Adding Runners to Chicken Flock

[grayv]

Hi there,

We have a chicken flock of 15 hens and 1 rooster (variety of barred rocks, amerucanas and black sex links, all SUPER friendly) and we're considering getting a few runner ducks. I mainly want runners because I find them SO adorable and funny, which is also a good chunk of why we have chickens. They just make a great addition to our family!

I was wondering how runners and chickens do in a coop together and if they stick around as well as the chickens while free-ranging our yard? Besides a kiddie pool, what other accommodations would need to be made to add runners to our flock? Can they eat the Nutrena Nature Wise layer pellets we feed our chickens? Or would we need to switch to an "all flock" feed? Also, do they lay very well?

Thanks in advance!

Gray

 

[Julie Birb]

Get in touch with Miss Lydia. She added cute runners to her flock of ducks and chickens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I do have Runners Julie Birb love them to pieces.

Lets see my chickens and ducks actually do very well together. I also have Muscovy, I have a few hens[chickens] that are grumpy and are bullies but once the ducks get pecked a few times they learn to keep their distance. Only thing I would advise is when you get your Runners you let the chickens meet them before you put them in a coop together. Maybe with fencing in between so the chickens get use to them and not view them as outsiders. If your getting ducklings while your brooding them on nice days take them out so your chickens can meet and see the ducklings too.

Duck need buckets for drinking because they need to clean their eyes and nares out a lot especially when eating and if your only getting females yes they can eat layer once of laying age. Or you can feed an all flock up to you then just provide oyster shell along with it. They lay great mine started mating and laying around 4.5 months old and laid like crazy for about 18months I was getting concerned I wanted them to take a break finally they did they didn't lay all winter and have just started back laying again. I can't say enough about this breed they are very special.

 

[Julie Birb]

I do have Runners Julie Birb love them to pieces.

Lets see my chickens and ducks actually do very well together. I also have Muscovy, I have a few hens[chickens] that are grumpy and are bullies but once the ducks get pecked a few times they learn to keep their distance. Only thing I would advise is when you get your Runners you let the chickens meet them before you put them in a coop together. Maybe with fencing in between so the chickens get use to them and not view them as outsiders. If your getting ducklings while your brooding them on nice days take them out so your chickens can meet and see the ducklings too.

Duck need buckets for drinking because they need to clean their eyes and nares out a lot especially when eating and if your only getting females yes they can eat layer once of laying age. Or you can feed an all flock up to you then just provide oyster shell along with it. They lay great mine started mating and laying around 4.5 months old and laid like crazy for about 18months I was getting concerned I wanted them to take a break finally they did they didn't lay all winter and have just started back laying again. I can't say enough about this breed they are very special.

EEE EEEEEEEEE, yes. I can see why you love your runners so much.

 

[grayv]

I do have Runners Julie Birb love them to pieces.

Lets see my chickens and ducks actually do very well together. I also have Muscovy, I have a few hens[chickens] that are grumpy and are bullies but once the ducks get pecked a few times they learn to keep their distance. Only thing I would advise is when you get your Runners you let the chickens meet them before you put them in a coop together. Maybe with fencing in between so the chickens get use to them and not view them as outsiders. If your getting ducklings while your brooding them on nice days take them out so your chickens can meet and see the ducklings too.

Duck need buckets for drinking because they need to clean their eyes and nares out a lot especially when eating and if your only getting females yes they can eat layer once of laying age. Or you can feed an all flock up to you then just provide oyster shell along with it. They lay great mine started mating and laying around 4.5 months old and laid like crazy for about 18months I was getting concerned I wanted them to take a break finally they did they didn't lay all winter and have just started back laying again. I can't say enough about this breed they are very special.

Thanks a million for your quick response! I appreciate your insight and tips! My husband & I will certainly take your advice into account when making our decision as to whether or not to add some runners this year.

If it will be significantly easier, we may wait until we get a whole new flock in a year or two and get them all together. I feel as though they'd be more likely to get along, then!

Thanks again!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Probably so my Muscovies hatched mine so they got integrated that way makes it a lot easier.