Chicken breeds compatible with ducks

[Mamaann]

I have 4 ducks, and had 2 chickens. We think our buff Orpington almost fatally wounded one of our ducks when the duck got stuck in some wire. Our duck survived but has only one good eye now. I had to get rid of our buff Orpington because she just wanted to attack the duck. Our remaining chicken is a speckled Sussex and does better with the ducks, but isn't perfect. We like her but have to figure out what to do. Currently the chicken is sleeping in the coop alone and the ducks sleep out in the pen. They all used to sleep in the same coop. We like the speckled Sussex and wouldn't like to get rid of her but she is an only chicken now and I don't totally trust her with the ducks, especially as the one duck may always be different now. We have cold winters so this has to be solved pretty soon. I guess our options are to get another coop and add a chicken or just do ducks, or wait and see if they can co exist again in a while with adding a gentle chicken. I don't have much poultry experience. Would there be some chicken breeds that would probably not be interested in attacking a permanently different duck? We can only have 6 birds also-so I can only add 1 bird. Thoughts?

 

[nuthatched]

If you can only have one more bird, I'd get just ducks.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have 4 ducks, and had 2 chickens. We think our buff Orpington almost fatally wounded one of our ducks when the duck got stuck in some wire. Our duck survived but has only one good eye now. I had to get rid of our buff Orpington because she just wanted to attack the duck. Our remaining chicken is a speckled Sussex and does better with the ducks, but isn't perfect. We like her but have to figure out what to do. Currently the chicken is sleeping in the coop alone and the ducks sleep out in the pen. They all used to sleep in the same coop. We like the speckled Sussex and wouldn't like to get rid of her but she is an only chicken now and I don't totally trust her with the ducks, especially as the one duck may always be different now. We have cold winters so this has to be solved pretty soon. I guess our options are to get another coop and add a chicken or just do ducks, or wait and see if they can co exist again in a while with adding a gentle chicken. I don't have much poultry experience. Would there be some chicken breeds that would probably not be interested in attacking a permanently different duck? We can only have 6 birds also-so I can only add 1 bird. Thoughts?

Goodness. I'm so sorry for your duck!

I have 5 ducks with my flock of 17 chickens. I haven't had that problem, thank goodness. I think it's the individual chicken, though, and not the breed. My Orpingtons are the ones who get along with everyone in the flock, even those lowest in the pecking order.

I can't really tell you what to do. I would probably getmore chickens and separate them from the ducks. Or get more chickens and see how they do with the ducks. But getting just ducks would solve your problem. It's harder to integrate new chickens than it is new ducks.

 

[RawDaddy]

I have 10 chickens and 3 ducks, all different makes and models. The chickens are 18 months old and the Ducks 6 months old. I was surprised at how dominant the ducks can be. Not in the way of fighting, but if they want to get at some food, the chickens pretty much acquiesce. I agree with Aunt Agnes, it’s more about the particular animal as is the breed. They share the same coop. Everyone gets along. No one BFF’s by any means, but all are civil to one another.