Do ducks and chickens get along?? Can they share a coop??

[imriu1969]

I just got 4 baby Khaki Campbell ducks. They are sooooo cute!

I am keeping them in a brooder w/a heat lamp at night. But my question is, when they are full grown, or almost, can I let them free range w/my chicken flock? Will they get along? Can the ducks also sleep in the chicken coop at night, or do I need a seperate enclosure for the ducks?

Someone told me that these ducks are wonderful egg layers. Does anyone know if that is true?

Thanks alot.

 

[greyhorsewoman]

Ducks lay very tasty eggs !! Mine free range together without a problem, however, ducks are very messy and it would be better to have separate coops, in my opinion. Happier chickens, happier ducks.

 

[kgeorge]

Good morning. I got my ducks last fall and kept them in with the chickens all winter. It was horrible. The ducks are so dirty. I had to change their water a couple times a day because the ducks would get in the water and put mud in it. The poor chickens didn't have a chance if they wanted nice clean water. I even tried to put the chicken's water fount up on some cinder blocks to keep the ducks out, but somehow they figured out a way to get into it. So, definitely, I would try to keep the ducks and chickens separate.

I love my ducks, but they will be sleeping alone next winter!!!

My ducks are cayuga. They were supposed to be five ducks and one drake. They are all ducks and I get six eggs a day. They are wonderful egg layers....all winter they laid eggs. The only thing is, they like to hide their eggs. But they are nice, big eggs.

I hope this helps you.

 

[Cajunsamoan]

I got my ducks and chickens all at the same time. They free range together fine. I have recently seperated them at night though. It's amazing how messy ducks can be.

 

[Sillystunt]

I got my duck and chicks together. they are now 1 year old and have always lived together. they share the same coop and at night snuggle together......AHHHH CUTE!

Now the question for us is how do we intergrade our new duckky with the others. Of course he's to little to put outside but one day he will be.

 

[imriu1969]

Well, when the ducklings get big enough I will try housing them w/the chickens and see how it goes.

If there are problems, I will have to have the DH build another outbuilding for the ducks.

He said that the next animal we get would be a "quadraped".

(a steer or a dairy goat) What does he know???

 

[Junkybird]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but for those that keep the chicks and ducks together what are you doing differently?

How are you keeping your coop clean?

What type of waterer are you using for ducks and chickens that doesn't get nasty? I started using the 5 gallon bucket method with holes cut in the sides and it seems to be working quite nicely.

Just curious. Tips for housing them together would be appreciated.

 

[Duck Keeper]

My ducky's sitting in the chicken coop right now, growing big and strong until he can free range all day with the rest of them.

...Too bad he's afraid of the big ducks.
I swear he thinks he's a chicken.

 

[JJMR794]

IF ITS A QUICK ANIMAL MY MONEY'S ON THE DUCK! LOL. THAT FLAT BEAK CAN REALLY PUT A PINCH ON YOU IF NEED BE! SHOULD BE ENUF TO EDUCATE THE AVERAGE CHICKEN.

 

[kingmt]

All are in the coop together. I do put some of the waters higher to keep some clean water for the chicks but they don't mind the dirt. I have 9 chickens 16 chicks 11 ducklings & 2 drakes all in the same 10 x 12 coop. I have 3 feeders & 7 waters for them.