Hen drowned in duck pond - advice please

[jonpop]

Hello again,

I posted last week asking for someone to take out Legbar cockerels. Snadger kindly took one and we managed to find another lady to take the other.

Anyway, we went and bought 4 Plymouth Rock chicks at the weekend (all definately hens this time, about 8 weeks old we think) and they seem to have settled in well. Our resident old hen (4 year old ex-batt) has been chasing them a bit and pecking them now and then but nothing much (and it's been far less violent an introduction than we expected)

We also have a couple of Khaki Campbell ducks who have a kids sandpit (sunk into the lawn) as a pond. I went out today to hang up some washing and found one of the chicks floating, dead, in the 'pond'. I feel awful - I didn't hear or see a thing despite being in the kitchen (overlooking the garden) most of the morning. It must've happened so quickly. I can only assume Pecky (the ex-batt) chased them and one fell in.

We just bought a proper pre-formed pond for the ducks but now I'm scared to install it. Is this a freak accident or have we been monumentally dim expecting chickens and ducks to safely live together? We can't think of any practical measures that would stop the hens getting near the water and everything I think of for escape routes for unlucky hens might be dangerous for the ducks (I thought lining the pond with chicken wire would give the hens something to climb up if they fell in but there's a danger the ducks bills would get caught in it and they'd drown)

Sorry for the long, rambling, post - I just feel terribly guilty and wanted to see if anyone has come across this before and has any ideas to prevent it happening again.

Thanks, Kelly

(the sandpit is now standing on top of the lawn with bricks for the ducks to use as steps to get in/out - no chance of any of the hens falling in)

[binley100]

Not keeping hens or ducks I can't really give any help but just wanted to give you my commiserations and hugs xx

[RichmondHens]

Keep the ducks and hens in separate enclosures. They do live very differently and ducks will quickly paddle up any ground you have to make it a mud bath which is totally unsuitable for chickens, and is more likely to generate disease such as coccidiosis which thrives in damp conditions.

[OverWyreGrower]

If you can't keep them in seperate enclosures (I don't).... I wouldn't let 8 week olds have the run of the enclosure. I would use a smaller run/pen, where they can't get access to the pond until they are bigger/older.

Personally, I wouldn't have hens and ducks together until the hens were at least POL age - then they can hold their own against ducks and bigger hens.

I tend to use rabbit-type runs for growers, within my main enclosure, so everyone can see what've going on, but isn't exposed to dangers etc.

However, what RH says above is right - ducks will foul up the soil/ground very quickly. You need to ensure that your enclosure is large enough so that the pond/duck muck doesn't mess up the entire run; and that there are enough 'normal' grassy areas for the hens to live on.

[Glutton4...]

Hens are very very inquisitive (REALLY NOSEY!) they will limb up the bricks to see what is there, then possibly still fall in and drown. My Geese have an upturned Land Rover roof as a pond, and the Chooks regularly climb in it for a paddle. (Chickens don't like water!? Rubbish!) Luckily it's only shallow, and they can jump out. Small chicks are not allowed out in the main run until they are at least 3/4 the size of the other Hens.

[baldrick]

hugs. Chickens, learning curve...nuff said x

[jonpop]

Thanks everyone, we've fenced the little 'uns off now. You're right Baldrick - it feels like such a steep learning curve, I think we have been lulled into a false sense of security by the ex-batts we had/have - they were so easy to look after we started to get a bit careless.

Hopefully everyone in the backgarden will be happy and safe now. The next project is to install a proper pond and build a 'skippy' filter. No doubt I'll be back in touch with a load of questions once I get started on that particular project.

Thanks again for all your replies,

Kelly