Multiple Coops for different poultry...one run

[mefawcus]

I have reviewed some previous threads about housing ducks and chickens in the same coop, but was wondering if anyone has had any success housing chickens in one coop; ducks in a separate duck house when both are connected to the same run?
We currently have approximately 1/2 an acre of fenced property in which our goats live; we are in the process of building a coop and run within the fenced area; and would like to have both chickens and ducks. All poultry will "free range" within the fenced area during the day with the goats, but will be confined to the run/coop at night - is it possible to teach each bird which is their own coop?

 

[MorganC]

I have been raising 6 different species of poultry in the same run for over a decade and only had a few issues.
Yes, it's totally possible to teach different types of birds which areas are their and which are not.....you just need A LOT of patience. If the chickens help, it will make your job easier.
The problems I have found while housing, in your case ducks and chickens, is that ducks are messy and sometimes the chickens don't like it, so cleanliness is an issue. Another is that ducks tend to scarf food and then run to make soup out of it, this is not always admired by the chickens so you could develop eating issues.
To start training, start doing it at night right before it gets hard for them to see, and run each species into their separate housing quarters. You can do it with feed too just make sure to do it long before it gets dark so they can see where they are going.
I know a lot of people don't like mixing the species because of disease control....when they simply see ducks as nasty disease carriers (when they are far from it), but to each his own I guess.


Hope this helps!!!