Does anyone have Chickens and Ducks living together?

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We are using a pre-existing coop, it is brick, and we are pouring a concrete floor in it. I planned on trying to close off under the roosts to keep the ducks out from under there, also I am planning on putting pea gravel or some kind of smooth rock around the bottom of their duck pond (aka kiddie pool) so they can't drag in a bunch of mud. I am going to suspend the feed and waterer from the roof so that they are off the ground and though about putting some kind of tray under the water to catch anything the ducks splash out. I am hoping that will help. I guess if it gets to be too messy we have another small shed I could probably convert for the ducks to live in if I had to, but I am trying to keep costs down for the time being as we have some other things that we need to save funds for.
 
jmariebeef said:
We are using a pre-existing coop, it is brick, and we are pouring a concrete floor in it. I planned on trying to close off under the roosts to keep the ducks out from under there, also I am planning on putting pea gravel or some kind of smooth rock around the bottom of their duck pond (aka kiddie pool) so they can't drag in a bunch of mud. I am going to suspend the feed and waterer from the roof so that they are off the ground and though about putting some kind of tray under the water to catch anything the ducks splash out. I am hoping that will help. I guess if it gets to be too messy we have another small shed I could probably convert for the ducks to live in if I had to, but I am trying to keep costs down for the time being as we have some other things that we need to save funds for.
Click to expand...

Just keep in mind that ducks are different than chickens. A normal chicken waterer and feeder will not work for ducks. Ducks scoop food and water while chickens peck. I use an open rubber bowl for my ducks and 2 old crock pot inserts for water. They are tall and heavy enough that they cannot tip it over but can still put their faces in it and blow out their nares. Ducks make a huge mess with water and I personally don't keep it in the coop. They also cannot have food without water.
 
I'm also hoping to get a couple of female ducks this hatching season. Can the ducks eat chicken feed or is it a necessity for them to have duck feed? I ask this because I don't see how you can keep one group from eating the other's food
 
They can all eat the same food; I understand that young ducks need more niacin than chickens do, but it won't hurt the chickens if they get extra niacin. Purina flock raiser is good for both ducks and chickens.

If you want to use two different feeds, you can feed the chickens in a hanging feeder from which they have to perch above the duck's reach to eat; and feed the duck food wet, which chickens tend not to prefer.
 
I have two Welsh Harlequin ducks about 3 months old and 12 chickens. I want to house the ducks with the chickens and have read many posts about it. My ducks are female so I shouldn't have a problem with mating. My chickens eat egg laying pellets but they love the duck/goose feed the ducks have in their pen. So how you some of you deal with the different feed types? Do you feed both and let them have whichever they want or do you have two separate feeding systems? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks
 
Ispbabee said:
I have two Welsh Harlequin ducks about 3 months old and 12 chickens. I want to house the ducks with the chickens and have read many posts about it. My ducks are female so I shouldn't have a problem with mating. My chickens eat egg laying pellets but they love the duck/goose feed the ducks have in their pen. So how you some of you deal with the different feed types? Do you feed both and let them have whichever they want or do you have two separate feeding systems? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...

I feed an All Flock/Flock Raiser food and then have a small container of Oyster shell for them to pick at. But that is because I have a drake. You might be fine with Layer for everyone, however, I like the higher protein level in the All Flock/Flock Raiser diets since my ducks attack my hens and were previously eating the feathers. I use a 4-inch PVC feeder with a double spout....everyone eats out of it well and it can hold a good amount of food so I am not refilling every day.
 

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