Need Duck Help!

[MyChickenShack]

My husband and I have had our flock of chickens for right at a year, but a couple days ago, he went to Rural King and came home with 7 ducklings! He has always wanted ducks to manage bugs on our property. I believe he told me they weill help keep our creek cleaned out. Cute...but I need help...they are nothing like chickens. Please give me any advice from the brooding box type, do they get bored and should I put something in the box to entertain them, how long do they need to be in brooding box...plus, we free range chickens, how will they all get along? and housing....Do they need a structure low to ground that they can just walk into? Currently they are in a box in my house with a lamp. I have their waterer sitting on a large baking sheet to try to keep box dry...I didn't know these cute things were going to be this messy...using pine shavings in the box. Now, this may seem like a dumb question, but I don't know the answer...how do you manage the drakes...I mean I have 2 roosters for my 28 hens...can you have too many male ducks? Don't assume I know anything... Just start giving me tips and advice...Thanks!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hi!
So, I used a kiddie pool for my brooder box. I put up welded wire around it and then cardboard so they couldn't jump out. Probably could just go with cardboard.
You can probably take them out daily to get them fresh air and used to the outdoors. They grow fast and don't need as much heat as chickens. They would need to be integrated with your chickens once they are old enough (at least 8 weeks I would say). But, can be in a look no touch set up to get used to one another.
I used pine shavings and put my water containers on top of a baking sheet. There are many ways to keep it drier. But, one thing you can use is a container with a lid and a hole cut out deep enough for them to dunk their heads in.
Their housing should be lower to the ground than a coop - simple 4 walls for predator protection. Might want to get started on that as they will grow fast and the sooner you get them out, the easier it is.
You would want to keep a good ratio of 1 drake to at least 3-4 duck hens. You can have too many drakes which will result in over mating and poor health for your ducks. I would spend some time reading through the duck sticky.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Duck sticky: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

 

[harmonymw]

I’ve had a lot of luck integrating with the existing flock by using a guinea pig cage in the yard for the babies (ducks or chicks) with treats sprinkled around the area for the adult free-rangers. If it’s warm enough, I’ll give them 30 min or so out there at a time. Reactions have varied from curious clucking/quacking to indifference. My chickens don’t seem to care much about ducks I’ve added to our little farm, but I don’t have roosters, so I’m not sure how that would change the dynamic.

When they outgrow the guinea pig cage, I give them time in the outdoor brooder/small pen.

The other thing that works well when you are introducing ducklings to chickens is to do it while they’re in the kiddie pool. Once they’re swimming in there in the yard, the free-rangers can see and hear them, but they can’t really get close because they’re chickens. The most they can do it perch on the edge and watch.

Congratulations on your babies. My spouse also likes to bring home things I have to care for lol