Ducks and Chickens?

[wildflowerrun]

I've read a few different posts around here about ducks and chickens interacting, and usually without problems.... But I'm curious to see if I should even think about get a duck (or three) at this point.

I blame it on the adorable little Khaki Campbells at the store.

We have a batch of chicks in the basement right now, all about to turn 5 weeks old. The Khaki Campbells at TSC are 1-3 days old....

Obviously, I don't want to throw them in together. I haven't even bought the ducks yet, before you worry!

My questions!:

• Will I be able to successfully integrate the chickens and ducks together? I plan on only keeping ducks, no drakes. I will have a rooster.
• I've read about various ways that people keep their ducks and their chickens--either completely separate, or completely together, or sleeping in the same house (ducks on the floor, chickens in the air!) but with separate runs for the day. What do you do and what seems reasonable?
• How much space do the ducks need OUTSIDE their house? I've read all sorts of numbers for inside, but if they could share the chicken house, that would save some space (right?). But what about outside? They would be in a run all day most days, since we will be at work.
• My biggest concern is weather. We live in Maryland, so while it's not a horrible winter, we do have many cold days and snowy days. Sub-freezing temperatures are pretty standard in winter, though we're also used to the occasional 70-degree day in Feb. Summer can be anywhere from 70-105 (in a bad August). Especially for winter, what will they tolerate? Will I have to put a heat lamp in their house?

I'm loving reading the duck posts, even if I don't end up getting one

 

[Flavum]

IM about to get into duck keeping myself

I have found alot of good info in the stickied threads
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/256233/ducks-sticky-topics-index

Best of luck to you and your ducks!

 

[cosbackyard]

I'm working on the same experiment right now. My ducks and chicks are the same age, though, which means the ducks are 4x the size. Can't keep them together right now. The times I've had them all together the ducks pick on the chicks.

I'm building a coop that they'll share. Ideally they'll cohabitate well. If not I'm designing it so I can add a separate door for each and put dividers in. I really don't want to, of course.

They'll also be sharing a run. I don't have the space to build separate runs so they'd better get along. If I have to I could separate them with wire.

Ducks I've kept in the past need a similar amount of space to chickens. They just make more of a mess. So some people give them more room. I don't. Just means I have to clean up more often.

As for weather? Cold doesn't bother my ducks. No heat lamp necessary - just make sure they have ventilation but no drafts. And they seem to love the snow, though I limit the amount of time they spend in it.

 

[ben is a terror]

My ducklings are about 6 days old and I have them in with my 2 month old chicks all seem well The only thing is that the ducklings are messy with the water. On a positive note my ducks and chickens and goose live quite happily together outside We will see what they think of the new brood in a few weeks

 

[schneidercanet]

I have 9 hens, 1 rooster, 10 pullets, 2 adult muscovy ducks (male and female) and two smaller muscovies (the offspring). They used to be all together, but now I have 2 hens, the 4 ducks, and 7 pullets together on another place for other reasons. So far, there haven't been much problems, sometimes they peck each other for food, but that's normal. The chickens and ducks sleep together. I used to have 2 mallards until a very tragic event (not related with the chickens), and they got along relatively well with them, but they were weaker than them so they had more difficulty eating.
Are the ducks you're planning to buy domestic ducks, mallards, muscovies or what breed? Do they fly, or not? If they're only females and cannot fly, it will be harder for them to defend themselves and to eat and they may feel threatened by the chickens.
About the weather, I really don't know, as the minimum temperatures we get here are around 3 to 4ºC. As for the space, I also don't know. My muscovies are relatively free and they fly around our farm and they come back (well..now they don't because I have cut their wing feathers temporarily for other reasons).

 

[schneidercanet]

If the ducks are only ducklings it would be better to raise them separately until they are grown enough to be next to the chickens.

 

[EJPedrazzi]

Hello!

I've kept chickens for the last few years. They free range in the day and go into their coop at night. Their coop requires going up a ladder. We've since got ducks - well, we had a couple of white cresteds but unfortunately the drake got eaten one night while they slept by the pond. Since then the female has paired up with our rooster (a white sultan, so he's smaller than her, and I've not seen him breed her at all anyway - not sure he even breeds the chickens if I'm honest! He's a very special rooster). Anyway, I digress...... Barbara (duck) now thinks she's a chicken and follows the others into the coop at night. It took a while to encourage her to contemplate the ladder, but since she's got it - bam! She's in every night. I've heard you're not supposed to keep 'pointy beaks and round beaks' together, but in my opinion, if they have enough room to get away then I think they're ok. She pecks around with them in the day, follows them around the yard, goes in the pond when she wants and seems very happy and well adjusted (I hope!). I wouldn't keep them together as babies though, as the chicks will peck the ducks eyes and the ducks will just want to be friends. Those chick beaks can be dangerous!

