.
So you may need to keep them separate from the chickens.
If you just get the one female duck she will be overwhelmed, not in a good way probably.
So if you get the duck they may offer, it would be best to also add at least three to five females in addition.
If you just got one of the drakes you may get by with just two females.

 

[Cetawin]

They are gorgeous...here is some information on them from holderread waterfowl preservation...they breed them

http://www.holderreadfarm.com/photogallery/mini_sa_page/mini_sa_page.htm

I would quarantine them from the other ducks and birds for at least 4 weeks and then decide if wing clipping is needed.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Quote:
That's where they came from....Holderread Farm. She is only asking $25 for a pair of male ducks. The female would be an additional $10. We got our peafowl at 6 mos and they had to adjust to staying around. Thank goodness we got them around fall so they were in the coop/run all winter. Now they stay around for the most part. I think if we were to get the ducks now we should be okay. We do have a separate coop that we will put in the run for the winter and then when spring hits they'll have their own coop/run.

Thanks for all the suggestions!