D-day tomorrow for the chickens

[Ripeberry]

D meaning Duck! I'll let you know who survives.

Ripe - have had ducks before?

My mother always says duck(s) need a pool or large dish for it them to run water over the back of their heads. They suffer badly if they cant. Otherwise they might trash the hens drinking water and all will suffer.

I suspect the biggest problem will be the muddy mess the ducks make versus what the chickens prefer. Have you got separate runs?

I've got a 10 meter by 20 meter run, so plenty of space. He has his own water and pool and has not bothered the hens yet.
They just stood there cackling at him.
I can seperate them if need be and the hens have already made a muddy mess of it due to all the rain we had last week.

It's on a slight slope, so the duck will have the bottom bit and the hens the top bit, only have 3 hens by the way.

That sounds great. I envisaged several ducks battering the hens about in a smallish run but obviously not the case.

Has he got any lady ducks coming soon? Will he have his wings clipped or is there a roof on the run - otherwise might he might fly off in spring to find some ladies?

We've clipped the wings. To be honest not sure if it's a boy or girl. Hatched him/her in an incubator last September and he has been in the shed until today.
Clipped his wings.
A farm down the road has some females, so if it is a male, he might know what to do, if not he/she will have a friend.

Had to rescue him this evening as although I put him in his 'duck house' yesterday evening, he did not find his way back and was half in and half out of the chicken coop, but they were not letting him in.

He/she is a Campbell duck X and is jet black with a white bib and a green sheen on his wings and head (maybe that is male?)

Oops! too may clipped wings!