Duck beneficial to young flock?

[ChickToLove]

Hi Everyone!
I have 1-month old little chickens and few-day old baby chicks...and I'm told by some that adding a duck (duckling in this case) would be beneficial as they help take care of the flock.
Is there any truth to this? And, if so, do you have any advice? Can the duckling / grown duck live with the chicks / chickens in the same coop and run?

 

[sourland]

Raising a duckling with a flock of chicks generally results in the duckling imprinting on the chicks. If the duck is a hen - no problems. If it is a drake usually it will start breeding the chicken hens - BIG problem. A duck will not protect a flock. I wouldn't do it.

 

[Yardmom]

I have had a duck live in my chicken coop before. I really can't think of a benefit that the chickens received from that.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

A duckling is also likely to make a soggy mess out of the brooder, which is bad for the chicks. (And not great for the duckling either.) IMO, thinking a prey animal is going to "protect" other prey animals from predators just isn't realistic.

 

[ChickToLove]

Raising a duckling with a flock of chicks generally results in the duckling imprinting on the chicks. If the duck is a hen - no problems. If it is a drake usually it will start breeding the chicken hens - BIG problem. A duck will not protect a flock. I wouldn't do it.

Wow....thank you! I would have never thought they'd do that...

 

[ChickToLove]

I have had a duck live in my chicken coop before. I really can't think of a benefit that the chickens received from that.

Thank you! Appreciate your sharing that! : )

 

[ChickToLove]

A duckling is also likely to make a soggy mess out of the brooder, which is bad for the chicks. (And not great for the duckling either.) IMO, thinking a prey animal is going to "protect" other prey animals from predators just isn't realistic.

Yes, I did think of the wet mess she would make...thank you for the comment and input!!

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Wow....thank you! I would have never thought they'd do that...

Yep, even drakes that aren't raised with chickens from hatch will often do that. Which is generally deadly to the chicken hens.