New to ducks- need advice

[Quacklestheduck]

Hi,
Im considering getting 2 Muscovy ducks and 2 chickens and would really appreciate some advice before we commit to buy them.

We have approx 1000m2 garden but no permanent water source at this point. The birds would be locked away at night but we’d like to give them the freedom to roam during the day in approx 200-300m2 fenced off area when we were not home and the full garden when we are

Questions:
Do chickens and ducks live together ok?

Does this seem like enough room for the 4 of them?

Would a small kids paddling pool be enough water for the ducks? (Would obviously clean it regularly)

We have neighbours each side and wilderness on the back fence, the fence is approx 1.2M heigh, would this be high enough to stop them flying over? Assuming I’d have to cut the ducks wing feathers? What about the chickens?

We are going to make the night coop ourselves, do ducks and chickens want separate/different needs in the coop? If I cut the ducks feathers, would they be able to perch high? Can they still ‘jump’ a small amount to get on their nesting boxes?

Any recommendations for a suitable run design?

Anything else I should consider?
Do you think Muscovy ducks are suitable for a suburban garden?

Thanks in advance

 

[Blue is my chicken]

i dont have muscovys but @Miss Lydia does maybe she could help

if you have boy ducks (drakes) then they cant live with chickens as the boys can hurt chickens badly

i recomend call ducks i love them and they are small cute birds (also they can live with chickens no matter their gender, when they are in a pair they are very loyal to their ladys and because they are small they cant mate the chickens)

i would also recomend getting at least 3 ducks and 3 chickens incase one dies then they will still have a friend

as for the size i am not sure will have a think

 

[Blue is my chicken]

what breed of chicken are you getting??

 

[Papaye]

Hello!

Im considering getting 2 Muscovy ducks and 2 chickens and would really appreciate some advice before we commit to buy them.

Okay...
@Blue is my chicken is giving you good advice : you would do better by taking 6 girls - 3 chicken hens, and 3 duck hens.

We have approx 1000m2 garden but no permanent water source at this point. The birds would be locked away at night but we’d like to give them the freedom to roam during the day in approx 200-300m2 fenced off area when we were not home and the full garden when we are

They will have enough of space, so if you do let them freerange in your entire garden when you can, you can take even more birds if you want!

Do chickens and ducks live together ok?

Yes, they do.

Again : @Blue is my chicken is right by advising you to not take any drake.
(I have no personal experience with small ducks, so I can not advice you on them.)

Nevertheless : if you can adopt more girls than you are planning, you will be able to take a drake home IF you are able to separate him from your chicken hens - at least during mating season.

My drakes freerange all year round with my chickens, and apart from mating season (... and yet!), they don't try to mate with the chickens... even though I don't even have enough duck hens for my drakes!

You could be lucky, but plan accordinly with what you want.

And note : if you let your ducks freerange with your chickens, you probably will have/want to change the (drinking) water several times a day - it would depend on if your ducks do dirty the waterer(s) or not.

Would a small kids paddling pool be enough water for the ducks? (Would obviously clean it regularly)

Yes.
Your ducks will be fine with it.

We have neighbours each side and wilderness on the back fence, the fence is approx 1.2M heigh, would this be high enough to stop them flying over? Assuming I’d have to cut the ducks wing feathers? What about the chickens?

Do you have a lot of wind in your area?

Where I live, the wind is so strong my Indian Runners can easily be flown away above my 1,5 m fence...

Muscovies should be fine, but in your chickens' case... it would actually depend the breed you want : several of my chicken hens do jump on my (approximatively at least) 1,2 m runs... even though their feathers are cut on one wing!

What chicken breed do you want?

We are going to make the night coop ourselves, do ducks and chickens want separate/different needs in the coop?

I would recommend you to actually plan two coops : one for the chickens, and one for the ducks.
Indeed : you really do not want your chickens to end up sick because of the humidity brought by the ducks' presence in the coop.

If I cut the ducks feathers, would they be able to perch high? Can they still ‘jump’ a small amount to get on their nesting boxes?

I did not even know Muscovies were perching ducks...!!

...But jumping being different than flying, I don't see why they could not jump on their nesting boxes...?

Any recommendations for a suitable run design?

I would put plastic grattings in your ducks' run (on the ground), so it does not end up muddy... and is actually easy to clean.

I would also recommend you to plan how you will shield your ducks and chickens (when they are in their run) from the wind and the rain.

Anything else I should consider?

Big waterers...!
Use waterers big enough so your ducks can submerge their head, since they need it to clean their nostrils.

And never, NEVER let your ducks without water - especially if they have access to their food.

Do you think Muscovy ducks are suitable for a suburban garden?

No idea.
(You can tell us once you have had them for at least several months!)

 

[Quacklestheduck]

Hello!



Okay...
@Blue is my chicken is giving you good advice : you would do better by taking 6 girls - 3 chicken hens, and 3 duck hens.



They will have enough of space, so if you do let them freerange in your entire garden when you can, you can take even more birds if you want!



Yes, they do.

