Duck coop?

I didn't know they needed a different house. My granny never separated her ducks from the chickens when I was growing up and everyone seemed fine, so I didn't realize you were supposed to house them differently. My Welsh Harlequin and Swede ducks have always stayed in the same coop as the chickens. Two sleep on the floor under the nest boxes and the drake roosts up with the chickens (don't ask me how he gets up there). Mine are all free-ranged though, even during our Midwest winters, so that might make a difference. Plus the ducks prefer to use the wash tub I keep under the outside faucet rather than the chicken waterers.

So now you have me wondering...

 

We got a dog house through our local Freecycle which is just for the ducks. They are in a pen during the day and then at night we've had to herd them into the dog house to lock them up. Tonight is only their third night outside but so far this is working well for us.

 

If you get the book "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" by Dave Holderread (perhaps from your local library?) he talks about housing requirements for ducks and has a sketch of a simple shelter. We have 7 ducks in a simple predator proof house (hardware cloth over all openings) that is about 3 feet deep by 6 feet long. They need predator protection at night, ventilation and shade during hot days (80 degrees is a hot day for a duck). They do well in winter weather but should be out of the wind. We keep ours without water and food at night. If they have food they MUST have water or they could choke. I am new to chickens but I don't see why they couldn't be housed together as long as there is no water in the housing as the ducks will get everything wet. Others with more experience might shoot that down!

Good luck!

 

My ducks sometimes go in the coop with the chickens at night. I have muscovies and mallard hens. Most nights there is at least one duck in the coop roosting. Most of the other nights they prefer to stay outside on their own, even though they have a small secure pen to keep them safe. They greet the chickens when the chickens are released in the mornings to free range. ducks have a kiddie pool and if more than one duck goes in to roost at night I know to refill the waterer in the coop in the mornings.

We used to herd them into their pen at night and then they started rebelling and wanted to stay outside. Some roost in the trees others on the ground but mostly in our garage (it doesn't have doors on it)

 

Hi! I also have three new mallards. I was told they can fly away for the winter and come back in the spring. Im beginning to wonder if thats the best thing to do. I am going to begin building a covered yard for them and have ordered a large coop with heated water bowl....anyone with insight to this little dilemma?

 

I actually have my ducks in with my Geese they have two swimming pools to play in... I was going to move the ducks out last weekend, but noticed one is sitting under a bathtub turned upside down where they have been laying... So now in that pen I have 3 geese, with one sitting and 4 ducks with one sitting... This should be interesting to say the least..

 

i have heard of plenty of people that keep ducks and chickens together. I do. I have 2 black cayuga ducks and 8 chickens. here is a thread that my sister started asking about the ducks.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=371244

i don't have any plans though. i'm not a builder. my dad builds everything. you could keep the chickens and ducks together, and you could fence in your orchard. you could let the ducks roam there during the day then stay safe in the coop at night. you could keep their kiddy pool in the orchard so that they can swim and eat the beetles. it might work for you! i hope you find something that works well! sorry if I couldn't be of much help!

 

I had picked up some large, heavy, free pallets with the intent of making a duck night time house I could lock BUT they are so heavy that I opted to make one out of old 2 x 6 fencing instead. I'm really happy with the way it turned out and plan to build more as my 8 ducks mature and pair off.