Kelster65
Chirping
Hi all,
I'm wondering what you've used as a transition brooder for ducklings. I have two 4 week old Rouens that were hatched and raised by a momma chicken that NOBODY messes with. I carry them out from their coop brooder to an open top playpen during the day and back in at night - everyone sees them but don't bother them. Then I have 6 pekins being raised by 2 momma Rouens. Their first clutch was killed by my drake and/or hens when he got into the brooder, which didn't have a top at the time. I'm thinking he wanted to see them and all hell broke loose, wanted to kill them or breed the females, and they got in the way, not sure. Anyway, long story short, I gave the moms 6 pekins to raise, and they're doing great. They've currently got a 4'x5' brooder, which will soon become small as the pekins grow. The momma ducks get spastic when I try to pick them up (although I raised them from babies too), so moving them all to an outdoor playpen daily might be tricky. (My run is 20' x35', plenty of room). Also, at what age could/ would be considered safe to release into the flock if my drake indeed killed the first clutch? All the chickens and ducks live in the same coop. They see these babies every day and get along just fine, but these babies are not free among them and new to their established pecking order.
Thank you in advance.
Photos to help the visual.
I'm wondering what you've used as a transition brooder for ducklings. I have two 4 week old Rouens that were hatched and raised by a momma chicken that NOBODY messes with. I carry them out from their coop brooder to an open top playpen during the day and back in at night - everyone sees them but don't bother them. Then I have 6 pekins being raised by 2 momma Rouens. Their first clutch was killed by my drake and/or hens when he got into the brooder, which didn't have a top at the time. I'm thinking he wanted to see them and all hell broke loose, wanted to kill them or breed the females, and they got in the way, not sure. Anyway, long story short, I gave the moms 6 pekins to raise, and they're doing great. They've currently got a 4'x5' brooder, which will soon become small as the pekins grow. The momma ducks get spastic when I try to pick them up (although I raised them from babies too), so moving them all to an outdoor playpen daily might be tricky. (My run is 20' x35', plenty of room). Also, at what age could/ would be considered safe to release into the flock if my drake indeed killed the first clutch? All the chickens and ducks live in the same coop. They see these babies every day and get along just fine, but these babies are not free among them and new to their established pecking order.
Thank you in advance.
Photos to help the visual.