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Barnyard Buddies:  Just weird; ducks mating with chickens??  |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 09:54:32 AM
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I have never had trouble with my birds mingling with each other; chickens, ducks and turkeys all free range with no problems. I have to say though, I was kind of disturbed this morning when I noticed our 2 male ducks tag-teaming a poor hen! Our female duck was nearby, so it was certainly not for lack of....uh...partner. Any ideas to remedy? Is it harmful to the hen if I can't stop them? I don't want to get rid of the ducks, but there's really not a way for me to keep them separate. Anyone else have this problem?
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Nigella
True Blue Farmgirl
386 Posts
Nigella
Chimacum
WA
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 11:14:31 AM
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Hmmmm Molly I have to say I've never heard of this one..... I would think it's merely a case of mistaken identity on the ducks part?? Anyway we had ducks at one time (until they produced 13 ducklings and those grew up and took over the farm lol) while we had chickens and I never witness that happening. I would guess that it wouldn't hurt the poor hens at all.
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-Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 1:03:02 PM
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it is actually for lack of their own kind. I had a male peking duck and a single female peking duck recently..but the male became extremely aggressive so we had to get rid of him..I found out that the entire problem was that he needed more gals around of his own kind.. after he had a few more girlfriends he became very docile.
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shepherdgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1008 Posts
Tracy
California
USA
1008 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 4:52:37 PM
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Oh I've seen this happen before. It's a bit ridiculous if you ask me, but hey... "boys WILL be boys!" as the saying goes. It could very well be that the "lady" duck is not to their liking, (Poor little Lady duck), and more girls ARE called for. I don't think they can cross-breed, since they are different species, so there should be no worries about strange critters hatching on the farm. (Now, if you have Guineas! THAT'S a whole different thing entirely! They CAN cross with chickens. I have seen them with my own two peepers--- VERY STRANGE BIRDS!!! Also, very infertile.) Just get some more Lady Ducks if you can, and hopefully the randy little buggers'll leave your poor hens ALONE!!! And maybe Lady Duck will finally get a boyfriend who appreciates her!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2008 : 06:25:57 AM
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Ha ha, thanks for your (funny) helpful comments! I won't worry too much about it, although I did witness it a few more times over the day. I think I will have to find some more ladies for them. Great idea, thanks for the tips! And Tracy, I'm glad to hear I shouldn't have any duckins or chucks running around..... ;)
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The Blog: http://blog.tvalahandmade.com/
The Bits www.happydalehobby.blogspot.com/
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shepherdgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1008 Posts
Tracy
California
USA
1008 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2008 : 09:31:15 AM
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Well Molly, I wouldn't bet my LIFE on that, since I didn't think Guineas and Chickens could "Pro-Create" either!!! But I'm pretty sure that ducks and chickens are not reproducable--- I THINK! (LOL) That funny Guinea/Chicken thing we had? We called it a Guicken or a Chinea. STRANGE looking creature! If you DO get some wierd looking babies any time soon I REALLY would like to see a picture of them! Hugs~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2008 : 10:49:08 AM
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| Reminds me of a saying that Ole Ron says when we are out in the boonies. "Where the hoot owls court the chickens." maybe there is something to that. |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2008 : 11:38:49 AM
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This story reminded me of a little creature we had around our place when I was a kid. We found it, believe it or not, when it looked like it had just been hatched, in an empty (open) mason jar, out by the pumphouse. We freed it from the jar, and it survived. It was the strangest little animal - it had webbed feet, but from the legs up it didn't look like a duck at all, more like a chicken or turkey. We ended up calling it a "chickturduck".
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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countrygal56
True Blue Farmgirl
221 Posts
Barbara
Dickson
Tennessee
USA
221 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2008 : 2:32:37 PM
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We have a chick that is rather funny looking, and our neighbors Guineas come over to our place every day. Makes me wonder..Hmmm. I remember one day when we were at a friends house and their Chiahuahua (misspelled?) tried to hump one of their chickens.
Our farm is X rated, due to fisky roosters, our poor chickens, they try to run away, but the roosters tag team the chickens! It looks comical, as one has a good time, it looks like the other roosters are cheering it on, then another may take their turn. UGH! |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9093 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9093 Posts |
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shepherdgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1008 Posts
Tracy
California
USA
1008 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2008 : 08:52:02 AM
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Barbara-- your post made me laugh so hard! I have to say, I have Chihuahua's and trust me, the males WILL do the nasty on anything that can't run away!!! (or isn't QUICK enough!) My little black Chi-monster, Stitch, just LOOOOOOVED our rabbit. I'd let the rabbit out of his cage to hop around (he was a house bunny-- just recently passed away from old age) and Stitch would get all kinds of excited and chase the rabbit around the house. He'd litterally grab onto the rabbit with his long skinny legs and go to town! The rabbit would get SO MAD!!! He's start kicking and running with this little Chihuahua hanging onto his "waist" (if rabbits HAVE waists!) I swear though, if my Chi could talk he would have sounded like that Bee on the Nasonex commercials-- (or the Skunk "Peppy Le Pew" who was always chasing the cat!) "Ahh... My flower...." (the voice of the Bee is Antonio Banderas, so you can imagine) Too FUNNY!!
What does your funny looking chick look like? Can you describe it? Oh, and my farm is a bit X-rated as well. I have 3 buck goats, who occasionally get out and chase the ladies, otherwise they are chasing EACH OTHER! Same with my rams. I have six of them and they get a bit lonely for the girls so..... well, we'll just leave it at THAT won't we?
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
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Barnyard Buddies: Just weird; ducks mating with chickens?? |
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Just weird; ducks mating with chickens??