Again : @Blue is my chicken is right by advising you to not take any drake.
(I have no personal experience with small ducks, so I can not advice you on them.)

Nevertheless : if you can adopt more girls than you are planning, you will be able to take a drake home IF you are able to separate him from your chicken hens - at least during mating season.

My drakes freerange all year round with my chickens, and apart from mating season (... and yet!), they don't try to mate with the chickens... even though I don't even have enough duck hens for my drakes!

You could be lucky, but plan accordinly with what you want.

And note : if you let your ducks freerange with your chickens, you probably will have/want to change the (drinking) water several times a day - it would depend on if your ducks do dirty the waterer(s) or not.



Yes.
Your ducks will be fine with it.



Do you have a lot of wind in your area?

Where I live, the wind is so strong my Indian Runners can easily be flown away above my 1,5 m fence...

Muscovies should be fine, but in your chickens' case... it would actually depend the breed you want : several of my chicken hens do jump on my (approximatively at least) 1,2 m runs... even though their feathers are cut on one wing!

What chicken breed do you want?



I would recommend you to actually plan two coops : one for the chickens, and one for the ducks.
Indeed : you really do not want your chickens to end up sick because of the humidity brought by the ducks' presence in the coop.



I did not even know Muscovies were perching ducks...!!

...But jumping being different than flying, I don't see why they could not jump on their nesting boxes...?



I would put plastic grattings in your ducks' run (on the ground), so it does not end up muddy... and is actually easy to clean.

I would also recommend you to plan how you will shield your ducks and chickens (when they are in their run) from the wind and the rain.



Big waterers...!
Use waterers big enough so your ducks can submerge their head, since they need it to clean their nostrils.

And never, NEVER let your ducks without water - especially if they have access to their food.



No idea.
(You can tell us once you have had them for at least several months!)

What chicken breed do you want?

Thanks so much for all your replies, they have been very helpful.


We were thinking of getting Isa Browns and all of the chickens and ducks will be ladies so won’t have to worry about them Mating.
We have decided to follow your advice and get 3 ducks and 3 chickens instead of just the two.

It’s reassuring to know we have enough room for them and the kids paddling pool will be enough water for them to swim in.

I will look into the deep water feeders and the plastic for the floor.
We were thinking of a little shed type enclosure to keep them in at night with a little wire run around it just in case they want to go outside before we let them out.

I’m concerned about them flying the fence so will have to look into that a little more. It’s not really windy where we live but the fences aren’t super high. Luckily our neighbours also have chickens so I don’t think they’d be too upset if they get a visitor or two while we work it out, (they keep theirs in a wire run so they never get out, but we’d prefer to allow ours to roam around the garden)

 

[Blue is my chicken]

Also Muscovy ducks can fly, my friend had them (they let them free roam ams they would go everywhere, but they lived in the country so it was not a problem) and they perched
You would need to clip their wings or put a roof on their pen

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Thanks so much for all your replies, they have been very helpful.

You are, very much, welcome.

We were thinking of getting Isa Browns and all of the chickens and ducks will be ladies so won’t have to worry about them Mating.
We have decided to follow your advice and get 3 ducks and 3 chickens instead of just the two.

You are already doing very good by deciding to get 3 of each : at least, if one duck or one chicken die, you won't have to worry about the one still alive dying from depression.

Especially since good layers actually generally live a short(er) life - whatever we are told about it : indeed, since they lay a lot of eggs eggs, their body end up exhausting itself from layin "too much" eggs - and they tend to get tumors easily - among other things...

Of course, hens still can live a relatively long live...!
Nevertheless, when we get some home, we have to be prepared for them to die young compared with what we are told their lifespan is...
And so : we have to plan accordingly - and adopting (at least) a trio instead of a duo is doing so.

It’s reassuring to know we have enough room for them and the kids paddling pool will be enough water for them to swim in.

A lot of people use "kids paddling pool" for their ducks, and it works.

In winter, you don't even need it : just use a 10 liters (of so) basin instead...
Don't bother with the pool when temperatures are too cold : you don't want to destroy your installations (water supply pipes) "just" to allow you ducks to swim. (They can wait the warmer temperatures!)

We were thinking of a little shed type enclosure to keep them in at night with a little wire run around it just in case they want to go outside before we let them out.

Do think about making it predator proof. You never know...

I personally use the Omlet runs : they are predator proof, made with metal panels, and movable if needed...
Some of mines are several years old, and no predator was able to get in until now (and they try)...
Thus : I am of course so satisfied with them I would recommend them to the ones who are willing to pay for them (maybe then waiting for Black Friday...?).

The Omlet covers make good protection from wind and rain, and last long - at least the "Heavy Duty", green ones... (The "Clear", transparent ones tend to get shredded by hail...!!)
The first covers I have bought from Omlet are still standing and working fine, even though I have used them for several years old already, 365 days a year...!
(I have sincerely never found any protective cover stronger than the Omlet ones, so I am even using them to protect my firewood from the elements...)

...I am not telling you to buy from Omlet : you do what you want to.
I am just giving some informations - in case you would be interested -, and sharing my opinion on their products, since I have experiences with them, and I am happy with my choices.

