Can ducks and chickens live together?

[Sami's Mommy]

I have 10 chickens. All are girls. There are 5 3 month "Gold Stars", 1 barred rock cochin bantam hen, 1 belgium quail hen (supposedly a shortened name for them?) 1 belgium quail pullet, 1 red frizzle bantam pullet, and one blue frizzle pullet. Pullets range in age but are all very young. We are finishing their run today which is 9' by 10' by 6 ft tall. Their coop is still in the planning stage. but the plans say it will be 2 floors. It will be 4.5 ft long, 2.5 ffet wide, and 4.5 feet tall. so the lower level is 2.5 feet and the upper one 2 ft. up stairs will have 3 nests. Would it be alright to add one or two ducks to this?
I was thinking small ducks like calls, but would those both the neighbors? We live in town

 

[larkflying]

Female ducks live with chickens quite well usually. Most female ducks have a loud penetrating quack . . . which may or may not be tolerated by close neighbors. If your area doesn't allow roosters, than it is possible the ducks would not be appreciated. The breeds vary in how much they talk -- I believe call ducks were bred to quack loudly as duck decoys for hunters. Other breeds are quieter but still will quack when coming for food, or excited about something -- sometimes even randomly at night.

The only exception to the quacking is muscovy ducks, who are nearly silent. They are bigger ducks though and some do not find their looks appealing. They are more seasonal layers and are able to fly.

Male ducks do not quack -- have a raspy quiet voice instead. However, male ducks will often harass female chicken hens and can fatally injure them by trying to mate.

I have ducks with my chickens and have never had problems - but I have a ratio of 1 male duck to 5 female ducks, and we live on a farm. I don't think I would be bothered in town by a quacking duck, but other people might be . . . I'm sure that someone will be able to tell you more specifically about calls -- they aren't a breed I have experience with.

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

I have never had any problems with keeping my ducks and chickens together. As of now, I have 5 ducks and 16 chickens living together. (I have a sixth duck but she is laying on eggs right now). If you do decide to get ducks, you should research breed and decided which would be best for you. What are you mainly looking for? If you want them for laying, you should try a pekin, cayuga, Khaki campbell, etc. If you are looking for meet birds than you should try rouens. etc, etc.

 

[cheryl026]

I have 4silkie hens and runner ducks that live in a large coop together,and I haven't had any problems yet. I have 1 drake and 2 females( Im getting a couple more females in near future) I think because my ducks were young when introduced to chickens they seem to get along. THe only time I see trouble is when I have treats that I want to hand feed, and my female duck will get the chickens to move, but they don't hurt them or any thing.

 

[Sami's Mommy]

I want calls because they are smaller, but they are loud. Would a boy or two be able to live with the chickens?

 

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

I have had indian runner ducks for over 2 years now and last fall I bought me 4 laying hens and a rooster. I no longer have the rooster in with them because of city bylaw but my male and 2 females have lived with the hens for over 9 months now and everything seems good. I have noticed the male nibble on the combs of the hens but has never tried to mate with them. The female ducks can quack loudly but not usually, mostly when they are spooked or I am too slow letting them out in the morning. As far as size goes I have no idea if having a bigger duck with smaller chickens is that good of an idea. I know that my runner ducks will just trample anything in its way... I did have one muscovy duck last year as well and she would actually roost with the hens instead of laying on the floor with the other ducks. I think if you had males they would try to mate with the hens which could cause some damage and possible death in a chicken.

 

[Belba]

Hell o I have two Indian Runner (male and female) and they are laying eggs. The amle is under a year old (born June 22 2013) and do not know how ol female is. Female is laying on eggs (when I don't take them). I am thinkning about getting a Silkie hen chick, but don't know how the ducks or chicken would respond. Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.