Ducks and Chicken Cohabitation?

[Contolini6]

We just got five chicks about a month ago who are now in or very near to fully feathered pullet stage. We ordered a coop for them that should come this week so we can move them outside. Aple of weeks after bringing home the chicks, we also brought home two ducklings! Currently the ducks are living in an old rabbit hutch, but we would like the chickens and ducks to live together in the same coop/enclosure eventually if possible. The ducks are about a month old as well and just starting to feather out. And then, last week, we found an abandoned wild mallard duckling! The bigger ducks were mean to it, so we also bought another tiny duckling to keep the mallard company. We are hoping to the release the mallard back into the wild eventually once it can fly.

Long story short, we now have five chickens and four ducklings (two older ones, and two younger ones) and we are trying to figuring out how to house them all. Does anyone have a similar situation (ducks and chickens living together) and can give us ideas on things to consider and how to design their home? Ideally, it will include the structures we already have (purchased coop and rabbit hutch) in order to minimize costs and maximize profits. We are thinking Omlet fencing and a plastic baby pool for the ducks. Please advise and attach pictures of your setups for similar situations if you have them!

 

[chickens really]

No....My Ducks hate my Chickens and I would never house the two Bird types together ....Chickens are dirty and Ducks are just messy...

 

[mymilliefleur]

I keep my chickens and Muscovy ducks together. They have always gotten along just fine. The biggest problem is water. Ducks are very messy, and will get any open water filthy, which is not healthy for the chickens. I got around this by using a nipple waterer for the chickens, and a small pool for the ducks.
Ducks don't usually like to roost, but I find they will use wide, low roosts.
Ducks also tend to lay their eggs on the ground, so make sure to put in some ground level nesting boxes. Make sure they have plenty on space, and integrate them slowly just like you would two groups of chickens.

 

[Doobly]

The drakes can be far too violent with hens! Especially if they were hatched under a broody!

 

[Contolini6]

Well, we are pretty sure two of our chickens are roosters and we can't keep them. When we find out whether we have drakes or not (we don't know yet) we will probably have to get rid of them too for the safety of the hens. So in the long term we will probably be down several animals, but in the short term we do need to house them all.

 

[Doobly]

Well, we are pretty sure two of our chickens are roosters and we can't keep them. When we find out whether we have drakes or not (we don't know yet) we will probably have to get rid of them too for the safety of the hens. So in the long term we will probably be down several animals, but in the short term we do need to house them all.

You could always keep all the ducks if you housed them separately from the chickens? Even the female ducks would benefit from having their own space and a drake.

And then, last week, we found an abandoned wild mallard duckling! The bigger ducks were mean to it, so we also bought another tiny duckling to keep the mallard company. We are hoping to the release the mallard back into the wild eventually once it can fly.

I'm afraid the likelihood of that duck surviving in the wild would be very low. It's not got used to hiding itself at nightfall or how to forage for food, or even what some predators look like. It's bonded and imprinted on you and the other ducks.

 

[Contolini6]

Any ideas for joint but separate housing? We don't want it to be too expensive and we are starting to worry a little about the amount of work that will be involved in keeping ducks since they are so messy! But so cute...

 

[Doobly]

Any ideas for joint but separate housing? We don't want it to be too expensive and we are starting to worry a little about the amount of work that will be involved in keeping ducks since they are so messy! But so cute...

Completely understand your concerns. How much space do you have? The easiest way to combat a ducks messiness if you can't move their enclosure around is (like me) to have a clear plastic cover over the top of their run (just the top so it doesn't get too hot, and include a dark cover for shade) so that while it's wet it gives the ground a chance to dry up. I've found even partially covered runs just don't dry up and cause lots more maintenance. Use straw (not hay, as that can use respiratory problems from the fungus that feeds on it as it breaks down) every now and then to lightly cover the ground and keep their feet dry and slightly lifted, it also gives them something more constructive to dabble under rather than the ground and create more mud! It can easily be raked out occasionally and used in the garden to protect plants (and added nutrients) so really can be useful. As long as their housing can keep them warm in winter and they can easily access it (e.g. ducks like ground roosting, chickens like a higher home) the most important thing is protection from predators, so it depends on your budget is for either investing in a pre-made enclosure or constructing one yourself.

 

[Doobly]

A good potential way to create a walk-in enclosure would be to find some old greenhouses and join them up depending on requirements. Remove the glass (or find them without glass) and use chicken mesh (or preferably something with smaller holes, as a really hungry fox can make its way through if it can fit it's snout in to bite) to cover the sides. Most importantly don't forget to create a "fringe" just like you see on the Omlet runs to prevent digging!

 

[Contolini6]

OK this is definitely helping; thanks so much!!! We have a space in our back yard about 121 square feet (about 37 square meters give or take; it's not a perfect square) up against the back fence. I think that should provide plenty of room for all the birds even if you subtract the space for the coop and chickens themselves. The coop we ordered is chicken-specific, so it sounds like if we modify it a little (with some low roosts and ground-level nesting boxes) we should be fine for space.
We live in Colorado, which is very dry, much drier than you are accustomed to in England I'm sure! So once they are outside and in their permanent home I don't think the messiness and muddiness should be too much of a problem. The straw and raking is a good idea though. For now, we've been keeping the two bigger ducks in a rabbit hutch and let them out a few times a day to wander in the yard and swim. They are outgrowing it fast and there is so much mess with them inside it so much of the time!!!!