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Ducks and Chickens together?

post #1 of 11
1/4/12 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 

Is it possible to keep indian runner ducklings with chicks? I have the option of getting 2 month-old duckies for free but I need to know a couple things.

1. Will they get along okay - they are roughly the same size. What is the minimum amount of ducklings I can get?
2. Can the ducklings use the same feeders, waterers as chicks (nipple waterers)?
3. Do they NEED a pond or are they okay without one until I build a little pond in the spring?
4. I live in a neighborhood - are they loud? Can I get away with it?

Thanks for your advice in advance!


Edited by Nimby Chickens - 1/4/12 at 12:37pm

Specializing in stealth urban chicken-keeping, colorful eggs, and rare breed poultry in Central FL.
Used to be known as Lanatwo - and still known as the tea ninja!

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Specializing in stealth urban chicken-keeping, colorful eggs, and rare breed poultry in Central FL.
Used to be known as Lanatwo - and still known as the tea ninja!

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post #2 of 11
1/4/12 at 11:24am

Chick starter won't work for ducklings. However, you can feed an all-purpose high protein poultry feed like Flock Raiser.

They don't need a pond, but they will make a mess of any water they can get ahold of.  If you give them a swimming area in a small pen, they will turn the whole pen into a wet, stinky mud hole; not really a good place for your chickens! Ducks are also noisy.

Currently chicken-less, hoping to get a fresh start soon.
My wish-list: Old English Game Bantams, American Game, D'uccles, Japanese Bantams, Bantam Cornish, Large Fowl Cornish, Lakenvelders, Welsummers, Kraienkoppen, Andalusians, Speckled Sussex, Cubalaya, Sumatra, Easter Egger (large and bantam), Orpingtons, Iowa Blue, Marans...I think I'm going to need a lot of pens!
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Currently chicken-less, hoping to get a fresh start soon.
My wish-list: Old English Game Bantams, American Game, D'uccles, Japanese Bantams, Bantam Cornish, Large Fowl Cornish, Lakenvelders, Welsummers, Kraienkoppen, Andalusians, Speckled Sussex, Cubalaya, Sumatra, Easter Egger (large and bantam), Orpingtons, Iowa Blue, Marans...I think I'm going to need a lot of pens!
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post #3 of 11
1/4/12 at 12:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ariel301 

Chick starter won't work for ducklings. However, you can feed an all-purpose high protein poultry feed like Flock Raiser.

They don't need a pond, but they will make a mess of any water they can get ahold of.  If you give them a swimming area in a small pen, they will turn the whole pen into a wet, stinky mud hole; not really a good place for your chickens! Ducks are also noisy.


Mine are all on flock raiser anyway, so no worries there. My chickens have a nipple waterer - will a duck use that? I'm not letting them have a pond near the coop - it would only be a free range swimming pond. Are they stinky? How noisy are we talking? Loud constant quacks? I thought they kind of had a whispery smaller type quack.

Specializing in stealth urban chicken-keeping, colorful eggs, and rare breed poultry in Central FL.
Used to be known as Lanatwo - and still known as the tea ninja!

Reply

Specializing in stealth urban chicken-keeping, colorful eggs, and rare breed poultry in Central FL.
Used to be known as Lanatwo - and still known as the tea ninja!

Reply
post #4 of 11
1/4/12 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimby Chickens 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ariel301 

Chick starter won't work for ducklings. However, you can feed an all-purpose high protein poultry feed like Flock Raiser.

They don't need a pond, but they will make a mess of any water they can get ahold of.  If you give them a swimming area in a small pen, they will turn the whole pen into a wet, stinky mud hole; not really a good place for your chickens! Ducks are also noisy.


Mine are all on flock raiser anyway, so no worries there. My chickens have a nipple waterer - will a duck use that? I'm not letting them have a pond near the coop - it would only be a free range swimming pond. Are they stinky? How noisy are we talking? Loud constant quacks? I thought they kind of had a whispery smaller type quack.


Males are quiet, Females are Loud

http://hamblinfarm.blogspot.com/
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http://hamblinfarm.blogspot.com/
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post #5 of 11
1/4/12 at 1:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimby Chickens 

Is it possible to keep indian runner ducklings with chicks? I have the option of getting 2 month-old duckies for free but I need to know a couple things.

1. Will they get along okay - they are roughly the same size. What is the minimum amount of ducklings I can get? Yes they can get along but if raised together Drakes may try to breed your hens. I would suggest at least 2. I prefer to start with 4 or 5.
2. Can the ducklings use the same feeders, waterers as chicks (nipple waterers)? Yes they can but ducks are VERY MESSY with their wateriers
3. Do they NEED a pond or are they okay without one until I build a little pond in the spring? No Ponds are not required but are a plus.
4. I live in a neighborhood - are they loud? Can I get away with it? Drakes are relatively quiet but my females are very loud.

