I'm acquiring ducks

[JewelBirds]

My brother is giving me his Muscovy ducks next month. There's nine or ten of them I believe. Not sure on how many males/females. I've never owned ducks before, just chickens and turkeys. I'm not sure what things I need to know about them and want to do some research on them before they get here. So, experienced duck owners, what should I know about ducks? One questions I have, is if the chickens will get along with them. They'll have their own coop and run and everything, but they might have to share a free range area. Do ducks free range? Also I want to make a pond and waterfall with a filter eventually, but is there another temporary option that wouldn't be as time consuming and costly, for a few months? How big/deep would their pool need to be? And what material? He might already have a pool for them, but I would like to know just in case I need to get one. Thanks

 

[lomine]

Start here at the duck sticky. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

Yes they can free range. They may get along with the chicken or they may not. There's no way on knowing until you try. Mine get along fine but they were/are raised together.

You can use pretty much anything for a pool. I use a kiddie pool, stock tank, and concrete mixing tub.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy ducks sleep in the same coop with the chickens they have their own roost lol

Only problem and it's outside not inside is my drake right now being hormonal likes to grab hold of a chicken hen by the tail just because he can and usually ends up with a mouth full of feathers as she tries to get away. They have a large kiddy pool and love it.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

How old are the muscovies?
Kiddie pools and access to other water sources in lieu of a pond and waterfall. I would love to give my ducks all of that, but the kiddie pool keeps them happy!
Welcome to the duck side!

 

[JewelBirds]

Start here at the duck sticky. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

Yes they can free range. They may get along with the chicken or they may not. There's no way on knowing until you try. Mine get along fine but they were/are raised together.

You can use pretty much anything for a pool. I use a kiddie pool, stock tank, and concrete mixing tub.

Thank you. I've read a few of them already.

My Muscovy ducks sleep in the same coop with the chickens they have their own roost lol

Only problem and it's outside not inside is my drake right now being hormonal likes to grab hold of a chicken hen by the tail just because he can and usually ends up with a mouth full of feathers as she tries to get away. They have a large kiddy pool and love it.

All right, good to know.

How old are the muscovies?
Kiddie pools and access to other water sources in lieu of a pond and waterfall. I would love to give my ducks all of that, but the kiddie pool keeps them happy!
Welcome to the duck side!

They'll be 11 months/ pretty much a year old when they get here. Lol thanks.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Can't wait to see pics!

 

[JewelBirds]

The ducks (and my brother) arrived this morning. The goats were a little shocked when they saw them lol. And the chickens were surprised too at first but they are basically ignoring each other now. There are five of them, 2 females and 3 males. They had 13 eggs they were laying on but I guess during the drive they smushed all of them but three. So I put those three in the incubator. They were cold for a little bit, so I guess we'll see if they make it. Here are the pictures of them:

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Very nice birds!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are beautiful !!

 

[JewelBirds]

Now I just have to figure out what to name them. I'm usually not very creative with names.. I call my Buff Oprington pullet Buffy lol I am thinking a LotR theme. Maybe Arwen and Galadriel for the females. Knowing me I'll diverge from the theme and name one of them completely different like Oreo lol.