4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[TheChookKeeper]

Hello all,

 

My 2 lovely little Indian Runner ducklings are now fast approaching 4 weeks old, and I am hoping that I'll be able to let them live outside, certainly during the day, if not night as well come the weekend (when they'll be 4 weeks).

 

The only obstacle to this at present (apart from the rubbish weather!) is Gerald and Alice, my year and a bit old Silver Appleyards.

 

I've had the ducklings out in the garden with them over the weekend for a few hours, and for 20 mins or so this afternoon after work, where they went for a swim in the big ducks pond, but I've yet to leave them unattended at all out there.

 

Alice seems quite intrigued by them, and when they let her get close, she tends to lose interest again, and go and eats something.

Gerald however seems less friendly. He started off looking quite scared of them... but this afternoon (possibly spurred by the fact they invaded "his" pond), he was quite nasty to them.

I don't know if I'm reading too much into it, but he'd waddle towards them, and it looks like he was trying to grab their necks in his beak.

 

Now - by the weekend, they will have grown substantially again I am assuming... so they should be able to look after themselves a bit better, but is there anything I can do to smooth the wheels of friendship for them all?

 

If the weather picks up this week, we're going to leave them outside alone, but inside a run so they can see eachother... but it's not quite the same as sharing food/pond etc.!!!

 

 

Thoughts appreciated!

[Lesley]

I think you'll have the same problems as introducing chicks to hens - you'll need to keep them separate but together if you csn, until they all accept each other. The drake may cause a problem for a while though

[TheChookKeeper]

They "bonded" a bit VERY briefly this afternoon as it was so cold outside, I had 2 ducklings under the wormery... with the 2 adults standing next to it, both quacking away at each other.

 

No violence today... but then, they didn't really have much opportunity.

 

I hope they'll be OK together! Luckily I do have this run, so keeping them seperate isn't too much of a problem.

 

On a side issue - I believe the ducklings are supposed to be on their grower pellets until they are 16 weeks or something like that... is it OK for the grown ups to eat grower pellets, and babies to eat layers pellets every now and again?

 

I'll try and keep them seperate, but if they do get around to living harmoniously together in the garden, convincing them to eat only THEIR food could be quite challenging!!!

 

 

Thanks!

[tara]

They "bonded" a bit VERY briefly this afternoon as it was so cold outside, I had 2 ducklings under the wormery... with the 2 adults standing next to it, both quacking away at each other.

 

No violence today... but then, they didn't really have much opportunity.

 

I hope they'll be OK together! Luckily I do have this run, so keeping them seperate isn't too much of a problem.

 

On a side issue - I believe the ducklings are supposed to be on their grower pellets until they are 16 weeks or something like that... is it OK for the grown ups to eat grower pellets, and babies to eat layers pellets every now and again?

 

I'll try and keep them seperate, but if they do get around to living harmoniously together in the garden, convincing them to eat only THEIR food could be quite challenging!!!

 

 

Thanks!

 

Ive got the same problem with the food mine are now 6 weeks just gone on monday they are indian runner duckling.Mine are all girls l have 2 adult indian runners and 3 calls.So far the indian runners seem ok with them but one of my call ducks dose chase them abit at times.There sleeping in the lean to with now no heat and in the day there in a smaller run in the big run when im not there.I cover the water so they cant get in in case of drowning.But this weekend im going to try and leave them out side.We are building another run right next to it so ill put them in there till they get bigger but l was worried about the food issue and also id older ducks can kill younger ones