Thanks for your advice in advance!

2 mallards 1 runner 1 pekin mix 1 guinea, 3 geese (RIP Lily and Little Goose), 2 Great Danes, 2 High Content WolfDogs, 1 Stray Chiweenie, 1 Ferret, 1 New Zealand Buck, RIP Baby Girl   and some fish smile.png

 

Dreams are hopeless aspirations in hopes of coming true. Believe in yourself. The rest is up to me and you ~ Left Eye 

 

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2 mallards 1 runner 1 pekin mix 1 guinea, 3 geese (RIP Lily and Little Goose), 2 Great Danes, 2 High Content WolfDogs, 1 Stray Chiweenie, 1 Ferret, 1 New Zealand Buck, RIP Baby Girl   and some fish smile.png

 

Dreams are hopeless aspirations in hopes of coming true. Believe in yourself. The rest is up to me and you ~ Left Eye 

 

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post #6 of 11
1/4/12 at 1:48pm

Muscovy ducks are relatively quiet...they don't quack...they mostly just hiss really.  Any other breed of duck quacks...a lot.  Ducks will use the nipple waterers, but it is really better for them if they can get their whole head wet when they drink to help flush out their sinuses.  Ducks are messy, but funny and worth it to me smile  They are dabblers...eat some food, dunk it in water, eat some more...back to the water...play in the dirt...dunk it in the water...make mud..etc..etc.

Do not meddle with the forces of nature, for you are small, insignificant, and biodegradable.

Home to a menagerie and growing....Ameraucanas, Black & Blue Copper Marans, BLRW, Muscovy Ducks, Bourbon Reds, Guineas in many colors, Silkies and Frizzles, Quarter horses, rescue dogs, Beefmasters and Nubian/pygmy goats...
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Do not meddle with the forces of nature, for you are small, insignificant, and biodegradable.

Home to a menagerie and growing....Ameraucanas, Black & Blue Copper Marans, BLRW, Muscovy Ducks, Bourbon Reds, Guineas in many colors, Silkies and Frizzles, Quarter horses, rescue dogs, Beefmasters and Nubian/pygmy goats...
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post #7 of 11
1/4/12 at 1:51pm

I strongly recommend raising chicks and ducklings separately.  Month-old ducklings should be fully feathered, and won't require supplemental heat.  And spilled water = mess, runny duck poop = mess, webbed feet compacting the litter instead of fluffing it out = mess.

Hi!  I'm Bryan, and Smiles-N-Sunshine is my hobby farm.

Smiles-N-Sunshine Farm (Palominas, Arizona):  Black Australorp chickens, Khaki Campbell ducks, New Zealand White rabbits , Midget White turkeys, redworms, mealworms, and Dubia cockroaches.
 

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Hi!  I'm Bryan, and Smiles-N-Sunshine is my hobby farm.

Smiles-N-Sunshine Farm (Palominas, Arizona):  Black Australorp chickens, Khaki Campbell ducks, New Zealand White rabbits , Midget White turkeys, redworms, mealworms, and Dubia cockroaches.
 

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post #8 of 11
1/4/12 at 2:56pm

I have Ducks and  chickens together in one coop, they grew up together. The onlytme  ducks quack is when they are out of food

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post #9 of 11
1/4/12 at 3:11pm

As soon as my two ducks , a pekin male and campbell khaki female , were old enough to start mating the male would do a wwe wrestling move on the chickens that we call "the shovelhead wing chopper" He would put his bill to the ground run at high speeds towards the chickens and grab their wings and try to fling them around. This is a crested pekin  who was raised with these chickens from day 1. After we noticed it , we seperated  an area just for the ducks using an Xpen. It worked out really well - the ducks have peace and are less stressed , and the chickens dont accidently drown in the kiddie pool or have to enter the witness protection program lol

prior to adopting the female my male pekin was obsessed with our RIR miss red and would physically assault her in an attempt to mate her, because he was the only duck

So yes they can go together but will probably need seperate living quarters if keeping male and female ducks.
at night if we tried to keep the ducks and chickens together  , the chickens would prob drown in duck poop ! we have a seperate dog house within the chickens barn.
And both mine get noisy everyday.

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post #10 of 11
1/4/12 at 3:30pm

Baby ducks grow alot faster than baby chicks. I currently have 3 day old cayuga babies in with my 3 week old bantam chicks, and they are the same size. It won't be too much longer before I have to separate them. The ducks mess the water up, I have to change it nearly constantly.

I have adult runner ducks living with my chickens, have not had any problems. The ducks do make a muddy mess but my run is large enough the chickens have a dry area to use. 2 month old ducks should be able to live outside with adult chickens.

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