In May I am getting some more chicks and I'm getting ducklings for the first time!

[azure_]

I've been raising chickens since I was three, but I've never really taken the time to memorize a list of stuff that they really shouldn't eat. Could you guys help me by just listing them below? And I'm getting ducklings for the first time and I'm SO EXCITED!! Any tips on how to take care of them? I'm getting 15, 2 drakes 13 hens/ducks/females.

 

[BrothersBirds]

when they are ducklings you do not want them to get in to their water so if you have a small bucket you can cut holes just high enough for their height and so they can just get their head in

 

[MissMonty]

How exciting! I love ducklings...hate the mess...but love the ducklings!

Make sure you keep the brooders separate for the chickens and ducklings. Your sanity will thank me later. The ducks are super messy, keep food and water on opposite sides of the brooder. Plan to at least clean out the side with the water every day or every other day. Did I mention they're messy? LOL! The big problem with ducklings is they smash down the poop rather than scratch around turning the bedding like chicks so it'll get caked down pretty quick.

As they get older the messy stage doesn't end so plan ahead for that. We have been tossing around the idea of ducks again but can't decide. They're really fun and my family likes the eggs. Make sure you house them separately from your chickens long term.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

How exciting! I love ducklings...hate the mess...but love the ducklings!

Make sure you keep the brooders separate for the chickens and ducklings. Your sanity will thank me later. The ducks are super messy, keep food and water on opposite sides of the brooder. Plan to at least clean out the side with the water every day or every other day. Did I mention they're messy? LOL! The big problem with ducklings is they smash down the poop rather than scratch around turning the bedding like chicks so it'll get caked down pretty quick.

As they get older the messy stage doesn't end so plan ahead for that. We have been tossing around the idea of ducks again but can't decide. They're really fun and my family likes the eggs. Make sure you house them separately from your chickens long term.

I wish I had known this before I got my ducklings! I clean them everyday, though. Little stinkers make lots of mess.

 

[Vickischics]

I've been raising chickens since I was three, but I've never really taken the time to memorize a list of stuff that they really shouldn't eat. Could you guys help me by just listing them below? And I'm getting ducklings for the first time and I'm SO EXCITED!! Any tips on how to take care of them? I'm getting 15, 2 drakes 13 hens/ducks/females.

You will need TWO separate living areas for your chickens to survive. DO NOT mix chickens with ducks in the same area. Your chickens will not survive.
Please research raising ducks and chickens BEFORE you get them.
Drakes can not be with the chickens.

 

[Vickischics]

I wish I had known this before I got my ducklings! I clean them everyday, though. Little stinkers make lots of mess.

Expect Your water bill to really increase! They are really cute but high maintenance with their poop.
I have a pond and was advised by my pond management company not to get ducks. Re: the poop will change the chemistry of my pond and kill my fish and turtles in it.
So, no ducks for me.

 

[Callender Girl]

Regarding your question about feeding chickens, I avoid giving mine potatoes, beans and citrus. On the other hand, I train my chicks with reward grapes as soon as they can eat them.

Are ducks messy? Absolutely! But are they worth it? Yes, yes, yes.

My ducks are all runners who free range during the day with my chickens, and I have never had an issue with drakes and chicken-hens. They do, however, breed the crap out of the runner girls, so it's good that you will have plenty of females for your boys.

When my ducklings are tiny, I use glass marbles -- which are too large for them to accidentally swallow -- in the bottom of short butter tubs to weight down the tubs. I leave the lids on the tubs and cut an opening just big enough for the ducklings to get their heads in.

And, remember, little ducks shouldn't be in the water until they can walk in and out of it, and until they get their more "grown up" feathers. Although they will likely swim in water that you believe is way too cold for them as grown ups, it is very easy for them to get overly chilled in the water when they are babies.

Prepare for plenty of poop -- and lots of enjoyment! Best wishes on your adventure.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

You will need TWO separate living areas for your chickens to survive. DO NOT mix chickens with ducks in the same area. Your chickens will not survive.
Please research raising ducks and chickens BEFORE you get them.
Drakes can not be with the chickens.

I raise chickens and ducks together (see sig below). There are currently two adult drakes in with my roughly 20 hens, have been for the last 7+ months.

Don't BROOD ducks and hens together - ducks are ungainly and fast growers, they can accidentally crush a hatchling chick while stumbling about.

Make sure your hens have space in the house up high. Ducks nest on the ground, they aren't going up into your house - your hens will.

I've found integration of new birds (chickens or ducks) with the existing mixed flock works best over a series of weeks when they can safely see and be seen. I favor integrating in the 8-12 week range, when your ducks have some size to them, and enough dexterity (hahahaha) to run from the lead drake as needed. Still, watch for injuries, it can be rough. If you keep a pond, water bath, whatever in your run, keep it well shallow during the first days of contact, or remove it entire - your lead drake may accidentally drown new additions while demonstrating dominance.

Finally, SPACE is a social lubricant. I have a large run (between 900 and 1,000 sq ft) for my flock, and just built a second, larger run, as I prepare to segregate yearlings from this year's crop. Though the birds free range all day. While I've had no issues with randy drakes chasing chickens, as some claim they do, the fact that my chickens can outrun - and have places to run from - my drakes might contribute to a lack of difficulty with that issue.

 

[azure_]

Thank you everyone for your responses, obviously as a good chicken and soon to be duck owner ( or at least I think I'm a good owner/mom) I have researched ducks, chicken and duck possible problems with being together and etc. I am personally going to house them together (once they're adults or ready to go outside) because I only have one coop (which we're expanding). I am getting 7 females for each drake so it should be fine, the drakes have plenty of girls and my poultry free range during the day (except in the winter because its prime predator season). I don't think the drakes will be interested in the chickens because they will be raised with fellow ducks and will most likely prefer them. As for the mess, I know a LOT to handle, but hey I got to learn how to take care of them some time. Thank You to the person who provided information about food . Of course our coop will/does have places for chickens to get away from ducks if a problem does arise.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Very best of luck to you on your chicken and duck journey!!! I hope you find it very satisfying, as I have.