[Tee DuJardin]

First let me say I am new to all of this. I don’t know correct terminology and such. Looking for advice. I have 8 chicks about 4-5 weeks and two ducks about the same age. Don’t know the sexes. They are in the same coup. The chicks go to the top and the ducks stay below. They still have heat lamps at night. I let them out during the day. I have a fenced in backyard. Outskirts of the city. The ducks seem to be a little mean to the chicks. I can’t get them to like me. I have had them since first hatch. Put my hand in the brooder everyday to get them use to me. Give mealworm treats and veggie treats. Pick them up and pet them until they calm and fall asleep in my arms. Now they have been outside for a week and they won’t let me near them except to take meal worms from my hand and run. The chicks won’t even do that. I can’t get near them at all. I want them to be friendly. Advice?
I also have another question. I have a tiny baby duck now for a couple of days. My neighbors friend (lady I don’t know at all) brought it to me and said they found it in a parking lot of a gas station and don’t have the means to care for it. I don’t know what to do. I think it’s a mallard. I worry she took it from a mother near by but don’t know. It’s lonely by itself. I can’t put it with the others. I tried letting the other ducks see it and they didn’t seem nice. So I keep it with me for a few hours a day. It likes to stay on my shoulders and play with my hair. Should I get another baby for it to bond with? Should I keep it as a house pet until it’s older to be with the others? Should I call wildland game or whoever? I don’t know where she got it from.

 

[dyrne]

It seems like most all my poultry goes through a phase where they get very wild and skittish. Once they mature they get over that when you become the Source of Food. I wouldn't worry over it much. It's like bucket training cattle... if they're hungry and you're bringing food each day they'll get friendly quick.

To the second part of the question, I'm going to assume this is not a wild duck because of course if it were... you shouldn't keep it. So, its not a wild duck. Once it is old enough I would put a wire partition in the duck area and let it stay there until they get used to it. Of course if you did get ducklings to grow up around it that would work as well. If the duckling was super young, like less than a week it may have imprinted on you.

 

[newfieannie]

she got it in a parking lot. maybe something got the mother and the others. they make lovely little pets. i had a kaki campbell one time. something got the mother. i fed it with an eye dropper. followed me everywhere. eventually she had babies of her own. i made pets of them also. course i only had a hobby farm. i made pets out of all of the animals. ~Georgia

 

[Tee DuJardin]

It seems like most all my poultry goes through a phase where they get very wild and skittish. Once they mature they get over that when you become the Source of Food. I wouldn't worry over it much. It's like bucket training cattle... if they're hungry and you're bringing food each day they'll get friendly quick.

To the second part of the question, I'm going to assume this is not a wild duck because of course if it were... you shouldn't keep it. So, its not a wild duck. Once it is old enough I would put a wire partition in the duck area and let it stay there until they get used to it. Of course if you did get ducklings to grow up around it that would work as well. If the duckling was super young, like less than a week it may have imprinted on you.

I don’t know if it was wild or not. It’s definitely younger than a week and loves me and is comfortable with me so I believe it’s imprinted on me. How do I know if it was wild?

 

[Tee DuJardin]

she got it in a parking lot. maybe something got the mother and the others. they make lovely little pets. i had a kaki campbell one time. something got the mother. i fed it with an eye dropper. followed me everywhere. eventually she had babies of her own. i made pets of them also. course i only had a hobby farm. i made pets out of all of the animals. ~Georgia

My animals are for eggs but also I love them. Will this little one go outside with the others when it gets bigger if I raise it inside for the first month?

 

[CKelly78z]

Wild, or not, I doubt the mother duck would take it back at this point, so plan on keeping it. Ducks, and chickens on our property get along when needed, but they don't run together, and are all free range, nor are they overly friendly towards us, but we can still take the eggs.

 

[wdcutrsdaughter]

If there is a wild life rescue/rehab place near you- they could help with your mallard question.

ETA .... I found this ..... http://wildlife.rescueshelter.com/Oregon


In my experience some chicken breeds are friendlier than others. All my chickens come running when they see me, but the barred Plymouth Rock follows me around. I've heard the more you hold any chicken, the friendlier they will be because they will be used to humans. Never tried it. I don't hold my chickens.

 

[Bear-WV]

I have personally kept ducks and chickens together for years with little problem with them.
Like any animals they will bicker at times as they will setup a pecking order and the two groups will stay separate most of the time.

The smaller duck should do just fine with them if given enough time, just dont put it in too soon or the larger ducklings could be too much for it.

A rehab place might be willing to take it if it is a wild duckling, but as far as the state goes, they would just destroy it as they really dont have a heart for such small animals.

 

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You have it, it seems to like you,. keep it.
don't bother with the "officials" , they couldn't care less.
I have stories I could tell.
You can't force other birds to accept it. either they will or they won't. It won't be lonely with the flock around, even if it doesn't mingle.
My rule was always, no chasing.. children who came to visit were educated right away.. and later on they would rein in a new kid.. Any kid who couldn't follow the rule was kept in the house while the others were outside. they learn quickly..