Navigating the Unexpected: Welcoming a Surprise Chick onto the Farm.

Ducklings and a surprise chick, oh boy! After lots of pondering, we decided that, with a view to the long term, the chick would be best accommodated living as a chicken and not a duck! The water issue was the most pressing issue particularly under our circumstances because our chick should be a pekin with frizzle feathers. This means the feather stick out at odd angles all over the body, imagine a chicken shaped porcupine with floppy quills if you will! Not quite as water friendly as you would hope and prone to soggy, droopy feather syndrome!

A plan was hatched, so to speak! I had a broody chicken with the main flock. She was a determined brooder, lifted outside everyday but back in the coop within seconds, her demeanor was determined but her body condition was concerning. Her feathers were dulling and her comb had faded from healthy red to a lack luster pink. She was the perfect lady for our single chick! We gave the chick a couple of days to decompress and hang with her duckling buddies before introducing her new protector.

Monday morning saw me scooping up our broody lady and march her down the hill to her heart’s desire! She, came, she saw and she flew straight over the fence and promptly marched/flew up the driveway back home! Judy and I gave chase, at an appropriate distance! We scooped her up, again, and marched back down the hill! This time we made a detour to the T Tent to trim the flight feathers on one of her wings!

We placed our feisty lady back in the pen where she and the babies made like oil and water and didn’t mix! Time to bring out the match making big guns, one on one dinner for two in a private dining room. Under supervision of the match makers, obviously! Into the wire dog crate went food and water followed by the chicken and the chick! There was no instant attraction but neither was there instant revulsion and pecking! They were comfortable eating together and when resting both were in the same area.

All in all it appeared to be an appropriate introduction and arrangement for the future. The ducklings seemed to agree as they often chose to sleep, in a huddle, at the shaded side of the chicken crate! We may have gone from a broody chicken needing a chick and chick needing a chicken’s influence to a poor chicken with one chick and a squad of water loving ducks!

I am happy to report that during night check, the chick was nowhere to be found. She was happily sleeping underneath the broody chicken! I know this to be true because I woke them both up to check!