The Duck Thread

[sryglet]

Hoo boy, sryglet.

@Miss Lydia
  ?

Yeah... I'm kinda worried about fighting, but momma duck (Vader) is really small compared to Lucy, and Lucy was raised by ducks, thinks she's a duck, and is basically a huge puppy dog. I'm keeping an eye on them though..

 

[caesargirl]

So, Lucy the Sebastopol goose woke up this morning and decided that she will be sitting on all seven of my Cayuga / runner / mallard eggs. She's been vigilantly sitting on them all day. Will she be able to hatch them? What about the momma duck - she's broody too. Should I let her start a second nest?

Lol. I've had a goose raise ducks. My male Canadian took over and raised my Cayugas!!! It worked out very well. It was bizarre to see, but geese are excellent parents. Letting your duck hatch some is up to her and you.

 

[jtn42248]

So, Lucy the Sebastopol goose woke up this morning and decided that she will be sitting on all seven of my Cayuga / runner / mallard eggs. She's been vigilantly sitting on them all day. Will she be able to hatch them? What about the momma duck - she's broody too. Should I let her start a second nest?

If Lucy stays broody she will hatch and raise the ducklings. However, if the momma duck is also broody you might try getting some of the eggs out from under Lucy, make her a nest someplace that is isolated from Lucy, introduce her to it and may need to restrict her movement from that nest until she accepts it. Otherwise, just keep her away from Lucy if necessary so that she does not challenge Lucy on the nest. Geese can be pretty aggressive when protecting their nest.

The other option would be to remove Lucy and isolate her which sounds like it might be harder to do.

 

[sryglet]

If Lucy stays broody she will hatch and raise the ducklings. However, if the momma duck is also broody you might try getting some of the eggs out from under Lucy, make her a nest someplace that is isolated from Lucy, introduce her to it and may need to restrict her movement from that nest until she accepts it. Otherwise, just keep her away from Lucy if necessary so that she does not challenge Lucy on the nest. Geese can be pretty aggressive when protecting their nest.

The other option would be to remove Lucy and isolate her which sounds like it might be harder to do.

Yeah, Lucy is pretty big, so moving her and isolating her would make her pretty angry. Which means she'd be very loud she is very protective of her ducks and not being able to watch over them would be very upsetting to her.

I'll keep an eye on them and make sure there's no fighting - if there is, I'll isolate Vader and give her a new nest.

What's interesting is that I've never seen an egg from Lucy. She is free range, so I guess she must have been laying them somewhere else.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So, Lucy the Sebastopol goose woke up this morning and decided that she will be sitting on all seven of my Cayuga / runner / mallard eggs. She's been vigilantly sitting on them all day. Will she be able to hatch them? What about the momma duck - she's broody too. Should I let her start a second nest?

She'll most likely think those ducklings are her goslings. lol it will be fine. I would let mama duck have eggs of her own though borrow some from Lucy and put her in a separate area from Lucy so Lucy won't take them back, once they start broody full time you can take as many eggs as you want they don't care as long as they have some to sit. only problem is if they are left together to hatch Lucy may take all ducklings when they hatch. And you don't want fighting because the little ones will be in jeopardy of getting injured.If this is Lucy's first broody I'd let her have no more than 6-8 eggs but if you don't have that many to split up between them then 4 would be fine . Just so they each have some.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

I was wondering, does anyone know anything about having chickens and ducks? I have three ducks right now (one drake and two females) and they are pretty well behaved. But I have been thinking about getting chickens as well, I've seen that other people have chickens and ducks and they seem fine but I just thought I'd ask.
Also if it makes any difference I have a huge yard and the chickens would have their own house.
And can I have a rooster as well?

 

[jtn42248]

I was wondering, does anyone know anything about having chickens and ducks? I have three ducks right now (one drake and two females) and they are pretty well behaved. But I have been thinking about getting chickens as well, I've seen that other people have chickens and ducks and they seem fine but I just thought I'd ask.
Also if it makes any difference I have a huge yard and the chickens would have their own house.
And can I have a rooster as well?

I have one area that I allow 6 ducks in with 20 chickens and one rooster. They do fine together so far and it has been about a year. I do house the chickens and ducks apart from one another. The biggest risk is if a drake tries to mate with a chicken the chicken can be seriously injured or killed.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

I have one area that I allow 6 ducks in with 20 chickens and one rooster. They do fine together so far and it has been about a year. I do house the chickens and ducks apart from one another. The biggest risk is if a drake tries to mate with a chicken the chicken can be seriously injured or killed.

Yeah that's what I've heard. So as long as my drake isn't trying to mate with the hens there shouldn't be an issue?
Also do you know what my hen to rooster ratio should be? If I end up getting chickens I don't want more than six so would 5:1 be ok?
I know it might not be the same but my hen (Female duck) to drake ratio is 2:1.
Do you think maybe I should get another duck and try and integrate it with my current ducks when it is big enough so the ratio is 3:1? I mean they seem fine, but I'm just curious and also don't want anyone getting hurt.
One last question

If I make sure to handle the rooster a lot and socialize him will that raise the chances of him being nice to myself and any guests that might visit? I just don't want to have to worry about getting attacked. My family had chickens before I was born and they had a rooster and my dad said that he was so mean he would take the garbage can lid as a shield when he went outside to take care of the chickens...

Thanks for the help! I'm super excited to possible get some more outdoor buddies hehee

 

[tracyjg]

I have roosters they our aggressive to female figures. I you's a broom a box to protect myself. They do fine with my partner. I handled mine a lot. It's when they start mating is when all the aggressive behavior starts. 1 hen laying eggs there fine. Several hens laying eggs is when it gets weird.i have tryed spraying with water . Dunking them in water broom and box. We careful when it's cold with water. They can freeze.

 

[tracyjg]

Or children on roosters.