Keeping Chicks and Ducklings together?

[WalkerH]

So I went to TSC today to get some Americanas they had. Took my sister, bad choice number one. She saw the ducklings and wanted one. They are so cute, I couldn't resist. So we ended up with six Americanas and two ducklings. My question is how long can they stay in the same brooder together, if at all? I have another light I can use if needed, but would much rather prefer if they could stay together that they could. I know some people keep them together, at what point should one separate them?

 

[Steergirl]

I keep them together until the ducks get absolutely too big to be with them (how big that is is absolutely up to you) (the ducklings get their feathers later but get higher in mass faster) or they start picking on the chicks.

 

[mommyofthree]

I raised chicks and ducklings together last Spring and have never separated them, they're still all together. I also got some day old chicks today at my local Farmer's co-op, they had a 3 week old pekin duckling that has been with some older chicks waiting for a home. I felt bad for her so I took her home too and put her in with my chicks.

Even though she is waaaay bigger than my day old chicks she is doing great with them. So you can keep them together as long as you want, but keep in mind that they grow really fast! The only problem is that ducks like to make a huge mess with the water.....

 

[WalkerH]

Yeah, so do my chicks. I have been cleaning their brooder out about three times a day. Have about four bags of sand just for that reason. Just finally went and got a heavier waterer so no more tipping. And that is great to know. Depending on how they act I may just divide my big brooder, 5 weeks old currently occupy it, when they go in there. But I'm glad to know they can stay in there, mess is not really an issue.

 

[GoodKids]

Last year I had 4 chicks and 2 ducklings. I separated them almost immediately because of the mess the ducks enjoyed making, but I left the brooders next to each other. They get along fine and usually hang out pretty close to each other when they are out in the yard. I did the same thing this year with my 6 new duckies and 8 chicks (I notice the numbers are steadily increasing

).