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Ducks & Chickens???? Can they be together?

post #1 of 17
2/23/12 at 1:53pm
Thread Starter 

Hi All,

 

I have been a proud chicken owner for many years and would like to try to add a couple of ducks to my flock.  Is this possible? Do they they typically get along?

 

I only want two.  Can I have two females or is it better having one of each?

1 Buff Orph, 2 Splash Orph's,  1 Barred Rocks, 1 Speckled Sussex, 2 Light Brahma's, 2 Greyhounds, 2 Sugar Gliders, 2 Teil's, 1 Gecko, some fish, 3 kids, and a husband!
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1 Buff Orph, 2 Splash Orph's,  1 Barred Rocks, 1 Speckled Sussex, 2 Light Brahma's, 2 Greyhounds, 2 Sugar Gliders, 2 Teil's, 1 Gecko, some fish, 3 kids, and a husband!
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post #2 of 17
2/23/12 at 3:05pm

You certain;y can keep them together! Many many people do it with no problems at all! I have a frined who keeps two ducks with his flock of nearly 20 chickens and they all got along just great. As far as male and female, I would say it's up to you. Do you want ducklings? if so, get one of each. You can still get one of each and not have ducklings, simply gather their eggs. It is totally up to you but YES you can keep them with chickens.

Proud owner of 1 dog now (God bless Sam, my friend of 15 years), 2 cats (with more personality than they can handle), and 9 chickens with more to come in the future!!  My flock consists of 6 Golden Comets and 3 Black Sex Links. Next Spring I plan to add some Old English Game Bantams, Kraienkoppes, Black Sumatras and Guineas to the flock!!
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Proud owner of 1 dog now (God bless Sam, my friend of 15 years), 2 cats (with more personality than they can handle), and 9 chickens with more to come in the future!!  My flock consists of 6 Golden Comets and 3 Black Sex Links. Next Spring I plan to add some Old English Game Bantams, Kraienkoppes, Black Sumatras and Guineas to the flock!!
Reply
post #3 of 17
2/23/12 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaimslee4u View Post

Hi All,

 

I have been a proud chicken owner for many years and would like to try to add a couple of ducks to my flock.  Is this possible?  Yes it's very much possible. Do they they typically get along?It has worked for many owners. 

 

I only want two.  Can I have two females or is it better having one of each Either one would work but not having a drake would eliminate the risk of any breeding damages to hens. 


You can also read my article about mixing the two. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/duck-and-chickens-pros-and-cons

 

 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

Helen: Daria, do you have to look at everything in such a negative light?

Daria: Could you possibly be referring to the harsh light of reality?

Reply

 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

Helen: Daria, do you have to look at everything in such a negative light?

Daria: Could you possibly be referring to the harsh light of reality?

Reply
post #4 of 17
2/23/12 at 6:08pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you so much for your replies! I am super psyched for duckling season, ha ha!

 

1 Buff Orph, 2 Splash Orph's,  1 Barred Rocks, 1 Speckled Sussex, 2 Light Brahma's, 2 Greyhounds, 2 Sugar Gliders, 2 Teil's, 1 Gecko, some fish, 3 kids, and a husband!
Reply
1 Buff Orph, 2 Splash Orph's,  1 Barred Rocks, 1 Speckled Sussex, 2 Light Brahma's, 2 Greyhounds, 2 Sugar Gliders, 2 Teil's, 1 Gecko, some fish, 3 kids, and a husband!
Reply
post #5 of 17
2/24/12 at 6:23am
I keep ducks and chickens together. They even sleep in the same coop. I brooded them together, too. Mant people say that can't be done, but it worked well for me. At one point, my brooder had chicks from three different age groups, some guineas and some ducks! They all get along great. I do keep the water out of the chicken coop and have lots of roosting space for the chickens.

Animal trainer, mother of three, and avid fowl enthusiast. We call our homestead "Poultry-in-Motion". We breed Icelandic chickens, Welsh Harlequin ducks, and Beltsville Small White turkeys.

Join "Poultry in Motion" on Facebook!

