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Drake chasing chickens
Thu 4-Mar-10
11:24 am
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Catkin
Spain
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Hi

I have 1 drake and 1 duck (who is happily laying an egg every day).  We recently added 4 chickens to our little flock.  The chickens were kept seperate in their house for about 5 days before we let them mix together.  One did hop over the fence but soon came back so they know where their home is.  We were getting 1 or 2 eggs from them for a few days but now nothing. 

The drake is being very bossy and is chasing one chicken in particular quite a bit - will he gradually settle down and leave her alone?  I think the chasing could be upsetting them all.  I really want to be able to let the chickens out during the day, is it just a case of him establishing he´s the boss, although he does seem to be picking on the chicken who is at the bottom of the pecking order.

Would be great to hear any ideas

Thanks v much

Thu 4-Mar-10
3:44 pm
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Toffeeapple
North Bucks

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Hi Catkin, I know nothing about chickens or ducks but I wanted to welcome you to the forum.  I'm sure someone here will be able to offer a solution to your problem. Magic

I'll try that again!

Thu 4-Mar-10
4:11 pm
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danast
Argyll, Scotland

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Hi Catkin and welcome.  Smile

 I have 2 drakes, 4 ducks and lots of hens.  I have never experienced this.  The ducks tend to ignore the chickens and stick together as a little flock going everywhere together. The only time there is any aggro is at feeding time in the morning and the hens give as good as they get. Even the cockerels and the drakes get on. Sometimes I think animals of different species do understand the pecking order of others though, and it sounds like this is the case here.  Hopefully they will settle down. 

However I am jealous of your duck eggs.  Mine have not started laying yet.  Cry

Old teachers never die, they just lose their class

Thu 4-Mar-10
8:32 pm
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Catkin
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Thank you for the welcome messages.

Typically after posting my message today, the ladies gave me 2 eggs Smile!  Splendid, I was so pleased for them!  I´ve been watching them lots today and it seems like they are learning how to deal with Duckie as they get up on ther roosting poles or anywhere he can´t reach.  Danast, I think you are right in that it just needs some time, so fingers crossed.

Thanks for your comments

Fri 5-Mar-10
2:35 pm
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raenbow
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One of my Hens Houdini (due to her escapologist tendencies) often hops over the chicken run fence into the garden where the ducks reside. Sometimes she forgets to hop back over the fence at night and gets shut up with the ducks, every morning she does this she comes hurtling out of the Duck house closely followed by Thunder Duck, pecking at the back of her neck and chasing her down the garden!!Yell

My theory is if it bothered her that much:

1) She wouldn't sleep in there

2) She would make sure she goes to bed in the Henhouse

3) She would stay on the perches till the ducks are out

As she does none of the above I reckon she can't be too concerned and accepts it as part of the 'pecking order'!!

PS How do you know if you have ducks or drakes? ( Beginning to think my 3 are all drakes, oldest a year now and still no eggs)

Fri 5-Mar-10
5:43 pm
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danast
Argyll, Scotland

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What kind of ducks do you have Raenbow?  I have Khaki Campbells and once they are mature it is easy to tell the difference.

Old teachers never die, they just lose their class

Thu 11-Mar-10
12:21 pm
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raenbow
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Sorry for the late reply Danast, Reset my Password and didn't have it on my Laptop!

I have 1 Magpie ( I think) and 2 large white ducks which I ssuspect may be ~Pekins (as they seem to fit all the crieria apart from one has a black spot on her head). The 2 pekins look the same (apart from the spot!)

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