Any issues having ducks and chickens live together?

[coggonobrien]

We have 6 gold start chicks and 6 white pekin ducklings arriving together. Can they live in the same facility as long as it's kept clean?

Thanks
David

 

[murphyfarm]

Tonia- There is a very good waterer for both ducks and chicks made out of a milk cartonthe link is https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/duckling-care-brooder-ideas .
Scotr3- I introduced two runner ducks to my chickens a few years ago, but one was attacked by a coyote and died. The other is my meanest chicken's best friend and refuses to be separated. I would give it a go, but be careful of bullying!!

 

[Duck Drover]

Do not brood the chicks and ducklings together and then you can raise them together outside. You do not want drakes thinking chicken hens are just as good for breeding as duck hens because their anatomy will kill a chicken if they breed them. This is usually only a problem when they are raised together as babies and don't understand that chickens are not ducks. As long as a drake has hen ducks to breed he should not go after the hen chickens.

 

[Tonia K]

What age can the ducks go to the coop? I have read a lot of variations. Currently my coop is still "winterized" so it is protected from wind and I have a heat lamp set up on a thermocube so if the temp would happen to drop below 35 degrees Fahrenheit it will kick the lamp on. I don't for see the lamp turning on from here on out, however I am in the upper Midwest so anything is possible. Also, once moved to the coop what other accommodations do I need for the ducks that I may not have considered? Since the chickens sleep on the roosting bar that leave lots of floor space for the ducks but do they like open areas or do I need to build them a box or something to sleep in? I have nipple feeders for my chickens but could also put the warterer that I am using in the brooder now in the coop so they can dip their bills. Some have told me the nipple water system is adequate for the ducks during the night but need open water during the day to clean their nares. Once the weather is nicer on a more consistent basis the chickens will be out roaming daily barring any bad weather and I will get a plastic pool for the ducks to swim in. Seasoned duck parents what other advice or suggestions for you have for me?

 

[murphyfarm]

Yes, you can house ducks and chickens together, but I would move the ducks to a different brooder as soon as they get bigger then the chicks, because they will accidentally run them over. During the first few weeks be very careful to change the water everyday and make sure the ducks can dip their snouts all the way into the water but the chicks can't drown. Good luck!!

 

[KrisCVT]

I separated mine after about 48 hours together- the ducklings are just TOO messy. And I only had 2 ducklings with 6 chicks. I put their cages right next to each other (I used rabbit cages/guinea pig cages you get at petstore) because the ducklings were very attached to the chicks. Once they were apart, it was easier to clean. It is not good for chicks to be damp- and they need clean water which is impossible with ducks around.
Chicks were a breeze to keep tidy...ducks grew FAST and got moved to a dog crate in my basement, and into an outdoor pen during the day once they were feathered.....they were just too stinky and messy.

 

[coggonobrien]

gotcha, thanks folks

 

[Scotr3]

ok, and what about introducing 2 Indian runners into an already established Chicken coop? I've had my Chickens for 3 years, adding more as older layers stopped. Now we are wanting to do Duck eggs, and until I figure out if they are all they crack up to be I don't want to build another separate coop.

 

[coggonobrien]

Maybe I'm lucky, I'm building my coop in my dairy barn and we have a trench train from the old barn cleaner I can spray the waste into.

 

[Tonia K]

Best advice /tips on raising duckling and chicks together in a brooder? I got the 4 of them a week ago. Yes the ducks are messy but I only have 1 heat lamp. So for now they are in a large tote. Will raising up the water help keep it cleaner. Not to high so the chicks can't reach of course. Any tips or advice welcomed!