We've just acquired two lovely call ducks (a duck and a drake); they are currently living in a pen with our 10 chickens and 1 cockerel. They get on fine, but while the chickens all put themselves to bed at dusk, we're having to catch the ducks and put them to bed every night. Their joint shelter is a shed raised off the ground with a barred ramp leading up to it. They have a very small pond in the enclosure, but ideally we'd like them to free-range, as there's a large mill pond nearby that they would love. But we can't let them out until we can be sure of getting them in at night. We've tried tempting them in with mealworms, but the chickens just leap out of bed and muscle in on the action! Any suggestions as to what we can do? Would having their own small hut within the chicken pen be better? We're a bit stumped!
Call ducks won't go to bed!
- Thread starter CWB
- Start date
Whilst it's possible to keep ducks and chickens together, they do have different needs and preferences at bedtime. As you've found out, ducks don't tend to put themselves to bed like chickens do, you need to train them to be herded in to their coop at roosting time. Also, they don't perch like chickens do, so they need a small separate coop of their own, with no perches, just straw or other litter in the floor. Probably they would prefer a floor level one without a ramp as well. They do take a while to settle in to what is a fairly large group of chickens, and may be feeling rather outnumbered and nervous about going in with the chickens after these have all gone to bed, especially if they have to sit on the floor with the chickens up on the perches above them.
Have you read the article on keeping ducks and chickens together on the Poultrykeeper website? There are also potential problems about feeding ducks, as their needs here are different from chickens as well. The pond sounds lovely for them and once they've settled in, this should enable you to keep them more separate from the chickens, if perhaps you can get a secure coop for them near to the pond for use at night. Could you perhaps use a few metres of chicken netting to enclose them on the edge of the pond during the day, so they can use it and come to regard it as their territory? Just an idea, don't know if it would work. Maybe dorsetduckowner will come on here with more expert advice, she really knows all about ducks, unlike me!
Have you read the article on keeping ducks and chickens together on the Poultrykeeper website? There are also potential problems about feeding ducks, as their needs here are different from chickens as well. The pond sounds lovely for them and once they've settled in, this should enable you to keep them more separate from the chickens, if perhaps you can get a secure coop for them near to the pond for use at night. Could you perhaps use a few metres of chicken netting to enclose them on the edge of the pond during the day, so they can use it and come to regard it as their territory? Just an idea, don't know if it would work. Maybe dorsetduckowner will come on here with more expert advice, she really knows all about ducks, unlike me!
Thanks, Marigold, we'll have a think about alternative accommodation for them. We might also try closing the chicken's door, then using mealworms to get them to come, rather than herding them and catching them, which must be more stressful!
I have read the article about keeping chickens and ducks together, so will be getting some wheat for the ducks (although they seem happy at the moment with layers pellets and seem to be feeding fine amongst the chickens, who basically ignore them).
I'll see if dorsetduckowner has any further words of wisdom!
I have read the article about keeping chickens and ducks together, so will be getting some wheat for the ducks (although they seem happy at the moment with layers pellets and seem to be feeding fine amongst the chickens, who basically ignore them).
I'll see if dorsetduckowner has any further words of wisdom!
dorsetduckowner
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So sorry I missed this post, I agree with marigold, Have you made any progress yet?
hi cwb.
i had same problems with my ducks at night.trying to get them in at night
to their bed.so i just left them to it in the end.and now they go in themselves
if they are cold they go in if not they stay by their pond (kiddies paddling pool)
on the step i made for them to get in and out.i only have 2 ducks.but i think
you have to let them get used to their new home and surroundings.so maybe
yours will do the same.hope this helps.big al
i had same problems with my ducks at night.trying to get them in at night
to their bed.so i just left them to it in the end.and now they go in themselves
if they are cold they go in if not they stay by their pond (kiddies paddling pool)
on the step i made for them to get in and out.i only have 2 ducks.but i think
you have to let them get used to their new home and surroundings.so maybe
yours will do the same.hope this helps.big al
