Different Duck Breeds Living Together

[Finny]

Yes I definitly agree with GoingQuackers about not mixing extreme sizing differences, but buffs, cayugas, welsh harlequins and sweedish are all the same size so you will be fine

 

[sebastopol]

If the sizes are similar the breeds will be crossed.

Now I have a pair of Call ducks with the Saxonies.

 

[Finny]

finny i hope your mallards do good and i want to ask what are magpie duck i have no idea never seen on befor is it a breed or some thing the i know alot about duck but i have only rasied 2 breeds soon to be 3 

This is what a grown magpie looks like!

Apparently it is uncommon to get a magpie with the "ideal" patterings like the one in the picture. My little one (I named him Leo) looks like he does not have the ideal patterings but I still love him just the same This is him!

 

[Going Quackers]

This is what a grown magpie looks like!

That is sooooo cute!

 

[StruckBy]

I don't think I've EVER had a flock of a single breed. I've had Australian spotteds, Cayugas, WHs, cresteds (not something I encourage but adopted adult hens), Swedish, khakis, others I can't think of atm, and mixes all at the same time. Most of them were NOT raised together but rather trickled in to an existing flock. I never had problems with mixing breeds. Australians are quite a bit smaller than the others, but the ones I had were also a bit feistier. In fact, the Australian drakes are the only ducks I've ever had to cull for aggression towards other birds!

I would fully expect Muscovies to not spend much time hanging out with true ducks (and I know more people who have had trouble with Muscovies seriously injuring their ducks than people who have had them become buddies). They are a totally different species with different habits and preferences. Not to say that they won't ever hang out together (and even mate), it just isn't the norm.

 

[Going Quackers]

I would fully expect Muscovies to not spend much time hanging out with true ducks (and I know more people who have had trouble with Muscovies seriously injuring their ducks than people who have had them become buddies). They are a totally different species with different habits and preferences. Not to say that they won't ever hang out together (and even mate), it just isn't the norm.

Not the norm but it's doable.. my buffs hold their own quite well, of coarse they are bonded to their scovie boys but the rest of the flock is not more aggressive to them at all. Their habits(scovies) while different are not that far off... just a few idiosyncrasies.

 

[Snakedoc]

I am sure that the best advice is to separate fowl by size. That said, I actually do have my Calls and my Muscovies living together without any issues (as did the man I got them from, who is very respected in the duck world). The pen is very large, but the shelter where they are cooped at night isn't all that big, and the Calls do fine.

My experience has been that Call ducks are very very gutsy, and will hold their own with other ducks and even instigate fights. However, I can't speak to the personalities of other small/bantam duck breeds.

Now, very soon I plan to separate them into breeding groups, at which point the Calls will be removed from the 'Scovies, but for now, they are one big happy family. My Call drake has actually bonded to a couple of the Muscovy hens ...

 

[newfoundland]

Similar sizes are all that matters. I have Pekins, Indian Runner and khaki campbell ducks and they get along fine with each other.

 

[Going Quackers]

I am sure that the best advice is to separate fowl by size. That said, I actually do have my Calls and my Muscovies living together without any issues (as did the man I got them from, who is very respected in the duck world). The pen is very large, but the shelter where they are cooped at night isn't all that big, and the Calls do fine.

My experience has been that Call ducks are very very gutsy, and will hold their own with other ducks and even instigate fights. However, I can't speak to the personalities of other small/bantam duck breeds.

Now, very soon I plan to separate them into breeding groups, at which point the Calls will be removed from the 'Scovies, but for now, they are one big happy family. My Call drake has actually bonded to a couple of the Muscovy hens ...

I don't disagree they are gusty... and you know honestly, i don't think my scovies would care BUT it's always best to recommended "best practice" there will always be exceptions..

 

[VancouverIsland]

We have muscovie here.My friend just dropped off two maybe a week old mallards.The latest batch of 8 we have are the same age.Should I just put them all together and see how the mama reacts?