Ducks and Chicken Cohabitation?

[Contolini6]

Or, we could build a duck-specific coop that won't look as nice as the chickens' but we have a large pine tree we could hide it behind (my mom is very concerned about aesthetics and the whole set up looking nice. Poop all over the yard is a big no-no!)

 

[chickens really]

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

?...What?

 

[Doobly]

?...What?

When I was a child my parents had drakes chasing and raping the hens. You give me hope this isn't always the case!? Always assumed it was due to imprint.

 

[Chickenrunlady]

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!

I have 7 chicken and 2 ducks and they live together and are happy. Under the roost I have a poop hammock so the chicken don't poop on the ducks while they are sleeping. Works great!!!! My roosters look after the ducks just as much as the hens.

 

[RinzHens]

We raised ours together so they get along great. But my older Pekin female who was alone was quite aggravated by the young Cayuga and would attack it. But now that it has more size and we had the pens right next to each other weve put them all together. Pekin still isn't fond of Cayuga but the young Pekin protects it. Everyone is ok together and getting closer and sharing better. The biggest problem is the duck mess. I have a ten by ten stock pen with cover, using the deep litter method with flake shavings, a wading pool for the ducks, a corner with builder grade sand, a dog house, and three on the ground bucket nestboxes. The older Pekin hasn't laid since putting them all together but I think she will settle in. Still have to build the roost portion, water system, and wrap the pen with hardware cloth but its getting there.

 

[Contolini6]

What if we haven't raised them together (thus far?) Is there any hope for introducing them? Any tips for getting them used to each other at this stage?

 

[chicapee]

We have ours in separate pens and coops at night, but they free range together during the day without any problems.

 

[RinzHens]

My big pekin was never around chickens until now. She doesn't seem to mind, but shes seen them since they were old enough to be out. Then I placed her pen right next to theres. Granted she was a solo duck we use to teach mallard babies how to be ducks, so she was lonely being social birds. She isn't even keeping distance from them now. Initially there was some fuss at the water but the chickens can defend back but respected her size so that only lasted a day. But weve used her for two seasons with mallards which are smaller so she is used to accommodating. But for some reason she didn't like the Cayuga being black and small. But she leaves the black sex linked hens alone. I just watched them for a bit when I put them together and gave lots of extra treats. I'm no chicken expert, just a newbie.

 

[TeeMom]

We have had chickens for 3 years and added ducklings this last spring. We have a large coop and our birds all free range, so there is no run. We kept the ducklings in a brooder pen at floor level in the coop from day one and would let them out with supervision daily. We started letting them hang in the fenced garden around 3 weeks during the day where they had plenty of contact with the chickens and by 5 or 6 weeks they were free ranging and sleeping in the coop at night. Water was a challenge initially, but at 6 weeks we went back to nipple waterers only inside the coop. They have buckets and pools outside during the day. We have yet to see any problems between the 2 species. I am sure the long and gradual introduction helped and they have unlimited space to retreat from each other if they did feel threatened. We often find them all resting in the same area or sharing water dishes. It's been a delightful process for us!