Chickens and ducks, LOTS of questions

[Courtneydelphia]

So, I’m newish to ducks. I have several chickens as well. We have a very large yard that the chickens free range in, as well as an enormous shed/coop scheduled to be built next week, replacing the crummy prefab one that everyone said not to buy (but I didn’t listen). My ducklings are just a week old but once they’re bigger and move outside, can they be housed in the chicken coop? Will they lay in a nest box like my chicken ladies? I’ve read a lot of stuff about the dietary needs of ducks vs chickens. I don’t know how to keep the ducks out of the chicken food and vice versa without making separate fenced areas for them and I’m not wild about that idea - is this “all flock” feed good? Does it meet the dietary needs of everyone?

Also, does anyone have any tips for keeping their brooding area dry? Right now I have some gravel on one half, with their water dish inside a pie dish. The other half is shavings. The whole thing is a stinky, mucky, wet mess. No matter how many times a day I replace their water, it is gone within minutes because they flop all around in there. Any solutions for that? I have a lot of questions! I had ducks as a kid, so I thought that getting them now would be a breeze. I don’t remember all the mess or what we did about it, but I guess it’s been several decades!

 

[Isaac 0]

So, I’m newish to ducks. I have several chickens as well. We have a very large yard that the chickens free range in, as well as an enormous shed/coop scheduled to be built next week, replacing the crummy prefab one that everyone said not to buy (but I didn’t listen). My ducklings are just a week old but once they’re bigger and move outside, can they be housed in the chicken coop? Will they lay in a nest box like my chicken ladies? I’ve read a lot of stuff about the dietary needs of ducks vs chickens. I don’t know how to keep the ducks out of the chicken food and vice versa without making separate fenced areas for them and I’m not wild about that idea - is this “all flock” feed good? Does it meet the dietary needs of everyone?

Also, does anyone have any tips for keeping their brooding area dry? Right now I have some gravel on one half, with their water dish inside a pie dish. The other half is shavings. The whole thing is a stinky, mucky, wet mess. No matter how many times a day I replace their water, it is gone within minutes because they flop all around in there. Any solutions for that? I have a lot of questions! I had ducks as a kid, so I thought that getting them now would be a breeze. I don’t remember all the mess or what we did about it, but I guess it’s been several decades!

Yes, they can be moved out to the chicken coop as long as they have a heat source or if the weather is permitting, and when they are young they will need to be protected from the chickens with a wire fence or plywood to keep them from getting pecked in the head. They will lay in the nesting box, as long as the boxes are close to the ground, they don't do well with ramps either. Many people on here including me feed there fowl All Flock Feed or Purina Raiser Feed, with absolutely no problems at all, ducks need more niacin then chickens do or they may suffer from leg problems so that's why its important to use a feed designed for ducks.

NO matter what you do a brooder is going to stink, there are some ways to minimize the smell, but don't expect your house to smell like daisy's. Some people report great success using horse pellets as bedding sine they are more absorbent. I use straw and cover their bedding each morning with a new layer and after a few days of that I do a total clean down. Water catch trays works well at reducing water throughout the brooder too. I'd suggest you type up "Duckling Brooder Ideas" on Google, many ideas there.

We know how lost you can be when you first start raising them, so please don't hesitate to ask anymore questions!

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Courtneydelphia]

Yes, they can be moved out to the chicken coop as long as they have a heat source or if the weather is permitting, and when they are young they will need to be protected from the chickens with a wire fence or plywood to keep them from getting pecked in the head. They will lay in the nesting box, as long as the boxes are close to the ground, they don't do well with ramps either. Many people on here including me feed there fowl All Flock Feed or Purina Raiser Feed, with absolutely no problems at all, ducks need more niacin then chickens do or they may suffer from leg problems so that's why its important to use a feed designed for ducks.

NO matter what you do a brooder is going to stink, there are some ways to minimize the smell, but don't expect your house to smell like daisy's. Some people report great success using horse pellets as bedding sine they are more absorbent. I use straw and cover their bedding each morning with a new layer and after a few days of that I do a total clean down. Water catch trays works well at reducing water throughout the brooder too. I'd suggest you type up "Duckling Brooder Ideas" on Google, many ideas there.

We know how lost you can be when you first start raising them, so please don't hesitate to ask anymore questions!

So when the ducks are full grown, they will still need a heat source? Or just while they’re still little?

The All Flock feed will be fine for my laying hens as well?

Is there a way to set up a more contained waterer, like I have for the chick brooder to reduce overall wetness? Or do they need to have an open source of water? They REALLY seem to enjoy flopping around in the water dish.

Thank you so much for your detailed response!!

 

[Isaac 0]

So when the ducks are full grown, they will still need a heat source? Or just while they’re still little?

The All Flock feed will be fine for my laying hens as well?

Is there a way to set up a more contained waterer, like I have for the chick brooder to reduce overall wetness? Or do they need to have an open source of water? They REALLY seem to enjoy flopping around in the water dish.

Thank you so much for your detailed response!!

A good guideline to go by is once ducklings have all their adult feathers in they can go without heat, of course your climate plays a big role in that.

Yes, Just provide a source of calcium on the side for they layers.

You might find some of these pictures helpful- When they are young they only need to be able to dunk their heads in the water, but once they get older they need to maintain their actual feathers so providing bathing water is essential in keeping them healthy and happy.