Considering ducks...with questions.

[Krisymof2]

I'm new to chickens and considering ducks but I have so many questions I don't even know where to start. Can they live together? What about with a turkey?

Anyone can suggest a book or good website with info? Any info would help!

I was thinking about a old style bathtub with a ramp to get in for swimming and then valve with hose at bottom to drain and I could use the hose to water the garden with.

Thanks in advance!

~Kristin

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

Hey Kristin

Good news is if you don't find it in the search part of the forum most can help you with your questions.

I won't speak for turkeys (although I have done a bit of research) as I don't have any myself. There are some like myself who keep ducks and chickens together and there are many who keep them apart. The biggest issue with keeping them together is the water. I have adjusted how I give them water several times over the year and I am sure since I am still working out the kinks to this issue I will be adjusting for a few more times. And then make sure the feed you give them is ok for both.

For myself winter was much happier for ME with them together but at the same time cleaning up the barn this spring is going to suck... Ducks make a MESS out of their water and as such need more.

I also need to have things simple if I want my hubby to help with my hobby so I have 2 types of feed- babies and adults

and bring 2 5 gal pails of water to the birds everyday. This way when I do need help he can actually help. I could make it complicated and have duck feed, layer feed and chick feed and soon... duckling feed but I know if I had that many bins for him to find he would NOT help

So I have done a bunch of research read a few books Storys guide is a good one to start and think I have found a great feed for all my birds.

As for the bathtub I would be worried the ducks could get stuck inside- and it might be a bit tall for them and what happens when they fall off? I guess I would think on that a bit more before giving it to the birds....

 

[Duck Mad]

I'd say if your just want a few pet ducks, it is real easy.. dig a hole in the ground with pond liner,, or kiddy paddling pools theres lots of ideas we all find a way of letting the ducks play splish splash!.. my ducks and chickens have their own bed area, but free range together with no problems.. the chickens are more likely to fight with other chickens...male ducks can be a bit of a pain when they become randy... But they are all different so its a matter of common sense watching our own flocks to see if theres any issues.. I've never had any worries with anything to do with my ducks, just a relaxed attitude enjoying them

Morning feed them let them out, in the day watch them play

then night pop them to bed, easy as that .. food water keep clean and the enjoyment of owning ducks is yours .............. if you want loving pets, you must get them from young fluffy ducklings

 

[Krisymof2]

Well its not something I would be doing this year so I should have time to plan it out a bit. Anywhere that I could see pics of peoples chicken/duck coops?

Thanks!!

 

[mandelyn]

I'm getting ready to do ducks for the 2nd time, last time was 8 years ago and brief. But SO fun! We're going to use a 6ft baby pool with a partial rock "deck" on the side, and brick steps inside to give them access. When the water source is elevated it's much easier to clean out.

Ducks are messy and damp, not a good mixture for chickens depending on how everything is set up. If the duck breed I picked out (Saxony) is everything they're said to be, I'm going to down size my chickens and put a wall in the coop and add a run. Chickens on the left, Ducks on the right.

Ducks don't HAVE to have water, but it's so funny watching them, it's worth it. You want the food away from the water bowl... the smell of it mixed is awful. Brooding ducklings is different from chickens in the mess they produce. Ducklings are REALLY messy. I haven't decided yet how I'm going to brood mine this time, but last time I learned pretty quick that dog crate is a bad idea.

 

[DurhamDuck]

We have found one book to be very informative... "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" by Dave Holderread. Our local library had this book but you can buy it from Amazon online.

 

[Eroc1_1]

Quote:
That is a great book to have/buy. I found a used copy on Amazon about 3 months ago.

 

[Eroc1_1]

Quote:
Try this - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=raising+ducks

 

[Krisymof2]

Thanks for the advice on the duck book, I have Storeys guide to raising chickens already so I def. buy the duck book. I also have a Chicken in Every Yard, and Chicks in the City.

I would love to see peoples duck coops!

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

We have ducks, chickens, turkeys, and guineas all running together in a half-acre yard. The chickens roost in a 4' x 8' coop on piers, the ducks sleep on the floor of the coop or under it, and the turkeys and guineas roost on top of the attached run. (This works in part due to the 8' chain link perimeter fence that keeps predators out.) They all eat Purina Flockraiser (20%) crumbles, plus free-choice oyster shells and some scratch, and the ducks get something green daily (peas, endive, and/or various kitchen scraps), and the other birds get mealworms once or twice a week.

We use a rubbery plastic tub from the feed store for the ducks to bathe in. It's big enough for two ducks at a time, and they've learned to take turns. It's filled daily, partly from day-old water from the rabbits, and used to water plants, compost, and worm bins. We're lucky in this case to have sandy soil and a desert climate, so any puddles the ducks make don't last long at all.

The ducks do make a mess out of the drinking water, as they usually have a mouthful of feed and some of it gets into the water. They can also mess up the feeder if their bills are wet when they eat. But, I figure the extra work in hosing off the feeder and waterer more often is a small price for having these wonderful animals in my life

Bryan