Ducks & Chickens Together?

[18stellas1bella]

I currently have 19 black sex-link hens that are 2 months old at the moment. I also want to get 2 or 4 female pekin ducks. Anyway, here are my questions:

Can they be put together?

Are pekin ducks a good breed?

Do they require a different feed from the chickens?

What treats and toys can you give them? (besides water) For my chicks they sometimes get fruit and also they play with sticks and toys from the pet store such as some of the hamster or bird toys.

Would I have to get their wings clipped?

If for whatever reason I need to separate them how would I do so? My chicken coop is about 10x8 I think (not sure) and the outdoor pen isn't much bigger than that either.

I do plan on getting some kind of water trough or kiddie pool for the ducks to swim in- will the chickens have chances of falling in and drowning?

I most likely forgot a couple questions but there are my main ones. Thanks!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

I currently have 19 black sex-link hens that are 2 months old at the moment. I also want to get 2 or 4 female pekin ducks. Anyway, here are my questions:

Can they be put together?
Yes

Are pekin ducks a good breed?
Yes, but I prefer magpies. Good layers still, a bit prettier IMO, but not so fat. Meat breeds tend to lay a bit later, but they're still really good. Both tend to have calm temperaments, but my Pekin is the loudest
Do they require a different feed from the chickens?

Yes and no. They can get niacin deficiency if on chicken food (but niacin can be added) but they can also feel no side effects from a lack of niacin. We've had some who suffer from issues from being on chicken food, and we've had plenty that don't.
What treats and toys can you give them? (besides water) For my chicks they sometimes get fruit and also they play with sticks and toys from the pet store such as some of the hamster or bird toys.

Uhh... Water.... LOL. I've never seen happier ducks then ducks in water. Except then maybe ducks in water in the rain. When their young, they like to eat gold fish, like fish fish (be careful about over feeding it)"(but mine seem to outgrow that as they age, but the chickens love them), or eating treats in the water. Honestly,if you give them water then they'll be happy. But Pekins don't like water as much - mallards love it, and are good layers, pretty & and the quietest of my ducks. Just saying but they don't lay quite as much as the other ducks - for me, at least

Would I have to get their wings clipped?
99.9% of the time, no. Mallards MAYBE, ours fly but stick around, but none of the other ducks fly, but every now and then you get a flying duck. If you clip the wings, leave 3-4 flight feathers so it looks natural


If for whatever reason I need to separate them how would I do so? My chicken coop is about 10x8 I think (not sure) and the outdoor pen isn't much bigger than that either.

A fence.... A crate. Anything, really, ducks don't fly much or climb, but chickens tend too. So you want it covered since the chickens might jump in

I do plan on getting some kind of water trough or kiddie pool for the ducks to swim in- will the chickens have chances of falling in and drowning?

Most kiddie pools are too shallow to drown a chicken. You'll need a couple different ramps out of it, so if a chicken drops in they can easily get out. Same goes for ducks. Make there be traction, too
I most likely forgot a couple questions but there are my main ones. Thanks!

Oh and if you can get 2-3 big koi or like cat fish or trout (ie go fishing) then put it in the kiddie pool. Promise me, the ducks will have the time of their lives

 

[SunnySkies]

We raise blue Swedish ducks along with various chickens, and we haven't had any issues. I feed Flock Raiser to help avoid feed issues. Everyone free ranges with no problems. We have two kiddie pools for the ducks and the dogs, which sometimes the chickens take a drink from, but they usuall avoid the pools.

Swedish ducks do not fly far. They are too large. They love to forage though.

My birds do not roam to the neighbor's. The only issue was when the neighbors dumped an old bag of feed on the driveway, which enticed the birds to roam, to my frustration (I didn't know they had done this). I put up a temporary fence, and they cleaned up the feed, and now my birds stay home.

My ducks and chickens share coops.

 

[18stellas1bella]

Thanks for your help guys Besides Pekin ducks what are good breeds to go with chickens? I heard Caller ducks are also good.