Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[perchie.girl]

One of my hens hatched a while back of lings last year. Was funny as heck to see her and her flock around the yard.....

did she fuss at them when they went for a dip in the swimming pool....? Dad said his hens would.

deb

 

[Shadrach]

I don't want to stir anything up... But I've heard the whole it's "Possible" that a Drake could try to mate with a hen chicken .....I keep my chickens and ducks together... Even when I had three Drakes here and I've never seen my Drakes even show the slightest interest in my chickens. Now having too many Drakes had been a issue..... That's why I'm down to one Drake now... Although my two boys were fine..... Adding that third one was a problem.
I'm just saying it seems ducks seem to only care about the ducks within their social circle.
But you know me I'm all about ducks.
If my chickens didn't have that all black meat I'd probably eat them....

I do as well Phil. They're Muscoveis and I don't know if that makes any difference and of course they are free range, which may make a difference. In the six years the Muscovies have been here there have been a couple of short scraps with roosters and that's been it.
I think lots of people here keep ducks and chickens together without problems.
But, the guys down the mountain here had problems keeping their ducks and chickens together in a run. The drakes would grab the hens by the back of the head and while they didn't mate they did get injured. Maybe the breed of duck makes a difference.

 

[mixedUPturk]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gnats-killing-birds.1305726/

Ive had 42 poultry deaths this week. Went to LSU. This thread i made has more.

 

[Alaskan]

I think lots of people here keep ducks and chickens together without problems.
But, the guys down the mountain here had problems keeping their ducks and chickens together in a run. The drakes would grab the hens by the back of the head and while they didn't mate they did get injured. Maybe the breed of duck makes a difference.

Again.... I don't think it is a breed of duck thing...

I think it happens when they get species confused. A few ducklings raised in a box with a bunch of chicks will grow up thinking they are chicks.

However, how much space they have will also be an issue. Drakes of course will protect their girls.... if they see a hen laying in the duck nest as a threat..... then that can cause conflict.

But as you know, how much space they all have is a HUGE factor in how they behave.

 

[Shadrach]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gnats-killing-birds.1305726/

Ive had 42 poultry deaths this week. Went to LSU. This thread i made has more.

Just read your thread. That's terrible. Can't say much more really.

 

[WVduckchick]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1532927980181545

That’s how my SIL would butcher hers. Draw a line at the chopping block and lay their neck over it.

I do as well Phil. They're Muscoveis and I don't know if that makes any difference and of course they are free range, which may make a difference. In the six years the Muscovies have been here there have been a couple of short scraps with roosters and that's been it.
I think lots of people here keep ducks and chickens together without problems.
But, the guys down the mountain here had problems keeping their ducks and chickens together in a run. The drakes would grab the hens by the back of the head and while they didn't mate they did get injured. Maybe the breed of duck makes a difference.

My ducks and chickens cohabitate in the yard most days, but they don’t fully live together. I did have a BCM rooster that attacked a duck, but wasn’t trying to mate. They work out a pecking order and stick to it afterwards. I’ve never seen one try to mate the other species.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Again.... I don't think it is a breed of duck thing...

I think it happens when they get species confused. A few ducklings raised in a box with a bunch of chicks will grow up thinking they are chicks.

However, how much space they have will also be an issue. Drakes of course will protect their girls.... if they see a hen laying in the duck nest as a threat..... then that can cause conflict.

But as you know, how much space they all have is a HUGE factor in how they behave.

Could it also make a difference if they have drakes but no ducks?

 

[sourland]

Could it also make a difference if they have drakes but no ducks?

"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." Drakes are horny devils.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Just read your thread. That's terrible. Can't say much more really.

u dont have to say anything its ok im fixing it

 

[sourland]

White with small spots of dirt.

Perhaps that dirt will be covered up with more nice 'white'.