Baby chick and duck?

[mrskalka]

I had just one baby chick hatch. I am planning on gettin a few more chicks. But no where has any right now. I was wondering if I could keep a baby duck with the chick untill I get more chicks? The duck would stay with all of them after I got the chicks. Would that be ok? Would it hurt the chick can a duck live with chickens?

 

[Jetblack2004]

I don't see why there'd be a problem. They might argue when they're older though. I've never kept a duckling and a chick together before.

-Jet

 

[mrskalka]

I had to take the chicks away from mom. I had 2 hatch but my other hens killed one. I was so very sad. When they are old enough I will start introducing to the main flock. I have 2 runs and 2 coothat are concerted but I can close off each if need be.

 

[mrskalka]

I don't see why there'd be a problem. They might argue when they're older though. I've never kept a duckling and a chick together before.

-Jet

Thank u so much for answering jet! I appreciate it so much!!!!

 

[Jetblack2004]

No problem. I hope it works out

-Jet

 

[ninjawesome]

Ditto what Jetblack2004 said!

 

[mrskalka]

Thank you both for replying!
Do I have to do anything special for the ducks? Or can I treat them like chicks? Iv raised chickens but I'm new to ducks.

 

[Jetblack2004]

I've only raised ducks once. They like their food best when it's wet. If you get a plate or something similar, put water in just until it covers the bottom and then sprinkle chick crumbs on it, the ducklings will eat it more happily than they would if it's dry.
Good luck

-Jet

 

[legallyblonde]

I have both ducks and chickens. I didn't raise them as chicks together though. The chickens were already in their coop by the time I got the baby ducks. Now that the ducks are outside as well they will go stand by the chickens or they will all free graze together in my yard with no issues. There was a bit of squabbling at first but the ducks quickly let the chickens know not to mess with them (they were babies but still were big enough to let the older chickens know). So I don't see why it would be a problem. Ducklings eat a ton and grow so darn fast!! Plus they have to have water with their food and boy are they messy. That would be the biggest differences with chicks and ducks. Also ducks need niacin, so you can feed them peas and Cheerios as treats with their bath time. They love swim time! Mine would call out to me when I got home to get their bath/swim time.

 

[TLWR]

You will need to keep on top of the brooder. Ducks like water. And make a mess with it. Chicks don't seem so thrilled with wet everything.
They can eat the same non-medicated food, but the duckling will need water deep enough to dunk its head. Until it is a couple weeks old, a normal chick waterer will be fine.

Ducklings also need extra niacin. You can purchase plain niacin tablets or you can get nutritional yeast to sprinkle on the food. I'm not sure if there are issues with extra niacin and chicks though. I would guess they'd just poop it out, but I don't know that for sure.

ducks grow quicker than chicks. So just keep an eye on them to make sure they aren't picking on each other.