Last spring I bought two Campbell Khaki ducklings and put them in with my small flock of laying hens of several different breeds. They proved to be a pair and it was cute to watch their courtship and mating as they grew up. During the winter, an owl invaded the pen and killed the hen duck. At first the drake grieved so hard he would barely eat, but as this spring came on, his natural instincts reasserted themselves. He began to go after the hens, preferring the dark-colored ones that most resembled his mate. And he has been getting them, too! Exactly the same way he did his wife, except that they would not get into the small tub of water provided for him. I have photos to prove this. The only way they can escape him is by going into the coop where he will not follow. So far, no harm has been done that I can see, but I am wondering whether it's time to put this drake into the oven. For various reasons I don't wish to obtain more ducks.

I had a similar problem with this little girl: Cleo was hatched with some duck eggs that were given to me this spring, the egg was green like the ducks so she got mixed in. I had a bunch of chicks two weeks older than her but the size difference was too much to put her in with them. So Cleo was raised in a box in the basement until she was 8-9 weeks old then I tried to integrate her with the others in their outside coop. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with other chickens, she considered herself more of a person. To this day (13 weeks old) she holds herself at arms length from the other chickens and perches on the feed container (trash can) and an old directors chair to keep herself above the others. I know she really doesn't feel comfortable with the other chickens but she really didn't have an option (I'm not into chicken diapers!). When all the chickens get let outside she takes the opportunity to eat and drink. I hope eventually she will blend in better with the others but for now she is managing ok. The big difference is your chick has been with another chick before so maybe it won't act like mine but there's no doubt in my mind that Cleo would prefer to live as the only chicken and inside as a house chicken. How old is your chick now? and how long has it been alone? that might be a factor as well. -Sheila

Hi lazygardens and BrosaFarm. Thank you so much for replying. It does sound a little gross, but better safe than REALLY sorry. First of all, I'm kind of obsessive about cleaning water containers and about hand washing. My mother raised cage birds for sale and chickens and she pounded it into me that we keep everything very clean. She used bleach in water containers when she changed the water. And she was a nurse, so she was probably hyper-aware. So this is how I do things too. I actually wash my own hands in hot water and soap PLUS bleach water if I've even touched a chicken or duck. So I am being careful with hand washing. But...I got very, very sick week before last and it lasted quite awhile. All the TERRIBLE symptoms were the same as Giardia, but I didn't know that yet. I got so dehydrated that my hubby took me to the doc. He sent me to the hospital as an outpatient. I had a litre and a half of saline plus other goodies pumped into me via IV. I felt pretty good for a quite a few days, but I'm starting to feel achy again along with upset stomach. head ache, no appetite, etc. I had a follow up visit yesterday and he asked me again if I'd been anywhere there may have been contaminated water. I was thinking of camping and that sort of thing. So I said no, but then on the 17 mile drive home I had some time to think and it kind of dawned on me that I am with my ducks, chickens, dogs and cats a LOT and I have been splashed by ducky wading pool water many times on my face as well as the rest of me. Also, our outdoor water is irrigation water that comes from the mountain snow pack melting and it's stored in a huge reservoir until spring. It's not fit to drink, to say the least. I haul indoor water out to the chickens and ducks by the huge bucketful's each day. I've never thought about ME getting something from it though. We water the lawns and plants with it and I always get wet from it. I've heard that you can get it very easily, even just get a drop or two and you'll get sick from it. But is that true? It sounds like you know about it BrosaFarm. How do I treat my chickens and ducks and other animals if they have it? Is it through worming and other....? Guess I need some advice from the seasoned professionals here. I'll call my sis too. She knows about ducks. I'll probably call the vet too. Thanks again for your replies. I really do appreciate your replies. :) Maggie chickenmama1

I have 2 rhode Island reds and 3 red star sexlinks. Sweet girls. I have a chicken tractor my hubby made me. Here is some pics of chicken tractors. www.thecitychicken.com. It is easy and with a chicken tractor, when the floor is dirty and the grass is ate, we move them. We have them get into their coop, shut the door and move the tractor. We don't move them when they are in the run so they don't get hurt feet. Protects them and allows them to be free range eating fresh grass, taking dirt baths (which they love) and They eat the weeds, seeds, grass and fertilize the lawn. Poop in the coop goes in my compost. My chicken tractor is bigger than alot of those on the website. It is really fun and healthier since they are free range. We put ours on organic chicken food pellets. It is double the price, but i am assured there is no pesticides in their feed which will make me more comfortable about eating their eggs. My property has no pesticides or chemicals. Cheryl Here is a link that might be useful: The city chicken