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Animal trainer, mother of three, and avid fowl enthusiast. We call our homestead "Poultry-in-Motion". We breed Icelandic chickens, Welsh Harlequin ducks, and Beltsville Small White turkeys.

Join "Poultry in Motion" on Facebook!

Reply
post #6 of 17
2/24/12 at 6:31am
I would avoid getting a drake if you can. My drake harrasses my chickens. For my female duck, she gets along great with all the chickens. My drake does as well, unless he is trying to mate them. My roosters do not like the drake, so they stay clear of him.

Ducks are extremely messy, so if you have fancy chickens, I would suggest avoiding ducks. They like to nibble on the chickens when they are drinking at the same time, so my silkies can get quite messy.

_MG_3888.jpg

IMG_2764.jpg

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #7 of 17
2/24/12 at 6:36am


X 2  ducks are slobs. Aoxa, I can't believe you have a pool in there with them.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by aoxa View Post

I would avoid getting a drake if you can. My drake harrasses my chickens. For my female duck, she gets along great with all the chickens. My drake does as well, unless he is trying to mate them. My roosters do not like the drake, so they stay clear of him.
Ducks are extremely messy, so if you have fancy chickens, I would suggest avoiding ducks. They like to nibble on the chickens when they are drinking at the same time, so my silkies can get quite messy.
_MG_3888.jpg
IMG_2764.jpg


 

DOGS: 4 Shih Tzu, 1 Papillon, 1 Great Pyrenees

CHICKENS: 1 BO, 2 EE, 2 WLH, 10 blue and splash JG, plus various aged JG, BO, JG/BO and JG/EE chicks, and 8 meaties.   

DUCKS: 20 Muscovy ducks: 5 adults, 7 juveniles and 8 ducklings.  6 Pekin ducklings

 

Some threads started with basic info.

Picking a duck breed, where to buy, what genders to get

Raising and caring for ducklings

 

Reply

DOGS: 4 Shih Tzu, 1 Papillon, 1 Great Pyrenees

CHICKENS: 1 BO, 2 EE, 2 WLH, 10 blue and splash JG, plus various aged JG, BO, JG/BO and JG/EE chicks, and 8 meaties.   

DUCKS: 20 Muscovy ducks: 5 adults, 7 juveniles and 8 ducklings.  6 Pekin ducklings

 

Some threads started with basic info.

Picking a duck breed, where to buy, what genders to get

Raising and caring for ducklings

 

Reply
post #8 of 17
2/24/12 at 6:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdywntr View Post



X 2  ducks are slobs. Aoxa, I can't believe you have a pool in there with them.

 



It's emptied. My roof leaks in the barn, so it collects the drips too tongue.png The barn is their daytime hangout in the winter.

IMG_1408.jpg
this is where it usually is.

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #9 of 17
2/24/12 at 6:40am

The lady I got my ducks from had her chickens, ducks and goose all together. So I don't see why not. I would keep mine all together. But my goose don't get along with my chickens. So I just have the ducks with my goose.

Tina
wife to one loving husband, SAHM to 3 wonderful kids, 2 dogs (1 lab mix & 1 pom puppy), 3 silly cats, 1 turtle 1 rabbit, 14 crazy chickens, 7 cute chicks, 1 goose and 3 ducks

Reply

Tina
wife to one loving husband, SAHM to 3 wonderful kids, 2 dogs (1 lab mix & 1 pom puppy), 3 silly cats, 1 turtle 1 rabbit, 14 crazy chickens, 7 cute chicks, 1 goose and 3 ducks

Reply
post #10 of 17
2/24/12 at 6:42am

I have 5 ducks with my flock. They were actually 1st. They all get along just fine and we had no problems.

34 hens, 2 roosters, 5 ducks, 3 horses, 2 mules, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 Great husband, 1 awesome daughter & 1 incredible son..I have a very blessed life..GOD is good always!
Reply
34 hens, 2 roosters, 5 ducks, 3 horses, 2 mules, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 Great husband, 1 awesome daughter & 1 incredible son..I have a very blessed life..GOD is good always!
Reply
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