Looking at getting ducks!

[Canadian Wind]

I would go for a Welsh Harlequin for a few reasons: lots of eggs, friendlier than the Khaki Campbell, and a well-established heritage breed in need of some TLC. The females are absolutely gorgeous, too!

My ducks free-range with my chickens, and I have not had any issues with the kiddy pools. My Muscovy will lay in nesting boxes, and I did have a Magpie who nested in one and hatched out a few eggs.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I believe a good egg laying duck would be a Golden 300 Hybrid Layer. Just search up best duck laying breeds and read some articles.
For two ducks you need at least 8sq ft of coop space and a minimum of about 12sq ft of run space for each duck. Nesting boxes are not required.
A kiddie pool would be perfect for two ducks. If you do use a kiddie pool the chickens should be fine, I don't think they'll go in it, just drink water from it. I doubt they'd drown in it. One kiddie pool should be enough.

Ok thank you!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I would go for a Welsh Harlequin for a few reasons: lots of eggs, friendlier than the Khaki Campbell, and a well-established heritage breed in need of some TLC. The females are absolutely gorgeous, too!

My ducks free-range with my chickens, and I have not had any issues with the kiddy pools. My Muscovy will lay in nesting boxes, and I did have a Magpie who nested in one and hatched out a few eggs.

Thank you!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

So i have narrowed down the breeds i like to
Khaki Campbell
Welsh Harlequin
Silver Appleyard
Buff orpington
Swedish .
Are there any pros/cons of theses breeds? Do any have health issues? And would i have to get 2 of the same breed or can i get 2 different breeds? Local stores/hatcheries around us sell these breeds specifically.

Also just to make sure im understanding everything, i can have the chickens and ducks in the same run but different coops. I will only need one kiddie pool. I can feed regular chicken feed with niacin added in. And what feeders do you all use? Thanks in advance again!

 

[bhaugh]

If you want eggs, then runners are a good choice and they can't fly off. I hate noise so I had muscovy best duck breed imo but only seasonal layers. I've also had runners but they are seriously noisy birds. Muscovy are very personable but you can't be meek if you keep drake's. They are big and will challenge you at some point. I don't remember anyone mentioning that ducks are super messy and you got to stay up on their pen to keep it clean. My ducks swim pool was kept outside the pen.

I feed All Flock. But I will feed game feed when ducklings are little. I do not supplement with niacin more than 3 weeks from hatch.
As far as putting chickens in the same pan as ducks some do and some don't you will find them it is pretty much a split decision in that area. If you end up with Drake's and not enough females for them you could end up with dead chickens as the drakes may try to breed them and it will kill him

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

If you want eggs, then runners are a good choice and they can't fly off. I hate noise so I had muscovy best duck breed imo but only seasonal layers. I've also had runners but they are seriously noisy birds. Muscovy are very personable but you can't be meek if you keep drake's. They are big and will challenge you at some point. I don't remember anyone mentioning that ducks are super messy and you got to stay up on their pen to keep it clean. My ducks swim pool was kept outside the pen.

I feed All Flock. But I will feed game feed when ducklings are little. I do not supplement with niacin more than 3 weeks from hatch.
As far as putting chickens in the same pan as ducks some do and some don't you will find them it is pretty much a split decision in that area. If you end up with Drake's and not enough females for them you could end up with dead chickens as the drakes may try to breed them and it will kill him

Thank you for the info, i plan on keeping the pool outside the pen in another gate, maybe putting the coop in there to. I could seperate the ducks and chickens until i know if they are female or male. What age can you tell?

 

[bhaugh]

I am not as good at sexing ducks that are not Muscovy but usually the Drake's will have a curl on the end of their tail and the girls will not. It just depends on the growth of the ducks. Just like with chicken some mature quicker than the others and are happy to share with the world what sex they are. It's been a long time since I had the runners but I would guess to say they were about 5 months old before I knew what sex they were.

 

[bhaugh]

I am not as good at sexing ducks that are not Muscovy but usually the Drake's will have a curl on the end of their tail and the girls will not. It just depends on the growth of the ducks. Just like with chicken some mature quicker than the others and are happy to share with the world what sex they are. It's been a long time since I had the runners but I would guess to say they were about 5 months old before I knew what sex they were.

If you order your ducks from a hatchery you should be able to buy ducklings that are already sexed for you.. I recommend metzer as their ducks are healthy. They certainly are not true to the breed as the ones I got were runners and at the same time I hatched out runners from a breeder and they were completely different looking. But if it does not matter to you they are a good reputable company located on the west coast however.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

If you order your ducks from a hatchery you should be able to buy ducklings that are already sexed for you.. I recommend metzer as their ducks are healthy. They certainly are not true to the breed as the ones I got were runners and at the same time I hatched out runners from a breeder and they were completely different looking. But if it does not matter to you they are a good reputable company located on the west coast however.

I dont really care where i get them from as long as they are healthy, friendly, and lay atleast 150- 200 eggs a year. Thanks again!

 

[Canadian Wind]

Thank you for the info, i plan on keeping the pool outside the pen in another gate, maybe putting the coop in there to. I could seperate the ducks and chickens until i know if they are female or male. What age can you tell?

I was raising ducklings inside just recently, and I could tell by their voices at around five-six weeks old. Females will get the clear, distinct, LOUD quack and males will have the softer raspy voice.