Hello! I've never owned ducks before, but am dying to! We currently have 4 chickens (hens) and are looking to add a duck to the flock. I've read that ducks do better and are happier in pairs... Do y'all think the chickens would be able to get along well enough with the duck for it to be happy or should we look into getting two ducks instead? The chickens have their own area in the back yard fenced off that they free range in when not in the coop/run area and I would like to be able to have the duck in there with them. We have two barred rocks and two buff orpingtons.
You definitely need to have two ducks, chickens won't be good enough company, they need one of their own species to be with
I have the reverse at the moment... 4 ducks and 1 chicken. I have added new chicks this spring though. My chicken follows my ducks and the ducks usually are ok with it, but they don't seek to include her. Kind of like the little sister thing... sometimes you just have to let them tag along because Mom said so. My ducks don't chose to hang out with the chicken. The chicken does decide to hang with them though. So hopefully a couple of new chicks will get her some friends that like to hang with her. The same would be true of the duck... chickens may be ok hanging with a duck and the other way around, but they are much happier with some of their own kind.
