Cheese & Crackers!

[Our Roost]

Just purchased 2 Pekin ducks to add to 25 chicks I have arriving mid april. I have plenty of room in the coop, but never thought to ask if chicks and ducks will share the same living quarters! I know nothing much about ducks, their habits, or how to raise them as pets. Any comments would be helpful. I want to mix them in with my chicks after I get them but am not sure if that is a good idea?

 

[donrae]

Most advise against brooding water fowl with chickens. Ducklings especially are horribly messy and get all the bedding wet, posing a health risk for baby chicks who don't tolerate being damp well. Ducklings are just messy to brood, and I highly advise to brood them outside, in something easily washable. Cardboard will stink, trust me. Once everyone is grown, I do keep ducks and chickens together with no problems. I have heard of drakes trying to mate with hens, which can be a problem cause they're pretty aggressive. The ducks are dominant over the chickens, they're just bossy.