Support Group for Abused Duck Keepers

[Ilovemychicks08]

My right calf after Daffy has greeted me in the morning. My left one is similarly bruised. That boy is bting me to demand attention, not attacking me. If I pick him up and throw him out of the coop, he thinks its a game, turns round, comes back in and bites me again.
View attachment 3489973

Ouch. Thats like my buff orp hen. She keeps biting me.

 

[Isadora]

Up to her old tricks

 

[Corbdee]

Y'all I'm gonna try and leave my ducklings (they'll be 3 weeks old on Friday) outside with the 2 hens in the enclosure. I'm so nervous to but I'm hoping they'll be big enough. I have to leave for a few weeks and I can't have 4 ducks in the brooder at 5 weeks old. I have various neighbors that'll check on them, and my friend in particular that will be coming to refill their feed and water every other day. We have cameras at all angles of the house where I can kinda try and zoom in on the duck area but there's no cameras down by the coop because it's in the woods so I can't really check on them myself.

Anyway, I'm wondering if this will work. I'll probably put the 8 gal bucket waterer inside the enclosure, spread straw, leave a 4 inch high tote with water for bathing that my friend will refill, and have both a feed bowl for my girls and a duckling feeder in there. The ducklings and girls are still scared of each other, though. I'm hoping they'll get along eventually.

Any suggestions?

@Miss Lydia can you help?

 

[ruthhope]

Up to her old tricks View attachment 3490060

Yours is defending her nest; Daffy is demanding attention!!!

 

[Jenbirdee]

This little shyster does not want to go to bed. It's not easy running around in the mud and rain trying to make 4 little ducks go in the side door and 9 big ducks go in the other side door but Cookie here does not care how much I am suffering she justs goes her own way. When I told her the Chinese is open and how much they love crispy duck she finally went in.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Thanks!

You are most welcome.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Up to her old tricks View attachment 3490060

Though she be little, she is fierce!

 

[Luv Ducks]

Y'all I'm gonna try and leave my ducklings (they'll be 3 weeks old on Friday) outside with the 2 hens in the enclosure. I'm so nervous to but I'm hoping they'll be big enough. I have to leave for a few weeks and I can't have 4 ducks in the brooder at 5 weeks old. I have various neighbors that'll check on them, and my friend in particular that will be coming to refill their feed and water every other day. We have cameras at all angles of the house where I can kinda try and zoom in on the duck area but there's no cameras down by the coop because it's in the woods so I can't really check on them myself.

Anyway, I'm wondering if this will work. I'll probably put the 8 gal bucket waterer inside the enclosure, spread straw, leave a 4 inch high tote with water for bathing that my friend will refill, and have both a feed bowl for my girls and a duckling feeder in there. The ducklings and girls are still scared of each other, though. I'm hoping they'll get along eventually.

Any suggestions?

@Miss Lydia can you help?

Is your pen large enough that they can get away from each other if things get hectic for them or places they can hide from each other? I am glad that you are having people check on them and you might give them some sort of temporary fencing in case there is a problem so that they can separate them. Good luck. I hope it all works out well for you and them. Since they don't seem to be aggressive to each other it might be just fine. They sell cheap plastic poultry fencing and stakes with zip ties that they could use if separating them became a necessity.

 

[BelovedBirds]

This little shyster does not want to go to bed. It's not easy running around in the mud and rain trying to make 4 little ducks go in the side door and 9 big ducks go in the other side door but Cookie here does not care how much I am suffering she justs goes her own way. When I told her the Chinese is open and how much they love crispy duck she finally went in.

Just hold up your hand and count down from 5, works with Sprightly every time!
Sometimes she waits until 2, just living life on the edge like that.

 

[Corbdee]

Is your pen large enough that they can get away from each other if things get hectic for them or places they can hide from each other? I am glad that you are having people check on them and you might give them some sort of temporary fencing in case there is a problem so that they can separate them. Good luck. I hope it all works out well for you and them. Since they don't seem to be aggressive to each other it might be just fine. They sell cheap plastic poultry fencing and stakes with zip ties that they could use if separating them became a necessity.

Not sure if I'm able to further separate them, it is still a sort of small setup, maybe 5x5ft in the main area and a 2ft x 8ft walkway from the nest boxes to the main area. They do have places they can hide from each other, but ultimately they could probably be cornered, for example the ducklings could hide in the other nest box but obviously the girls could get in. I know it's not ideal but if you think it'll work for 2 weeks I'll put them in there.