Intermixing ducks and chickens?

[Miss Cheep]

Hello! We have 18 ducks, and some chickens. We have 6 male muscovies (as well as females), and a couple of full grown roosters. We are going to mix them soon, they will all live in the same pasture. Will the roosters and muscovy drakes fight? Will I have any problems with them chasing each other out of the flock? Thanks!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Miss Lydia
@Isaac 0

 

[raingarden]

Drakes and roosters don't fight with each over harems. That doesn't mean males and females of both species will not squabble over food. In my limited experience, chickens win out.

 

[WonkierZulu]

The male drakes will mount the hens. Mom had this happen and one of the chickens cloaca got raw. Had to separate them. It might be a rare occurrence idk

 

[aart]

The male drakes will mount the hens.

This is definitely a risk....male ducks have penises, female chickens are not built for that.

Another thing about mixing waterfowl with chickens is the water mess could be a problem for the chickens.

 

[Isadora]

I would be less worried about the drakes and rosters fighting then I would be about the drakes attempting to mate with the chickens.

 

[BigAspirations]

Maybe it’s different for different flocks but I have one Muscovy drake and two roosters (with 4 ducks and 10 pullets) who share free range space and they are disinterested in eachother. I wouldn’t coop them together - just as there is no escape should this change. Don’t know how you manage with 6 drakes!! One is plenty enough of a handful for us.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We have 18 ducks, and some chickens. We have 6 male muscovies (as well as females), and a couple of full grown roosters. We are going to mix them soon, they will all live in the same pasture.

We had a few ducks (male and female) and a flock of chickens with a rooster when I grew up on the farm. These free ranged, no fences at all. They ignored each other, no problems at all. I don't know how big that pasture is or how you will house them at night. My experience with animals in general is that the tighter you pack them the more likely you are to have behavior problems and the more severe those problems are likely to be.

Will the roosters and muscovy drakes fight? Will I have any problems with them chasing each other out of the flock?

With living animals you never know what they will do. It's not just how much room they have but each has its own personality. A lot of people keep chickens and ducks together without problems but occasionally some do, even if they have lots of room. This may be fights between the males, it could be fights over territory. Drakes mating chicken hens is not good, they are built differently. Will you have behavioral problems? I don't know and you won't either until you try it.

Ducks can make a mess with water. In an enclosed run that can be a real problem. In a decent sized pasture, especially with a pond, that should not be an issue.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

If free ranging and there are enough duck hens, most likely the drakes won't bother the chickens. But, if penned, you cannot be sure regardless when there is a drake is involved. My drakes will pick on the chickens (pull feathers) when penned so they are always separate.
Muscovy drakes can tear up a rooster because they are much stronger. And, there is a byc member who posted just that regarding their drake and rooster. At the moment, I have a cockerel who puffs up at my oldest drake and when the drake goes toward him he runs away as quickly as possible.
My drake is also a wimp, he just likes to think he is tougher than he is. However, he gets a good mouth full of feathers sometimes. So, they are never left alone. My cockerel hasn't had the chance to free range, but years ago I had a different rooster and the drake chased him around the yard. So, I always kept an eye on things.
Everyone's experience is different, but one thing I would never trust is a drake with a chicken hen.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have a mixed flock - Pekin Ducks and mutt chickens (see Signature, below). Plenty of males. Some squabbling for feed, yes. No issues with attempted matings. I'm not saying it never happens, I've seen a drake chase a chicken (hen), but I couldn't say it had mating in mind, and the other chickens chased it off anyways.

Keeping your waterers clean is the biggest concern. Ducks will spoil a waterer with dirt, mud, bits of food, whatever VERY quickly. I avoid that by having multiple waters, some of which (including a "battery box" with a float valve for controlling the water level) get dumped daily. As well as most of a dozen "chicken cups". and a kiddie pool filled by rainwater. The duck can't use the cups well, but they love the battery box for dipping their bills and cleaning their nostrils. Since all the "stuff" settles to the bottom pretty quick, the chickens continue to drink off the top.

and of course, there are a few diseases that can pass between the species, but good biosecurity - which you need regardless - helps minimize that risk.