Will my chickens attack ducklings?

[jscott5510]

Looking for some information on chickens with ducklings! I currently have 5 hens and a rooster, and I am interested in getting a few ducklings. I am worried that my chickens, especially my rooster, will attack them. Even if I keep them seperated until the ducklings are bigger, will there be a chance of them getting along? Any input is greatly appreciated!! Have a great day!!

 

[Chibi Crow]

I haven't raised ducklings but, when my younger chickens were young as soon as they were about half the size of the other chickens they stopped getting picked on. I'm sorry thats all I know.

 

[Chibi Crow]

I hope that helps! Hopefully.

 

[cosbackyard]

At my house it's the opposite. The ducks rule the yard and the chickens stay away from them. That's probably a size thing, though since ducks grow alot faster than chickens. In your situation I wouldn't put the ducklings in with full grown chickens until they're about the same size.

 

[jscott5510]

Thanks for the info! I plan to keep them seperated until they get bigger! Hopefully they can all get along eventually!!

 

[anatidae]

I have 14 ducks, a bantum hen, and two bantum roosters. They are penned together and free range together. The only problems I had was with some leg-horn hens that tore up my ducks' nests. The bantums have been no problem. My roosters actually snuggle up against my duck hens when they are cold.

 

[jscott5510]

were they raised together? or did you get them seperately? i got all my chickens together, so i was worried that if i introduced ducklings it would be a problem!

 

[brairgirl]

Ouw chicken leave the ducklings alone when they get to be about 7 weeks.. But that's because the ducks are as big as them by then.

 

[DallasCriftins]

My Chickens used to be in charge then we got three Geese!

I have two sheds and a small barn that are all joined to a large communal Wir.
At night the ducks are in one shed the Chickens in the other
For a while the Geese were in the barn

Two much grief so now the Geese have there own place as they were grabbing the smaller birds if they were squabbling over food.
All is happy again the Chickens rule but there is no aggression.

The poor Ducks are pretty much bottom of the pecking order though and they just tend to run around anything looking angry!
I have them trained to come in at night when called and things can't be too scary otherwise they would stay out on the pond hiding!

 

[anatidae]

I got the ducks and chickens all at different times. No problems. I've even got a little hen that took over one of the duck's nest and is sitting on both duck eggs and her own chicken eggs. I know they hatch at different times, but she doesn't seem to notice that there is a difference in eggs. If she hatches the duck eggs, I wonder if the ducklings will bond with her. Has anyone had experience with this?