Last week our neighbor gave us a little 2-day old Welsh harlequin duckling that her daughter brought home but was unable to care for. Judging by its beak color it's likely male (I know this isn't a for-sure way to sex WHs - though the daughter said that, with one exception, this has held true at the place the duckling came from). I put it with one of our broody hens and things are going so well and they're having just the best and cutest time together.
I had ducks when I was a kid and the male (mallard) was just the worst and would forcibly try to mate with anything that moved - including our geese. Our current flock consists of 6 bantam and 2 standard chickens and we're functioning under the assumption that we'll need to find the duckling another home if it does indeed turn out to be male. Unless we don't? I've never had WH... I don't suppose WH drakes are gentle? Is it possible for a drake to coexist peacefully with bantam chickens? I'm guessing not, but thought I'd see if anyone had insights just in case!
I had ducks when I was a kid and the male (mallard) was just the worst and would forcibly try to mate with anything that moved - including our geese. Our current flock consists of 6 bantam and 2 standard chickens and we're functioning under the assumption that we'll need to find the duckling another home if it does indeed turn out to be male. Unless we don't? I've never had WH... I don't suppose WH drakes are gentle? Is it possible for a drake to coexist peacefully with bantam chickens? I'm guessing not, but thought I'd see if anyone had insights just in case!

