Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: pink aubergine on February 26, 2013, 19:00
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We were down to 2 chickens last year after a fox attack, and we added 2 call ducklings in October. We kept them separately at first, because the ducklings needed heat,& they had a little duck house of their own.
However 1 day the hens got over the adjoining fence, & they got on so well, they have lived together ever since in an open space, & locked up at night in the same chicken coup at night safely against Mr Fox.
The chickens are pretty thick & have never roosted on a perch, they sleep in the nesting box which we obviously have to clean out regularly, & the ducks sleep on floor covered in straw.
But in the last few days, female white call duck (Delilah) has been pecking at backside and underwing plummage of white hen. She hasn't seemed to be very bothered by it til tonight when she refused to go in coup. We've had to separate them, which isn't ideal as when locking up against fox it is a palava to open up secure run and secure separate house.
The ducks (male and female) are just reaching egg laying age, are they jostling for pecking order, or why could this be happening? We've kept ducks and chucks happily together before!
Confused!
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If the duck has started egg laying is she thinking about nests.
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One of our turkeys attacked our top hen through the mesh fence last month. I think it was due to Spring being in the air! :blush:
You might be best checking for lice and mites though as this is a possible reason for pecking and your hen not wanting to go in the coop. ;)