LtDanFan
Chirping
My flock consists of 7 various breed young female ducks that are about 5 months old, a drake that is about 6 months old and 4 twelve-week-old unknown sex ducks of various breeds. The drake is the lone survivor of a house fire and was raised with chickens until the 7 oldest females were old enough to go outside full time. The oldest ducks have all now sufficiently bonded and will willingly walk up the ramp into the coop every night. The youngins (2 saxony, 1 ancona and 1 swedish blue) and the elders get along when in the yard but still keep to their own broodmates. The oldest (except the drake) and the youngins were brooded together but in separate groups (hope that makes sense).
Although they seem to get along, they act like 2 flocks. Problem is this keeps the youngins out of the coop and at night i have to chase them around to get them to go up the ramp meanwhile, the older ducks are already snuggled in bed.
I’ve even been out there in the middle of the day and they were all swimming and feeding together or the older ones would be in the coop and the youngins would be hanging out outside.
I used meal worms to train the older ones to go up a ramp to the slightly raised coop at night but this isn’t working with the youngins. Any suggestions??
I don’t have room to give them 2 coops at this time and i really would like them to all sleep together as it will be getting cold soon and i am tired of chasing them around the mud.
Although they seem to get along, they act like 2 flocks. Problem is this keeps the youngins out of the coop and at night i have to chase them around to get them to go up the ramp meanwhile, the older ducks are already snuggled in bed.
I’ve even been out there in the middle of the day and they were all swimming and feeding together or the older ones would be in the coop and the youngins would be hanging out outside.
I used meal worms to train the older ones to go up a ramp to the slightly raised coop at night but this isn’t working with the youngins. Any suggestions??
I don’t have room to give them 2 coops at this time and i really would like them to all sleep together as it will be getting cold soon and i am tired of chasing them around the mud.
