Baby chicks and ducks????

[Jadecinadr96]

If we got baby chicks and ducks at the same time, would this be a conflict?

 

[MochaDuck]

It should be fine as long as the chicks stay dry. If the ducklings make things too wet you may have to separate them so the chicks don't get chilled.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Depends. How many do you want to raise of each? What is your preferred brooder setup? What breeds do you want to get?

I regularly raise the two together. Generally, I don't raise more than 4-6 ducklings with a single batch of chicks, because ducklings are very messy and it's hard to keep the brooder clean when you have too many. You have to set up your waterers with ducklings in mind so that they don't soak the bedding and chill the chicks.

Ducklings adjust to cold much more quickly than ducklings do. A heat gradient (warm under the heat lamp, cool at the other end of the brooder, or a heat-cave) may be necessary so that the ducklings don't overheat.

If you can plan for that, then it's completely manageable to brood them together. Be aware that drakes have been known to decide that they are chickens, and that they can mate hens. This can be disastrous for the hens, as ducks have penises and chickens do not. [EDT: This last part is not something I have ever had happen, I admit. My ducks are usually quite aware that they are not chickens.]