Duck coop in a shared run with chickens?

[lutherpug]

Title says it all, I guess

I have a large chicken coop with attached run that has plenty of extra space. I'm getting 4 or 5 ducks in May and have a 4x6 ft duck coop under construction. It would simplify my life a ton if I put the duck coop in the chicken run which has multiple layers of protection against our local predators-coyotes, hawks, etc. My main concerns are this-

1. Will the ducks empty my chicken water? Their waterer is a 20 gallon rubber trash bin with horizontal nipple waterers. Will the ducks go in their coop and drain that of water?
2. Will the ducks and my rooster coexist? I won't be getting any drakes and I only have the 1 rooster. Anything to be concerned about there? Would he try to mate them?

If it is going to create more problems than it solves I won't do it. I'm just trying to avoid the hassle of setting up another airtight run or worry about running electricity somewhere else.

Look forward to your thoughts, thanks!

 

[DuckyDonna]

The ducks will need their own waterer because they will need to be able to stick their whole heads into the bucket to clean our their nares. I don't really know much about that nipple waterer but I don't think the ducks will be able to use it. Lets ask @Miss Lydia because she's got both ducks and chickens together.

 

[PirateGirl]

You don't know how they will react to each other until you try it. My chickens were very upset and very loud when my ducks moved in. They are separate, but can see and hear each other. Now they ignore each other. I would highly recommend you make a divider within your run, at least temporarily until everyone adjusts and simmers down.

I don't know that ducks will drain your horizontal nipple waterers, but they will need their own water source that allows them to dunk their entire heads. They need to be able to clean their eyes and nares and swish their food in the water to eat. They also need the water for preening/cleaning to keep their feathers in good condition and keep them waterproof, similar to the way chickens need a good dust bath. Depending on the style of your chicken feeder you may or may not need to make accommodations for the ducks to easily eat, they need to be able to fit their big bills in there in a way that they can sorta scoop the food.

Depending on the setup of the chicken coop (ramp/door/etc.) and the setup of the duck coop the ducks may or may not want to hang out in the chicken coop and the chickens may or may not want to hang out in the duck coop .

I would say it depends on your rooster. He may accept them, he may view them as a threat. Ideally he will eventually accept them as part of the flock, but there are no guarantees.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nope ducks can’t use nipple waterers. Like @DuckyDonna said ducks need to be able to wash their whole head keep their eyes and nares clean. I keep feed and water out side of coops because ducks are super messy. I mean actually slobs with water and feed. Mine haven’t a run they have half acre fenced for daytime and get locked up at night. If I had to have mine in a run all the time I would have a separate secure run for my ducks

 

[lutherpug]

Thanks for the replies. I was planning on the ducks having their own water source-I didn't word my original question very well. I think what we will do is extend our electric fence (poultry netting from Preimier) that currently surrounds our coop and run and put the duck coop outside of the chicken run but enclosed by the netting. I'll have to figure out a way to provide some overhead protection from hawks but this seems like the easiest way to do this once they are large enough to not slip through the netting.