Keeping Ducks with Chickens

[11mini]

I have been keeping backyard chickens for 6 or so years now and currently have 3 very spoiled 1 year old hens in an enclosed run big enough for 10 (7'x15'). Wanting a new challenge I'm thinking instead of more chicks why not a few ducklings instead? Are there breeds better suited to chicken coop life? They would be in the run all day with supervised "free range" time in the fenced back yard. I would certainly build or make any changes to the coop like adding a pool and whatever else is needed. I would want two ducks both females as spoiled as the chickens are I do eat the eggs and do not plan on doing any breeding. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Dave

 

[LRH97]

I currently have two Crested ducks and one black call duck in with my chickens. I've always kept a few ducks in with them over the years and they've always done fine together. The only problem I ever had was with a Pekin drake that like to chase some of the hens (chicken hens). However, he had three duck girlfriends to keep him occupied, so nothing really came of it. You won't have to deal with that since you only want females anyway. Biggest difference: ducks are about 500 times messier than chickens. I would recommend brooding ducklings and chicks separately for that reason. They get water everywhere, which could potentially chill newer chicks. Adult ducks are usually very hardy and easy to care for. They do love to swim, though it's not a necessity. I just use a kiddy pool and their little hearts are content. The biggest thing is to keep their drinkers clean. Ducks love to dig and dabble around in the dirt (especially after you get a good rain) and then they go and play in the drinking water. Not much else to it than that!

Side note: I personally feed an all-flock type feed since I have ducks and guinea fowl with the chickens, but I know people who still feed layer crumbles or pellets to both and they have had no problems.

 

[Mykidsloveducks]

I am also interested in keeping ducks and chickens together. This year we hatched out both ducks and chickens. They have been together since birth. We have four ducks and a dozen chickens. They get along great. We have a kiddie pool in the ground for the ducks. One of the chickens fell in the other day. Luckily I was there to get it out. I am worried this will happen again and the chickens will drown. Has anyone had experience with this? Any advice?

 

[LRH97]

Are your chickens younger? I know a couple of mine like to stand in the kiddie pool sometimes and drink out of it (No clue why. They have perfectly clean water available 24/7). As long as the water isn't too deep, they should be able to get out fine on their own, assuming it is a normal sized kiddie pool.

 

[Mykidsloveducks]

Are your chickens younger? I know a couple of mine like to stand in the kiddie pool sometimes and drink out of it (No clue why. They have perfectly clean water available 24/7). As long as the water isn't too deep, they should be able to get out fine on their own, assuming it is a normal sized kiddie pool.

The chickens are about 2 months old. The kiddie pool is actually a deep one where they can't touch the bottom. (The blue plastic type with the slide build in.) Sometimes the ducks struggle a bit getting out too. We are trying to build some kind of ramp for them.

 

[11mini]

This is the coop and where I will be adding a pool to the right side.

 

[AnimalCrazed]

I need advice! I have a dozen chickens with a roo, and two ducks one male one female. They were all raised together. They are all around 12 weeks. I'm just worried about the ducks; 1) that the female mallard is getting too much attention from the rooster. 2) if the blue Swedish drake will try to mate with the chickens (and "hurt" them)... So far I haven't seen him doing anything. So my question is: is it best to rehome the drake, or both, or just keep them all?

 

[11mini]

Going to add more cinder blocks under the tub to support the weight of the water. Then extend the coop wall over the pool and fill the area with gravel.

 

[11mini]

Question- Do the ducks sleep on the perches with the chickens or do they need something else?

 

[11mini]

Took the plunge (pun intended)