Is it too late in the year to get ducklings for the first time

[ScoobyRoo]

faykoko, since you are getting hammered from both sides of the fence I would do more research on the duckies and have everything ready to make your final decision. I got my duckies at a feed store and got so lucky with 4 different kinds (cayuga, Khaki Campbell, pekin, and swedish) and they are all hens!! I adopted a black runner that is a drake so I hope to have ducklings next spring. Have you had chickens before? When we bought the 4 ducklings we also got one EE chick. They were all brooded together. To this day the EE hangs with the ducks (not the 40+ chickens) MY Mom calls her Tod, (The Other Duck)

Take the plunge!! Just make sure everything has been thought out and if not, come on here to BYC, and ask the question in need.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I agree with Henry'schickens. I also think it depends on how much room you have and whether your chickens are in a run or if they free range. IMO I would not brood chicks and ducklings together because ducks ARE alot messier, but I have both chickens and ducks roaming my yard during the day and they get along fine. My younger ducks even sleep in the coop with the chickens at night (the bigger ducks are in their own pen). If you are only thinking of getting three ducklings, go for it. They are definitely hardier than chickens and don't need the brooder nearly as long. They should be fine by winter. They don't need to swim but they make a royal mess out of the chicken waterer so I use the big plastic tubs from TSC. They are easy to dump because they are sturdy so I change the water once a day (sometimes twice if it's really hot out.)

Go for it - you won't be disappointed!!! Good luck!

 

[BigPeep]

I just got five just grown Cayugas and have put them in a pen with one goose that came with them and one I already had. I have a group of two month old chicks in an adjoining pen which is getting too small and wanted to move them. I can build an additional divider to separate the ducks from the chickens if needed. Is it necessary to do this? The previous chickens got along fine with the one Toulouse goose in the same pen.

The ducks are also not eating well. They were totally free ranging before and now they are a bit confined. They don't seem to understand feeders so I have tried throwing the food on the litter.

On another point, will the ducks automatically go into a shelter at night? If I put them in with the chickens, will they all use the same shelter and is that a problem? The pen is entirely enclosed on all sides and top so predators have not been a problem over the past year I have been using it.

 

[Duck Keeper]

Just a side note, but you really should keep them separate for a quarantine time. To prevent any hidden diseases.

 

[Cottage Rose]

I had some Muscovy ducklings hatch out early Sept. last year and they had no problems with the winter weather..but they had adequate shelter and plenty of food and water.

 

[taras.farm]

I think you should wait til spring too to make sure you have the time for any surprises that might arise....I personally keep em seperate....ducks are water fanatics and heavy lovers!......its' best to keep them apart...but i suppose small numbers of any birds would learn to get along....but there are always curves thrown..
Ducks are great too but much more needy when it comes to cleanliness. And this is important with every bird...but ducks really are like 2 year old toddlers everyday!

 

[Duck Keeper]

So, when my 'scovies hatch out around the 13th, they should be fine, eh?

Hey, the eggs were given to me from a friend, I couldn't let them go to waste...
Plus I was already 'batoring' Appleyard eggs.



A stupid time of year to do this, but I've done winter before, and I figure I can grow them slowly over the cold months and have them begin laying right off.

PLUS!! I have a {mini 10'x14'}barn now! AHHH. Awesome.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Quote:
Mine don't go into the pen or into the coop on their own. It's not difficult though - I shoosh the younger ones into the coop and the older ones into the pen. They definitely aren't as smart as chickens though who go into the coop before it gets dark. They are perfectly happy to sleep in the grass all night.

 

[rainplace]

Mine put themselves to bed. All I need to do is close the door when it gets dark. My husband and I get such a kick out of it. I've read others say the same thing, and others that say the opposite.

 

[taras.farm]

Mine go in on their own too! They do like to stay out longer then the chickens....wait til the very last moment...but always are snuggly in by the time I get all the kids to bed and then I run out and count and lockup.
I actually think they are pretty quick learners....
If they aren't going in there's some other issue....too cramped...too smelly...rodents....or a bully making them nervous...