Ducks & Dirty Chicken Eggs

[Aunt Angus]

Hi! I have 11 hens and 5 ducks who all lay eggs. I have 5 nesting boxes. In theory, it's 4 for the chickens and 1 for the ducks, plus the ducks also use the coop corner to lay.

Well, I think my ducks think they are chickens. Not only do they shun their fancy duckie house and opt to sleep in the coop, but they also ignore their larger, easier to access nest box for the chickens smaller nest boxes.

What results are dirty eggs. Not only do the ducks drag their muddy selves in, they also poop in the nest boxes sometimes. My chicken eggs were pristine... then I got ducks.

My chickens' nests are very low - almost on the coop floor. I did this for my larger breeds and for my Silkies. I tried raising them a few inches to keep the duckies out, and I had chickens laying in the middle of the coop floor.

I also collect eggs 2x a day. I usually get duckie eggs in the mornings and chicken eggs in the evening. Frequent collecting helps, but it's still a problem. Any ideas? I used to sell my chicken eggs, but I'm kind of embarrassed by them now.

I use plastic nest boxes with reusable artificial grass mats and straw bedding.

The coop has pine shavings that I clean as needed and changed weekly.

Ideas? I'm open to anything.

 

[citymeetscountry]

I keep my chickens and ducks in separate enclosures, so I’m no help there. I will say sometimes my chickens get their eggs fairly kicked up (mud/poop) by themselves though and other times they’re like you said pristine. I hope you find something that works for you.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Is there any way you could put a lip in front of the nesting box so the ducks would have a more difficult time with having to jump up into the nest box? Maybe you could also raise the nesting box a little bit at a time so the chickens don't even realize it?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Is there any way you could put a lip in front of the nesting box so the ducks would have a more difficult time with having to jump up into the nest box? Maybe you could also raise it a little bit at a time?

Holy cats! I could easily put a little barrier in front of the chickens' boxes! That would be so easy with my set up. I will try that this weekend! Even my big chicken girls can hop up and over a barrier of some sort. I'll try that!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I keep my chickens and ducks in separate enclosures, so I’m no help there. I will say sometimes my chickens get their eggs fairly kicked up (mud/poop) by themselves though and other times they’re like you said pristine. I hope you find something that works for you.

I may end up separating them. I really, really hate the poop in the nest boxes!

 

[citymeetscountry]

I may end up separating them. I really, really hate the poop in the nest boxes!

I should say I may actually be combining our girls this year if the boys (ducks) are too rough, so I may be in the same boat as you we have a horrible male/female ratio for our ducks…and we have no male chickens. I’m trying to figure out how to reimagine our duck house to also have roost bars/nesting box and utilize the bottom of the chicken tractor and turn it into a bachelor pad for the boys (with access to a run instead).

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I may end up separating them. I really, really hate the poop in the nest boxes!

I don't have my ducks and chickens together. I had a bantam rooster in with my big ducks but that didn't end well, sadly. Please let us know if the changes work I'd love to know what the ducks think about their new hurdle to the community nest boxes. If only we could speak duck and chicken Wouldn't that be so fun?!?!?!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

My runner duck eggs are almost always "dirty", but they lay their eggs in the duck house. My muscovy aren't as dirty when it comes to egg laying. However, they have climbed up into the chicken coop - up the ramp - to use the nest boxes. My issue then becomes breaking a broody muscovy and dealing with some broken chicken eggs. Barriers don't even work for muscovy to keep them out of the chicken nest boxes.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I will make the changes this weekend and let you know. This morning, 2 of the ducks laid in the run, which is FINE BY ME! But the eggs I collected last night were gross because of the duck poop. Like, really gross. I just don't want them pooping in the chickens' boxes. The mud I can deal with. The poop, not so much.

I think it might be my newest duck - a Pekin named Julep. I didn't have this problem nearly as much as I do now. And ain't no way that big girl can climb a barrier. I will probably start with a barrier and raise the boxes little by little every week.

I need to get them used to higher boxes, anyway. I will be building them a new coop in March or April, and I was planning on having the boxes higher to preserve floor space.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I should say I may actually be combining our girls this year if the boys (ducks) are too rough, so I may be in the same boat as you we have a horrible male/female ratio for our ducks…and we have no male chickens. I’m trying to figure out how to reimagine our duck house to also have roost bars/nesting box and utilize the bottom of the chicken tractor and turn it into a bachelor pad for the boys (with access to a run instead).

The ducks slept 1 night in their house before deciding the coop was home. On the plus side, they follow the chickens in every night, so locking them up is a cinch.

I want a bachelor pad! I love drakes. And roosters. You'll have to let us know how it goes.