is it okay to mix standard size ducks with bantam ducks?

[jujubean99]

I am a newbie to the world of raising ducks, and I am thinking about getting some full size cayuga ducks in a few days and then the next month mail-ordering some bantam ducks (this is the earliest I can get them, otherwise I would get only the bantams, but I want ducklings soon!!! I can't help myself). Is this a good idea or will it end with me having to get rid of some of them? I get too attached and I don't want to have to do this. Also I own some bantam chickens, and I'm wondering how they will get along with my ducks?
Thanks!!!

 

[bock]

Bantams and standard ducks are ok, but NEVER mix ducks and chickens.

I edited to say I mixed my 2 adult chickens with my 15 adult ducks and it was a disaster. The ducks attacked the chickens and the ducks made the chicken water filthy. In the end both of the chickens died 2 months later.

 

[Teach97]

I have full sized ducks and call ducks inthe same pen.

I also have chickens in there..I know shockers...they do great...just don't tell the gunieas or the pigeons...they might freak....the rabbits probably shouldn't be told either but they don't know they shouldn't be together so it all works out

 

[Jeeper1540]

why not mix ducks and chickens? my ducks and chickens are fine together

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[CityChicker]

If you mean can you mix them as ducklings, no- I definitely would not do that. Once they are adults, yes- they are normally fine. Mixing full sized ducklings though (especially older than the bantams) with the little guys is recipe for the bantams being trampled to death.

 

[jujubean99]

thanks a heap for the input! I have decided to wait a month or so for the bantams and not get the cayugas. I will try to exercise willpower and not run down to the feed store and buy baby cayugas! It's so hard not to cave!

 

[Jeeper1540]

Ok. good. my plan was to keep these guys together until they are bigger. the ducks should get bigger sooner so i would put them in the main coop first right? and when the chicks get bigger put them in too?
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[Bleenie]

I believe, as long as theyre raised together or were raised with chickens/ducks they should do fine. I keep my bantam cochins with my Muscovies to help brood eggs. they are all perfectly happy together.

 

[arabianequine]

I tried putting the 3 week old duck I just got yesterday in with a chick that just hatched this last friday and the duck snapped at the chick 2 times so we moved the duck asap and now in its own cage.

 

[CityChicker]

My opinion is that ducks and chickens can be housed together (although I don't do it and it certainly is not optimal). When I was younger, we did that and it was just fine. Just make sure you have separate waterers for the chickens.

When I said bantams, I was referring to the bantam ducks. I no longer mix my large and bantam ducks while they are ducklings. It is not safe. Especially if the large breed ducks are older than the bantams, you are practically guaranteeing yourself dead ducklings. Ducklings, in a group, do not behave the same way chicks do (and chicks in my experience, usually stay out of the way of the ducklings). With ducklings, there is a "mob" mentality. LOL. They tend to move in a group, feed in a group, run away from you in a group, etc... Having little bantam ducks in the mix can result in trampled ducklings. It doesn't mean that it necessarily will happen, but it very well might. I have certainly seen it happen.