New with a question.

The only one I can answer for you is yes the ducks will want water and they will leave if you don't supply them with it. Not necessarily a lake, but a small sort of old wash tub or something they can play in. I saw a man on you tube had built his ducks a pen with tbars and chicken wire, it was a very large spacious pen, but he didn't enclose the top so they can still fly out if they wanted to.

My husbands Dad had ducks when they were growing up and my husband said they flew to a near by pond and stayed there. Good luck with the rest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlvr976 

I could supply them with water, I was just curious about whether they go back and forth or not.  I'm doing more reading, and just thinking about the logistics of chicks and ducklings and raising them together.  I read that ducks are fully grown in 30 days.  If that's the case, then I would guess that they'd be ready to be outside much earlier than chicks.

 

I will continue to research. 

ducklings are not full grown in 30 days. not sure where you seen that.

they mature about as fast at chickens do .

Howdy from Austin, Texas.

Ok, I will impart some of the (limited) knowledge that I have!! LOL

There are a number of posts on here about keeping chickens and ducks together.  While some do it, for the most part, it seems it is not recommended.  Ducks make a MESS with their water.  I keep the food dish and water dish pretty far apart and it stays dry for the most part.

I firmly believe ducks needs swimming water, and a few bowls of clean drinking/dunking water every day.  They are ducks, so swimming is inherent for the most part, and I feel to deprive them of it is just mean.  And not fair.  But they do need clean bowls of water, large enough to dunk faces in and drink from, but not big enough to swim in.  One of mine is small and she will get into ANY pan of water she can.  So I put a board across one of them and they can dunk and drink, but not climb in.

Drakes can hurt and kill hens if they mount them.  Not anatomically compatible.  Even if you get girls, again, probably better to let the chickens and ducks have their own spaces.

Which brings up another thing, make sure you have the right ratio of drakes to hens.  One drake for at least 3, more is better hens. I guess you could do 2 hens, but my personal preference is to have at least 3.  I have 5 girls and a boy and it works great.

I believe I read that ducks and chicks can eat the medicated starter food, but do some searching on here and make sure. 

If you get ducks that can fly, yes, they will take off.  Some will return, some not.  You can clip wings to keep them home.

Ducks are great, messy, silly, noisy, but such fun.  You will love them!!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by veronicasmom 

Ok, I will impart some of the (limited) knowledge that I have!! LOL

There are a number of posts on here about keeping chickens and ducks together.  While some do it, for the most part, it seems it is not recommended.  Ducks make a MESS with their water.  I keep the food dish and water dish pretty far apart and it stays dry for the most part.

I firmly believe ducks needs swimming water, and a few bowls of clean drinking/dunking water every day.  They are ducks, so swimming is inherent for the most part, and I feel to deprive them of it is just mean.  And not fair.  But they do need clean bowls of water, large enough to dunk faces in and drink from, but not big enough to swim in.  One of mine is small and she will get into ANY pan of water she can.  So I put a board across one of them and they can dunk and drink, but not climb in.

Drakes can hurt and kill hens if they mount them.  Not anatomically compatible.  Even if you get girls, again, probably better to let the chickens and ducks have their own spaces.

Which brings up another thing, make sure you have the right ratio of drakes to hens.  One drake for at least 3, more is better hens. I guess you could do 2 hens, but my personal preference is to have at least 3.  I have 5 girls and a boy and it works great.

I believe I read that ducks and chicks can eat the medicated starter food, but do some searching on here and make sure. 

If you get ducks that can fly, yes, they will take off.  Some will return, some not.  You can clip wings to keep them home.

Ducks are great, messy, silly, noisy, but such fun.  You will love them!!!!!

 

X2.  I don't keep my ducks & chickens together.  I have the duck house set up very differently for ease of cleaning, and DRAINING.

I can't even free range my ducks & chickens together anymore - my drake keeps trying to mate my chickens.  Not cool.

Ducks are great, and I feel that when you have their housing set up well they are no more work than chickens.  If you've had chickens for a while I think ducks will be a great addition to your flock.

Now, bring on the people who raise theirs together successfully...

Sounds like a good plan.