ducklings and chicks

[mandapanda3186]

I have 27 chicks, barred rocks, isa browns, ee's and random bantams. I just got 3 ducklings. 2 rouens and 1 indian runner. Chicks are 1 week old(isa browns, barred rocks and ee's) and bantams are 1 week and also a few just a few days old. Ducklings I just got today, 1 or 2 days old. The bantams I got yesterday are tiny...d'uccle's I believe. Can I put them all together or should I wait for bantams to get a lil bigger first? Thanks!

 

[ben is a terror]

i keep my banties sepreate


i'v read that ducks grow real fast so you might want 1 for ducks 1 for chicks 1 for bantams
Hope I'm right

 

[FenDruadin]

I'd keep them separate for sure. Ducklings are messy and wet and their poop is wet and icky. They are well suited to deal with the ick (although you do want to clean their brooder daily), but banties and even chicks are not. They will quickly become miserable and could die easily of chill. I once had a lone quail I put in with ducklings. The quail was old enough that the sizes were similar, but he quickly became miserable and wet--he had no genetic information telling him how to preen himself dry, and he looked like a drowned rat in about twenty minutes. I removed him and everyone was much happier.

If you can manage to keep a scrupulously dry brooder and it's quite large for the number of animals, it MIGHT be doable, but really it will be way easier to keep them separate. Good luck and enjoy your babies!!

 

[tiffanya]

I raised mine together last year and am this year as well. Had 13 standard breed chicks and 2 ducklings last year and 5 standard breed chicks and 16 ducklings now. The only issue I have is how messy the ducks are but that can be dealt with. It works well to have the chicks a week or so older than the ducklings. This way they start out about the same size and have similar temp. Needs. Hope this helps.