Adding chicks to my ducks!

[Kkrista123]

Oh nooooo thank you for the info and link!

Of course! If you start them hanging out as soon as size is cociderably close and you monitor it, it will help them bond as a whole flock better. 2 coops vs. 1 coop isn't too much more work! The eggs will be worth it between the ducks and chickens!

 

[Gerty0630]

Of course! If you start them hanging out as soon as size is cociderably close and you monitor it, it will help them bond as a whole flock better. 2 coops vs. 1 coop isn't too much more work! The eggs will be worth it between the ducks and chickens!

Yes that makes sense and what I was thinking! I wasn't necessary planning a same-coop situation so much as making sure they could all wander out in the yard together peacefully!

 

[TheBeardie]

Since you do have a male it could be a situation. Male ducks have a corkscrew penis and chickens have no external reproduction organs and that can be a problem if he tries to breed your chickens. Serious injuries could happen. I'm not saying that this is going to happen, but it's possible. Your drake will soon be coming into his hormones and might just try to breed anything in sight.

The only drake I've had who tried to mount a hen was a Khaki Campbell. (I stopped it) He was not allowed to be anywhere near the chickens after that. A few more females might be a good idea if you really want to be able to at least be able to free-range with each other.

You could let them see each other but not able to actually get to one another. Let them get comfortable around each other. You could do this when you bring the chicks out to play. Starting it young enough might end up in friendship.

None of my muscovies have problems with my chickens. They free-range at the same time but stick to their own kind. Chickens and ducks just don't usually mesh well. They can be civil with each other, but tend to stick with their own kind.

My drakes and roosters have never gotten along. So I would really think about it if your planning on having a roo with your flock. Once that cockerel comes into his hormones he'll most likely try fighting with the drake.

 

[Gerty0630]

Since you do have a male it could be a situation. Male ducks have a corkscrew penis and chickens have no external reproduction organs and that can be a problem if he tries to breed your chickens. Serious injuries could happen. I'm not saying that this is going to happen, but it's possible. Your drake will soon be coming into his hormones and might just try to breed anything in sight.

The only drake I've had who tried to mount a hen was a Khaki Campbell. (I stopped it) He was not allowed to be anywhere near the chickens after that. A few more females might be a good idea if you really want to be able to at least be able to free-range with each other.

You could let them see each other but not able to actually get to one another. Let them get comfortable around each other. You could do this when you bring the chicks out to play. Starting it young enough might end up in friendship.

None of my muscovies have problems with my chickens. They free-range at the same time but stick to their own kind. Chickens and ducks just don't usually mesh well. They can be civil with each other, but tend to stick with their own kind.

My drakes and roosters have never gotten along. So I would really think about it if your planning on having a roo with your flock. Once that cockerel comes into his hormones he'll most likely try fighting with the drake.

So at the risk of sounding like a rookie - and I've tried to read up on plenty of this - do I actually NEED a drake for the females to be better egg layers? I've read SO MUCH different stuff on this. I had planned on getting a couple more females for the drake but perhaps I should try to re-home the drake instead to keep everything civil.

I don't necessary look to keep them in the same coop together so much as make sure they don't murder each other when they're free ranging out in the yard but if they are raised young together and tend to stick to their own kind it seems they might be okay? I have no plans for any roosters so my only problem, in theory, may be the drake trying to mate with the chickens it seems..

 

[chickens really]

I have two separate flocks of Breeding Call Ducks plus a Coop and Run of Chickens. During breeding season everyone goes out at different times. My Chickens are fenced off in their free range area because the Ducks chase them and try to injure the chickens..

 

[Miss Lydia]

My chickens and ducks and geese all free range together my drakes have their own females and never bother the chickens to try and mate. Giving the drake plenty of his own girls to keep him busy maybe all it will take to keep him from your hens, It has mine. And thing is why not just wait and see then decide to either separate or rehome if necessary.

 

[Gerty0630]

My chickens and ducks and geese all free range together my drakes have their own females and never bother the chickens to try and mate. Giving the drake plenty of his own girls to keep him busy maybe all it will take to keep him from your hens, It has mine. And thing is why not just wait and see then decide to either separate or rehome if necessary.

I absolutely agree! I am not the re-homing type but I want all my animals to be healthy and safe so that's why I posted this thread- to get some experienced duck and chicken owners opinions Getting more females for my drake is definitely top on my radar as well.

 

[TheBeardie]

So at the risk of sounding like a rookie - and I've tried to read up on plenty of this - do I actually NEED a drake for the females to be better egg layers? I've read SO MUCH different stuff on this. I had planned on getting a couple more females for the drake but perhaps I should try to re-home the drake instead to keep everything civil.

I don't necessary look to keep them in the same coop together so much as make sure they don't murder each other when they're free ranging out in the yard but if they are raised young together and tend to stick to their own kind it seems they might be okay? I have no plans for any roosters so my only problem, in theory, may be the drake trying to mate with the chickens it seems..

I see no difference in egg laying with or without a drake. "If you put a female human in the middle of nowhere with no interaction with male would she still ovulate?" Yes.

It's up to you what you do with the drake.
My personal experience with chickens and ducks who have been introduced when the chicks are young has been civil but not really friends. This has been with muscovy ducks, so I don't know if the size and behavior difference between a muscovy and a Pekin makes a difference or not.

 

[Gerty0630]

Like I see no difference in egg laying with or without a drake. "If you put a female human in the middle of nowhere with no interaction with male would she still ovulate?" Yes.

It's up to you what you do with the drake.
My personal experience with chickens and ducks who have been introduced when the chicks are young has been civil but not really friends. This has been with muscovy ducks, so I don't know if the size and behavior difference between a muscovy and a Pekin makes a difference or not.

Right that's what I've always thought re the females without a male.

Thanks so much for your opinion and input!

 

[WVduckchick]

There really is no definite answer. You just have to try it and see how it goes, but be prepared for separations.

I have a pen full of bachelor chicken cockerels that run the yard all day, every day. They don't mess with my ducks when I let the ducks out, because the drakes run them off. But I had a flock of Black Copper Marans with an aggressive rooster, and he would attack the ducks. He was bigger than they are, so they could never be let out into the yard together. (since rehomed that nasty boy, and the buyer said he tasted really good! lol)

So some will get along, some will avoid each other and keep to their own flocks, even when they are out together, and some will just not get along. Your own flock dynamics will determine the outcome.

Best of luck!