I have a 13-year old Indian Runner duck who lives with a Wyandotte pullet and a pair of juvenile Ameraucanas in a predator-safe, enclosed shed and small covered, fenced outdoor area. Also, there is also a 7-year-old Dutch rabbit who is is completely bonded with the duck, as she is to him – they've been together all the rabbit's life.
Both the aged Indian Runner and young Wyandotte lay eggs regularly, each on average 4-6 eggs a week during the warmer months. Although there are several options, they seem to prefer the same roosting spot and often lay eggs one right after another.
In March, when I first put the point-of-lay Wyandotte in with the older Runner, the duck was a bit aggressive with the chicken – not mean, but very bossy, chasing the chicken around the enclosure, and shooing her precious rabbit away to "safety." I brought the Wyandotte into a separate enclosure in the basement each night. Outside during the day, the Wyandotte remained polite and got out of the way. After awhile, she politely stood her ground with the duck. And that was that. Today, just a few months later, they get along fine. Often, I see the duck, bunny and Wyandotte sleeping together, literally lined-up, side by side.
Same procedure took place April when I introduced the much younger Ameraucana pair. Both chicken and duck chased the juveniles around, although the Wyandotte has always been a bit gentler with them. Now, several months later, the duck continues to boss the young pair around, although I have a sense that she acts more aggressive with them when I'm present. Regardless, the duck keeps the poor Ameraucana cockerel on the run. Poor fellow, hasn't dared crow yet, and he's old enough to have started by now! I've found that having several raised perches for the chickens really helps them quickly get away and find "peace" from the duck, who stays on the ground.
For me, the biggest issue with the duck and chickens being housed together is keeping their space clean and dry. The duck is, as ducks will be, messy with water. Although, by duck standards, mine is quite tidy. Regardless, whatever the bedding, shavings, straw/hay or a combination, she is constantly adding it to the water, dirtying the drinking water, her rubber pan "swimming pool," as well as all the bedding around the water area. She's often foraging around the bottom of the pen, then dunking whatever she finds into the drinking water, leaving a mess of bedding in the waterer. During these hot summer months, I refresh/cool the water two to three times daily, and the Wyandotte comes to enjoy her fresh, clean water each time I change it. If/when I add a watering system, this will fix the soiled drinking water issue. The bathing area for the duck, however, will still remain somewhat problematic – although, I can't put all the blame on the duck for the dirty bath; the Wyandotte likes to wade in the bath water as well.
As far as poop goes, honestly, with her magnificent golf-ball sized poops, the Wyandotte makes a bigger mess than the Indian Runner.
With consideration for the water/cleanliness issue, I imagine that raising a group of pullets/hens and ducks that start out all together as youngsters would not present any unusual problems at all.
Hope this helps!
