Newbie??? Ducks and weather

[jwatts]

I live in the northeast, some winters are cold. Will my duck coop need to be insulated? Can ducks live with chickens in there coop?

 

[Amiga]

There are those whose experience is that ducks are plenty cold hardy, and some who are less convinced.

Some of the variables are:

breed of duck
nighttime temperatures not only outdoors but in the shelter
feeding program
number of ducks
type and depth of bedding

Did you have any particular breed of duck in mind, size of flock?

Some keep ducks and chickens together, but it doesn't always work out, sometimes because drakes can kill a chicken trying to breed with her, sometimes because ducks have a different approach to water than chickens do, and the chickens get disgusted about it.

 

[jwatts]

I plan on only about 4 females. Just wondering if they can live with thechickens or if il have to build a seperate coop.

 

[Amiga]

Is the coop big enough to subdivide? Four pekin females would need about, give or take, 16 square feet just for coop space. I have 64 sf (32 sf house, 32 sf fenced porch) for eleven 4 to 5 pound ducks (Runners and Buffs) in spring summer and fall, slightly more than that in winter.

And advantage would be body heat in winter. Do you have feed and waterer in the coop?

 

[jwatts]

Im thinking i should probably build a "chicken tractor" for the ducks and put it in the chicken pen, so therefore i can segragate them. I do have the water nipples in pvc and pvc feeders in the chicken coop. Im not to sure on what to do. Thank you for the advice

 

[Amiga]

Please feel free to post your questions and search topics. The Duck Forum people seem to like ducks and people, which is a blessing!

Ducks need to be able to wash at least their entire heads frequently to prevent eye, sinus and ear infections, by the way.

 

[jwatts]

Good to know. Thank you. What should I feed these ducks? Will regular chicken layer pellets and cracked corn do?

 

[PetesMom]

Where in the northeast are you from?

 

[jruhle]

I feed my ducks a mixture of birdseed, layer pellets, and a little cat chow mixed in and give them plenty of greens to boot. I live in Alaska and my ducks (Roeuns) only have a doghouse for shelter and never use it. They will sit/sleep outside in the snow and rain all day. I put soft moss in the pen for them to rest on and they love to sift through it for bugs. I keep them locked up tight in a chainlink dog run covered top to bottom since we have many predators that love to eat duck. (Unfortunately dogs seem to be the #1 predator). Well good luck with your flock!!

 

[jwatts]

Where in the northeast are you from?

Hi petes mom. Im from Northeastern Pa.