I’m concerned about them flying the fence so will have to look into that a little more. It’s not really windy where we live but the fences aren’t super high.

When you get your ducks and chickens, let them enclosed for 3 days AT LEAST.
1 week would be better, if ever you can...?

If you let them enclosed after bringing them home, they will eventually be used to the idea your home is their home...
They will know where to sleep, and where to eat...!
Thus : (at least) your chicken won't want to get away from your garden.

(Given it is "not really windy" where you live, you won't have to worry about your ducks being accidentaly flown away somewhere.)

Get your birds used to their new home before letting them freerange... and do clip one of their wings - even the ducks -, just in case...
They will then stay, because they will understand they are home in your garden, and YOU are the one who feeds them.

(And since the have a sufficiently large space in your yard, the chickens and the ducks won't even want to go elsewhere.)

Luckily our neighbours also have chickens so I don’t think they’d be too upset if they get a visitor or two while we work it out, (they keep theirs in a wire run so they never get out, but we’d prefer to allow ours to roam around the garden)

A chicken that freeranges is a happy chicken!
And a happy chiken lays a lot of eggs...!

Also Muscovy ducks can fly, my friend had them (they let them free roam ams they would go everywhere, but they lived in the country so it was not a problem) and they perched
You would need to clip their wings or put a roof on their pen

That's amazing Muscovy ducks can fly when they are so big, and don't even look like flying birds (in spite of their wings)...
(...You are not the first to tell that...!!)

I was told, not very long ago, a neighbour of mines who had Muscovies in the past had them flown away by the wind... he was then so suprised!!

 

[Blue is my chicken]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/keeping-muscovy-ducks.67883/

here is some good imformation

 

[Quacklestheduck]

Hi.



You are, very much, welcome.



You are already doing very good by deciding to get 3 of each : at least, if one duck or one chicken die, you won't have to worry about the one still alive dying from depression.

Especially since good layers actually generally live a short(er) life - whatever we are told about it : indeed, since they lay a lot of eggs eggs, their body end up exhausting itself from layin "too much" eggs - and they tend to get tumors easily - among other things...

Of course, hens still can live a relatively long live...!
Nevertheless, when we get some home, we have to be prepared for them to die young compared with what we are told their lifespan is...
And so : we have to plan accordingly - and adopting (at least) a trio instead of a duo is doing so.



A lot of people use "kids paddling pool" for their ducks, and it works.

In winter, you don't even need it : just use a 10 liters (of so) basin instead...
Don't bother with the pool when temperatures are too cold : you don't want to destroy your installations (water supply pipes) "just" to allow you ducks to swim. (They can wait the warmer temperatures!)



Do think about making it predator proof. You never know...

I personally use the Omlet runs : they are predator proof, made with metal panels, and movable if needed...
Some of mines are several years old, and no predator was able to get in until now (and they try)...
Thus : I am of course so satisfied with them I would recommend them to the ones who are willing to pay for them (maybe then waiting for Black Friday...?).

The Omlet covers make good protection from wind and rain, and last long - at least the "Heavy Duty", green ones... (The "Clear", transparent ones tend to get shredded by hail...!!)
The first covers I have bought from Omlet are still standing and working fine, even though I have used them for several years old already, 365 days a year...!
(I have sincerely never found any protective cover stronger than the Omlet ones, so I am even using them to protect my firewood from the elements...)

...I am not telling you to buy from Omlet : you do what you want to.
I am just giving some informations - in case you would be interested -, and sharing my opinion on their products, since I have experiences with them, and I am happy with my choices.



When you get your ducks and chickens, let them enclosed for 3 days AT LEAST.
1 week would be better, if ever you can...?

If you let them enclosed after bringing them home, they will eventually be used to the idea your home is their home...
They will know where to sleep, and where to eat...!
Thus : (at least) your chicken won't want to get away from your garden.

(Given it is "not really windy" where you live, you won't have to worry about your ducks being accidentaly flown away somewhere.)

Get your birds used to their new home before letting them freerange... and do clip one of their wings - even the ducks -, just in case...
They will then stay, because they will understand they are home in your garden, and YOU are the one who feeds them.

(And since the have a sufficiently large space in your yard, the chickens and the ducks won't even want to go elsewhere.)



A chicken that freeranges is a happy chicken!
And a happy chiken lays a lot of eggs...!



That's amazing Muscovy ducks can fly when they are so big, and don't even look like flying birds (in spite of their wings)...
(...You are not the first to tell that...!!)

I was told, not very long ago, a neighbour of mines who had Muscovies in the past had them flown away by the wind... he was then so suprised!!

I’m so glad I posted here, your advice has been invaluable

That’s such a good idea to keep them in for a week too, I’d never have thought of that but we’ll definitely be doing this.

I have been looking at the Omlet runs, good to know the tarps are good quality. They even have a cute chicken swing that the kids love!

 

[Quacklestheduck]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/keeping-muscovy-ducks.67883/

here is some good imformation

Thanks so much for the video, it’s super helpful and informative, really appreciate it