Can a chicken and a duck be friends?

[daviechik]

My hen lost her hen house mate last night to a predator, could I get her a duck to be her friend? Im afraid she would hurt baby chicks and certainly dont want her to live alone forever my other three laying hens reject her.

 

[jdywntr]

Most likely it would not work. If raised together, some will bond but ducks are better off being with ducks and chickens are better off being with chickens.

Mine were raised together from a few months old and tolerate each other, they are not friendly and stick to their own.

Why not look for a young pullet? Not a day old chick but 4-8 weeks, that may work. It may not though. You could also give it some time, maybe your other hens will become friendly with her now that she is alone.

Sorry for the loss.

 

[donrae]

I agree, I don't think it would work. My ducks and chickens are in the same pens but stay apart from each other. Ducks are more aggressive overall than chickens. The whole "birds of a feather flock together" and all that.

 

[daviechik]

we put her in with our other laying hens and they have worked it out for the most part and are living together now. She even laid her first egg yesterday!

 

[NorthernMama]

A friend of mine has 2 ducks in with her flock of chickens and they don't go after one another. I'm not sure if a duck/chicken would bond as her's have other chickens/duck to contend with, but it is possible to have them in the same enclosure.