Coexistence

Backyard Poultry

Moving In

Relations between the ducklings and chicks quickly declined (as well as my sister's tolerance of the situation), and after the first night I was obliged to find something else to do with my six little birds. I revised the set up in the big chicks' box, and found a workable solution. I added a second light bulb (only a regular lamp bulb rather than the infrared brooder bulb) to create enough heat. And I used half-inch hardware cloth to separate the two ages of chicks. You see, the younger ones needed to grow a bit before facing the big chicks. Besides the heat needs issue, the older birds were apt to see the little ones as animated toys to chase and peck. Not a good situation! A few weeks should cure that problem, though.