Hello, I'm in my second year of raising chickens. Love my five pretty ladies who are doing an amazing job of giving me eggs even in the dead of winter right now with no heater or artificial light. I suspect part of the good laying is that I let them out to free range when I arrive home in the afternoon. With that in mind I have a few questions. I'm thinking about getting 2-4 ducks at some point. Not sure if it will be this year or next year. My plan was to house them in a different section of the yard, but like my chickens, allow them out in the afternoon to free range. I've already seen the trouble of adding new chickens to the flock. One of my hens is still a bit of a bully to the two newest. So I'm wondering what to expect if they encounter a little duck flock.
Additionally, I'm thinking of adding a rooster. So part of my question is whether I should try for ducks first, and add a rooster later once social structures are somewhat established, or whether I'm OK to get a rooster before ducks. Would he be inclined to chase around a bunch of ducks?
My back yard is a decent size. The property is almost 1/3rd an acre with a good chunk of that being the back yard. Do you recommend keeping a duck enclosure near chickens, or am I OK to spread my poultry out a bit and give them their own space?
Additionally, I'm thinking of adding a rooster. So part of my question is whether I should try for ducks first, and add a rooster later once social structures are somewhat established, or whether I'm OK to get a rooster before ducks. Would he be inclined to chase around a bunch of ducks?
My back yard is a decent size. The property is almost 1/3rd an acre with a good chunk of that being the back yard. Do you recommend keeping a duck enclosure near chickens, or am I OK to spread my poultry out a bit and give them their own space?
