[Kathie]

Our Light Sussex, Snowy, is coming up to a year old.  She became broody earlier in the year and has subsequently raised 9 Indian Runner ducklings. They are 11 weeks old on Sunday and Snowy is still with them.

Can anyone tell me if  this is an unusually long time?

Thanks in advance

[bantam novice]

I believe it differs with different hens.  Snowy will know when she's had enough and will let you (and the ducklings) know when she's ready to leave them.

[Kathie]

Thanks BN we were beginning to think she may never return to the chicken coop.  She is still very aggressive to our chicks and in turn the ducklings have started to run at them!  It's all fun and games here at the moment as the chicks have taken to chasing the cats.

[bantam novice]

And I bet the chicks have the upper hand with the cats 

[Kathie]

  not only do the chicks have the upper hand with the cats, they have had a go at 2 of our dogs... and they're Staffies!!

[bantam novice]

  

[rachelr]

yes i sometimes think that chickens were born stupid. body barging a staffie seems ludicrous but our staffie cross is so scared of them he will walk miles around to avoid being body slammed. bless him.

now they tried it with my cocker spaniel and guess what he retrieved it and dumped it at my feet with a look of once more mum and i might not be able to stop myself lol Henrietta ruffled her feathers and barged him again!!!!! stupid birds

[bantam novice]

just wait until they paint the walls of the coop black, put up  keep out signs and start playing loud music 

Sounds like you have a long-suffering cocker spaniel.  They are lovely dogs.  I have an adolescent Springer who is finding it hard to focus for more than a millisecond at the moment and seems to have forgotten everything he learned as a pup