moving Chickens in with the ducks safe?

[kada6305]

So I have 5 10 week old Ducks who are outside now. They have a house a little fenced in area. Once they are trained to go in at night then fence is coming down and they will be full free ranged. I have 8 Chickens in the house right now, they are 7 weeks, we have 1 rooster...my question is....would it be okay to house the chickens with the ducks for now until we get their house buolt so they can enjoy the outside too? we also have 1 male duck too.

 

[DeannaMari]

As long as its short term, it should be alright. Just keep an eye on them and everyday look at their feathers and stuff to make sure nobody is getting picked on. We have some younger ducks (about 6 weeks) that we moved out with our chickens, since there are 6 of them, the chickens never really messed with them, but it also depends on the personality of your ducks and chickens. We have a few mean hens, but our ducks also aren't willing to take much from them, and the six little ducklings will run after a hen that is trying to bully it, even if the hen is twice the size! All in all, our ducks and chickens have enough space, and they each claimed their own space, the ducks got the pond and surrounding areas, where the chickens free range in the pasture.

 

[kada6305]

As long as its short term, it should be alright. Just keep an eye on them and everyday look at their feathers and stuff to make sure nobody is getting picked on. We have some younger ducks (about 6 weeks) that we moved out with our chickens, since there are 6 of them, the chickens never really messed with them, but it also depends on the personality of your ducks and chickens. We have a few mean hens, but our ducks also aren't willing to take much from them, and the six little ducklings will run after a hen that is trying to bully it, even if the hen is twice the size! All in all, our ducks and chickens have enough space, and they each claimed their own space, the ducks got the pond and surrounding areas, where the chickens free range in the pasture.

okay thank you ! it will only be for a few weeks while their house is built. I'm not so much worries about the day beecaue they will just do their own little thing but at night in the house is when I'm worried..I'll have to add some perches for the chickens.

 

[DeannaMari]

Oh yeah, our coop basically has a tree in it and all the chickens perch, then we made a few boxes on the ground for the ducks so they don't get pooped on. We put ours in at night, like around 8 or 9 when our starts getting dark. Most of the chickens put themselves in, and the ducks sometimes will, then we just have to turn off the lights and everybody goebs ed

 

[kada6305]

so maybe they will be fine to be in there together forever then? If we make boxes for the Ducks lol.

 

[kada6305]

Okay so...the ducks will only let chickens in a little corner in fenced in area and one duck keep charging them...maybe this wasn't such a good idea?

 

[kada6305]

Well one of the khakis keeps charging the chickens and they have the chickns blocked off to one corner...maybe this wasn't such a wonderful idea..

 

[DeannaMari]

It all depends on the personality of your ducks and chickens as well keep in mind. For us, it works, (granted our ducks are far out-numbered) but for some other people it hasn't worked. Also, even between ducks and chickens, they will want to establish some sort of pecking order. Sometimes a thing that works well is to put a fence between them for a few hours, so that they can see but not touch,then just put them together at night and hopefully everybody goes to bed.

 

[kada6305]

Weare doing it gradually. By end of day they all were mingling. But we brought chickens back inside. They will be outside with ducks during day for a few days before staying the night with them