Chickens & Ducks Not Getting Along

[lauriemae15]

We adopted a pair of adult ducks this past weekend. We had hoped that they could share the same coop space as our six chickens, but the chickens gang up on the ducks and attack them. Right now we have them separated in two different pens. The male duck was attacked by a hawk (which is why we rescued them) and he walks with a limp so he can't really defend himself.
We are thinking of trying to put them together again this weekend when we are around to keep an eye on them. Will the chickens ever get used to them and behave, or are we going to have to keep them separate forever?
Thanks!!!

 

[marvun22]

first i always have been told since i was little, big ducks wont attack smaller chickens, but big chickens might attack smaller ducks. i had big ducks with small chickens and they both were afraid of each other. my ducks and my older and bigger chickens are getting along in my barn where they free range. im not sure about how they will work in confinement. and how many chickens do you have? how many square feet is your pen? will they ever free range? that might not be helpful but some other people will hopefully help.

 

[jdywntr]

This would be likely to happen regardless of what you put in with an existing flock. They need time to get used to each other and realize that there is not a threat from the other animal. Having them in adjoining areas, where they can see eachother but not interact for a week or 2 would be best.
The amount of space that you have in the coop is important also. If they have to be locked up together at night, make an area that is only for the ducks, that they can be placed in. A large dog crate or something similar inside of the coop would work for the time being and then keep them seperate during the day.

My chickens and ducks basically grew up together though they were all a few months old when I got them. They are not hostile but they tolerate each other.
Good luck, you will be able to find a lot of info here.

 

[The Howards]

I have to agree with jdywntr. We introduced ducks (although younger) to our flocks of chickens this way. We set up a separate area inside the pen so that they could see each other but couldn't get to each other. After about a week of this we put them together. There was still fighting and feather pulling but nothing too bad and now they get along well. They don't share a coop but they share a pen.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I have 35 ducks, and just about every day the chickens and ducks free range together. Overall the chickens hate the ducks, and the ducks hate the chickens. When it's time for breakfast everybody pushes and shoves for the food, but my Muscovys will attack some of the chickens, as in pulling their tail, etc. A few of my drakes will also attack the roosters, even some of the hens. Same goes for the chickens. Some of my Basque hens will try and flog some of the ducks. It's a constant battle. However, my Buff Orpington Ducks and some of the others are very calm and docile and have never attacked anybody, rather, they get attacked. LOL

What breed is your pair of ducks?

~ Aspen

 

[lauriemae15]

Thanks everybody!
We have six chickens. They have their own henhouse with a ramp to go up so I doubt the ducks would try to go up there. We have the ducks set up in a doghouse and they seems to like it a lot and are making a nice nest inside. The pens are right next to each other so they can see each other. The run area is pretty large, its like two large dog kennels put together, which are now separated into ducks/chickens. We haven't free ranged the chickens yet since we are worried about neighborhood dogs, but we think we would like to try it next spring. I think the ducks are getting used to their new home so hopefully we can try to let them share pen space again soon.


We actually have no idea what kind of ducks they are! Anybody recognize them?

 

[DallasCriftins]

They look like Saxony Ducks to me.

 

[zooweemama]

They are so sweet looking. You definitely want to give them time to get acquainted. See but not touch. I am also lucky in that we had the ducks first, they have a pond then we added chickens. I actually often find them all foraging together. No one bothers anyone. I call my geese the peace keepers because they really do just that. The keep order among the ducks and when the chickens are around the geese stand around like police making sure everyone minds their Ps and Qs. When the geese see us (or one of the dogs) coming the geese herd the ducks back to the pond. I realize this is not typical. But our ducks and chickens had a chance to get acquainted before being around each other freely. They also have sep living quarters.

 

[zooweemama]

As for breed they look kinda like a Saxony and Buff (khaki campbell in there somewhere?) cross to me. But I'm no expert. They are pretty though!

 

[JulieNKC]

They look like buff ducks to me. Try letting them free range together to get to know each other, maybe that will help. Mine all share a coop pretty peacefully, and will forage together quite a bit of the day too. Chickens can be pretty mean to newcomers, but once they get used to them they should ease up quite a bit.