Not an expert by any stretch, but just my two cents

 

[JuicyFatHead]

I've read a few different posts around here about ducks and chickens interacting, and usually without problems.... But I'm curious to see if I should even think about get a duck (or three) at this point.

I blame it on the adorable little Khaki Campbells at the store.

We have a batch of chicks in the basement right now, all about to turn 5 weeks old. The Khaki Campbells at TSC are 1-3 days old....

Obviously, I don't want to throw them in together. I haven't even bought the ducks yet, before you worry!

My questions!:

• Will I be able to successfully integrate the chickens and ducks together? I plan on only keeping ducks, no drakes. I will have a rooster.
• I've read about various ways that people keep their ducks and their chickens--either completely separate, or completely together, or sleeping in the same house (ducks on the floor, chickens in the air!) but with separate runs for the day. What do you do and what seems reasonable?
• How much space do the ducks need OUTSIDE their house? I've read all sorts of numbers for inside, but if they could share the chicken house, that would save some space (right?). But what about outside? They would be in a run all day most days, since we will be at work.
• My biggest concern is weather. We live in Maryland, so while it's not a horrible winter, we do have many cold days and snowy days. Sub-freezing temperatures are pretty standard in winter, though we're also used to the occasional 70-degree day in Feb. Summer can be anywhere from 70-105 (in a bad August). Especially for winter, what will they tolerate? Will I have to put a heat lamp in their house?

I'm loving reading the duck posts, even if I don't end up getting one

I also separate my ducklings and chicks because it's just too wet from the ducks!
* I live in Alaska and ducks are pretty darn hardy!! We'll have solid weeks of below zero, long snowy winters etc.
*Khaki Campbells are a fabulous duck, especially for beginners. Very popular for good reasons.
*Keeping only duck hens is pretty smart. IMO drakes are pretty rough. I like 1 drake to 6-10 hens, but that's just me.
*My chickens are free range, my ducks are too. The chicken coop has a ladder the ducks don't know how to use. The ducks have a coop on the ground that I only see them in on the coldest of mornings. They mostly sleep wherever they feel like. We call them party animals.
*I read storey's guide to raising ducks and it suggests appropriate space needs per duck.

I think you should go for it and enjoy having both chickens and ducks! Ducks are truly entertaining! I hope I helped.

 

[jdywntr]

My questions!:

• Will I be able to successfully integrate the chickens and ducks together? I plan on only keeping ducks, no drakes. I will have a rooster. Possibly. since you already have chickens, they will not likely bond with the ducks and vice versa but it doesn't mean they won't tolerate each other. If you want ducks, not drakes then your best bet is to buy sexed ducklings or juvenile or adult ducks. It is easiest to NOT have a drake if they will be with your chickens.
• I've read about various ways that people keep their ducks and their chickens--either completely separate, or completely together, or sleeping in the same house (ducks on the floor, chickens in the air!) but with separate runs for the day. What do you do and what seems reasonable? I used to keep my chickens and ducks together. I have Muscovy that roost and they would roost with the chickens but chickens began getting plucked at night (ducks are more active at night than chickens) so they have seperate coops but share the run, feeders, waterers and free range space. When considering space, ducks need a place to sleep that is not under the chicken's roosts. Nobody wants to get pooped on at night.
• How much space do the ducks need OUTSIDE their house? I've read all sorts of numbers for inside, but if they could share the chicken house, that would save some space (right?). But what about outside? They would be in a run all day most days, since we will be at work. 10-25 sq ft or yard per duck. 2.5-4 sq ft of inside floor space per duck if ONLY ever inside at night. It you have bad weather, rain, cold, excess wind, etc 6-8 sq ft per inside.
• My biggest concern is weather. We live in Maryland, so while it's not a horrible winter, we do have many cold days and snowy days. Sub-freezing temperatures are pretty standard in winter, though we're also used to the occasional 70-degree day in Feb. Summer can be anywhere from 70-105 (in a bad August). Especially for winter, what will they tolerate? Will I have to put a heat lamp in their house? As long as they are adults and have a wind break and shelter from the weather, you won't need to offer additional heat in winter. Shade during the summer is important as well as constant fresh water.

I'm loving reading the duck posts, even if I don't end up getting one