I really want a duck!

[twendt]

I have 6 backyard chickens in my suburban yard. I have no pond or water on my property. Can I keep a duck with chickens? Would the duck be lonely if I only have One? Do I need a separate house or coop? I know nothing about ducks, but again, I knew nothing about chickens when I brought home "3" day-old chicks. Sorry about all the questions.

 

[chickens really]

Do you know if Ducks are allowed where you live?
One Duck is not good because Ducks are very social and need other Ducks..

 

[twendt]

Chicken aren't allowed either. Thanks, that's what I thought. I'll get the silly idea out of my head!!

 

[hayley3]

I have one goose with my chickens. I provide her with a sandbox turtle for taking a bath in. She had a 1/3 acre pond and wouldn't go near it even when I pushed her in the pond.
Anyway, my goose hangs with my chickens and protects them because she is more alert for things that fly in the sky.

Oh I forgot to add.. you need a way to keep their water separate is the only thing because waterfowl get water so dirty.

 

[Dougdilman]

I have 6 backyard chickens in my suburban yard. I have no pond or water on my property. Can I keep a duck with chickens? Would the duck be lonely if I only have One? Do I need a separate house or coop? I know nothing about ducks, but again, I knew nothing about chickens when I brought home "3" day-old chicks. Sorry about all the questions.

i have a mix on and off myself

two female ducks everything will go well!
An 8$ kiddie pool and your all set. Ducks do make a mess of water but keep it in the furthest lowest point of the run and youll have some happy duckys

Alot of hatcheries will sell sexed ducklings

 

[jstiffey]

I have 6 backyard chickens in my suburban yard. I have no pond or water on my property. Can I keep a duck with chickens? Would the duck be lonely if I only have One? Do I need a separate house or coop? I know nothing about ducks, but again, I knew nothing about chickens when I brought home "3" day-old chicks. Sorry about all the questions.

we have three ducks a turkey and three peacock with our chickens they sometime have issues with each other but no real problems we have had as many as five duck and 7 turkeys We recently lost our female turkey and female Muscovy duck now the Tom turkey and the Muscovy drake are both acting lost As far as a pond ours used kiddie swimming pool No need for a separate coop though the ducks seem to want to stay out andd the peacocks and turrkey prefer the rafters of coop at night

 

[DuckyDonna]

You really need to have 2 ducks at least if you're going to get any. Ducks are very social creatures and need the company of another duck. If it were me, I'd get 3 ducks as an insurance policy in case something happens to one the 2 left would still have each other.

You've got to keep them safe from predators which means you much have a locked secure pen for them to go into at night where nothing can get them. During the day they must have a run where they are safe from foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and flying predators like hawks. It's a pretty big responsibility for sure!

You could keep the ducks with the chickens as long as the ducks were all girls. Drakes will try to mate with your chickens and that can kill the chickens because they are not made to mate so we don't even want to go there right!

They don't roost, except for muscovy, and they mostly make their nests on the ground inside the pen in the hay to lay their eggs. At least mine do.

LIke @Dougdilman man said all you need is a kiddie pool. We've got 11 runners and we have no pond. Just kiddie pools.

 

[DiYMama540]

@DuckyDonna nailed it! Females would definitely be the way to go if you're hoping to house everyone together. You don't have to keep their water separate, my chickens have acquired a taste for muddy waterfowl water
You will find with ducks, it's much easier to just use buckets instead of any of the fancy watering systems. Dump the bucket, spray it out, refill, done.

 

[DuckyDonna]

@DuckyDonna nailed it! Females would definitely be the way to go if you're hoping to house everyone together. You don't have to keep their water separate, my chickens have acquired a taste for muddy waterfowl water
You will find with ducks, it's much easier to just use buckets instead of any of the fancy watering systems. Dump the bucket, spray it out, refill, done.

Absolutely and the waterers can be free. I didn't buy anything. Made all the feeders and waterers myself. When they get big they get laundry soap buckets for water.

 

[DiYMama540]

And if you're a gardener, dump them out in your flower beds!