Keeping ducks with chickens?

[OkieChickenGal]

Is it safe to keep a couple ducks with a flock of chickens? Would the ducks hurt or kill the chickens? Would drakes be worse than the female ducks?

 

[Folly's place]

It's generally a bad idea. Chickens need things dry, and ducks make a wet mess. The ducks need deeper water dishes, and drakes can kill hens.
Separation is best!
Mary

 

[OkieChickenGal]

It's generally a bad idea. Chickens need things dry, and ducks make a wet mess. The ducks need deeper water dishes, and drakes can kill hens.
Separation is best!
Mary

Thanks! Do you think it would be safe to free-range them together?

 

[Folly's place]

Many people have both, and it seems to work out. I don't have ducks; too many wild Canada geese here!
Mary

 

[Miss Lydia]

I free range my chickens, ducks and geese together on half acre. My drakes have their own female ducks and do not try and mate with chicken hens.

 

[alexa009]

Depends on the amount of space you have for them, 1/5 an acre would probably be recommended the least for them. Ducks are messy and the ducks are usually the dominant one when together in a flock.

 

[annaBsChick]

I keep my 2 ducks together with my 6 bantam chickens (includes 3 roosters) and they all get along great. My ducks are in charge. They don't hurt anybody. Management wise, it can be a little messy but I clean out their enclosure regularly anyways so it really isnt a problem. I would say your biggest risk is of your rooster pecking your ducks in the eyes. This has been known to happen to people on some occasions, however as long as to monitor how they are introduced and ongoing behavior between flock members, you can catch it before it happens.