I have a few questions about caring for ducks.

[nuts4hotwheels]

I have 4 chicken hens and I am considering getting ducks if I can adequately care for them.

Will they get along with my chickens?
Can they share the coop and run with my girls?
Do they need a pond for swimming?
Can they eat the same food (Purina Layena)?
Is there anything special that ducks need?
Will they stay inside my fenced in yard like the chickens or will they try to fly out?

I know that it is alot of questions, but I appreciate the advice of BYC members.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Komaki]

Hi, I have raised chickens all my life! Yet I've never owned a Duck. We went and got three, two blue sweeds and a rouen. I absoluty love them. I even take them to ponds and creeks on the wk ends.
I do know this, DUCK HATE CHICKENS!

 

[ZoeS95423]

My ducks and chickens get along great together, But I also raised them together. Many people here I have heard keep them together, and others dont. I think it all depends on your birds. They CAN be housed together, but ducks are very very messy, and the chickens (or you) may not appreciate it. But ducks are veryyy lovable and addictingging So watch out. They dont need a pond, but if you give them a kiddie pool or something just to wash off in they will be happy. And they should stay in your pen, if you get a duck that cant fly. Which is most of them. But they will make it a very muddy mess. My ducks stay in their pen, but they also free range when I let them.

 

[MyMummble]

Im looking to get a duck too! I love my chickens so I hope they can live together! I actually heard that ducks can imprint on you. Does anyone know if this is true?

 

[Duckville denizen]

From what I have read, and also, from my own experience, ducks do imprint on you when they are little if they are not around other ducks. However, if they are free to be with other ducks, they will soon forget their human buddy. I raised two mallard mixes from the time they were just hatched. They would follow me all around the yard. In fact, I had to watch to keep from stepping on them. When they were grown, I let them out of the yard and they went to the creek right below the house where there were other ducks. For a few days, they would come to me to hand feed them, but it wasn't long before they had taken up with the rest of the ducks and wanted nothing more to do with me.

 

[MyMummble]

Quote:
Thanks!! If I do get a duck, it would only be one. We dont have any other guys in my area just geese lol

 

[Amiga]

MyMummble, may I suggest getting at least two or three ducks? They are SO flock oriented, a single duck is a lonely duck.