Can Chickens and Ducks Stay together

[Country by marriage]

Ok so this year I added 13 more chickens and 8 ducks to the flock, and they were put in the coop at the same time. So question is do I need to build another separate coop or house for the ducks for themselves? They all get let out and free range when I leave for work, and they go back up at night. I have no problems when it comes to them going up bc its feeding time so they follow me all the time. Suggestions??

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I had about 60 chickens and added 9 ducks. The ducks were very confident, especially as a large group and very much bullied my chickens. Even the most confident of the chickens who would turn around and try to peck the ducks, they just keep coming. So the chickens always have to run away. OK so it might be standard pecking order... but if you end up with a drake who tries to mount a chicken either for breeding or as a dominance display, you could very well end up with an injured chicken.

I highly DO recommend separate housing. Note they all free ranged on 1 acre and had 150 sq foot coop with multiple roosting levels. The ducks rarely made it up the ramp to the roost. But my chickens are happier without them.

If I do get ducks again next year or end up keeping the last 3 I have they will be housed and yarded separately.

 

[lazy gardener]

It would not be my choice to keep chickens and ducks together for above stated reasons. + the fact that ducks are so incredibly messy. I'd choose to never have ducks if I couldn't house them separately. Had ducks in the past, but never with chickens.

 

[Country by marriage]

Thank you for your reply. Lucky so far I guess. We have 150 acres and 2 fully stocked ponds totaled, however about 7-8 acres up near the house that we keep up on every day, so hoping that is what makes me lucky so far. Since I leave for work at like 5:45am that is when I open the door if not sometimes before, and they don't go up until like 6-7 pm and only really in there to sleep and keep from being eaten by any of the numerous animals that lurk at night, and the ducks swimming pool and stuff are not in there its not to messing actually. Thank you for your opinions, and suggestions.

 

[Country by marriage]

I apologize the brick hitting is not for your suggestions and opinions and its just me dreading having to build something else. lol

 

[chickens really]

I can't house or free range my Chickens and Ducks together...My Ducks hate the Chickens...I have a mesh fence up to separate during free range time....I have Huge Chickens, Brahma, Orpington and Brahma/Orpington...I raise Call Ducks also....One of my huge Hens landed on a Call Hen and injured her neck.....I almost fainted...Poor Duck was crooked...She recovered by the next day...I would never try housing Ducks and Chickens together....Plus Ducks love too much water....