prospective duck momma with questions first!

[annabananaandfamily]

I have been toying with the idea of adding 2-3 ducks to our little backyard farm, but I have a bunch of questions first.

Can I house them with my chickens?

I read that I can feed them the same feed that I give my chickens, do any of you have any different thoughts, suggestions, etc on this?

What would I need to do for the ducks in the winter that I might not do for the chickens already?

I dont have a pond or similar on our property. Would a kiddie pool work? Maybe eventually adding some small water feature, but that would be a good ways down the road...

I am sure I will think of a million more! Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[FireTigeris]

I have been toying with the idea of adding 2-3 ducks to our little backyard farm, but I have a bunch of questions first.

Can I house them with my chickens?

I read that I can feed them the same feed that I give my chickens, do any of you have any different thoughts, suggestions, etc on this?

What would I need to do for the ducks in the winter that I might not do for the chickens already?

I dont have a pond or similar on our property. Would a kiddie pool work? Maybe eventually adding some small water feature, but that would be a good ways down the road...

I am sure I will think of a million more! Thanks in advance everyone!

Can I house them with my chickens?
-I do

I read that I can feed them the same feed that I give my chickens, do any of you have any different thoughts, suggestions, etc on this?
-I do, just remember it is not recommended to give ducklings medicated starter

What would I need to do for the ducks in the winter that I might not do for the chickens already?
- where do you live? I live in Fl and do nothing different, we have not had a winter this year.

I don't have a pond or similar on our property. Would a kiddie pool work? Maybe eventually adding some small water feature, but that would be a good ways down the road...

I use a kiddy pool, I'm planning on a filtered built in pond later too.

 

[annabananaandfamily]

Im in Maine,so typically much more of a winter than you have.


Though this year, not so much

 

[FireTigeris]

You'll have to wait for some better duck person that lives in the cold... I just don't know.

 

[racefanz]

I have 3 ducks and 19 chickens. They all live together with no problems. I give them all the same feed because it is too hard to give them seperate feed when they all have access to the same spaces. I live in Maine and use a kiddie pool or a sled filled with water during the winter. I haven't done anything different for them other than the pool with water. Good luck, they are fun to watch and interact with!

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

Yes, you can house them with chickens, they will get along fine
Yes, I feed my ducks and chicken all the same stuff and they are perfectly fine.
I don't think you would have to do anything different with the ducks, they have down which is meant to keep them warm. So they should be fine.
Yes a kiddie pool would work just fine, there are tons of people who use them. I use a plastic sand box and it works fine for me.

 

[annabananaandfamily]

Thanks all! It is so very tempting! Guess I will see what I come home with after our first swap day up here

 

[zion11]

I am planning on doing the same thing - have ours all live together. I'm wondering where our ducks will sleep! Will they go up the ramp and into the coop and just sleep on the floor under the roosting hens? Will they just want to hang under the coop within haybales or something? Not getting ducklings for a few months still, so I've got some time to figure it out Good luck!

 

[Going Quackers]

I have been toying with the idea of adding 2-3 ducks to our little backyard farm, but I have a bunch of questions first.

Can I house them with my chickens?


*We don't own chickens but i know many people do, biggest issue? the water.... ducks are really messy with water and require deep enough to put their heads in.

I read that I can feed them the same feed that I give my chickens, do any of you have any different thoughts, suggestions, etc on this?

*Since we only have ducks we used duck starter.

What would I need to do for the ducks in the winter that I might not do for the chickens already?

*What do you do for the chickens? Our ducks have a barn, heavily bedded and we have a heat lamp for times it gets really cold.. also a heated water bucket to ensure they have access to water.

I dont have a pond or similar on our property. Would a kiddie pool work? Maybe eventually adding some small water feature, but that would be a good ways down the road...

*Yes, it will we have no ponds either.. just several kiddy pools, plus any low laying water that they find(and they will! lol)

I am sure I will think of a million more! Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[SportTees]

Answers in quote

I have been toying with the idea of adding 2-3 ducks to our little backyard farm, but I have a bunch of questions first.

Can I house them with my chickens? yes

I read that I can feed them the same feed that I give my chickens, do any of you have any different thoughts, suggestions, etc on this? as long as the feed isnt medicated. Before you pick a feed read up on angel wing. Purina flock raiser is good

What would I need to do for the ducks in the winter that I might not do for the chickens already? Duck tolerate winter better than chickens so nothing extra is needed

I dont have a pond or similar on our property. Would a kiddie pool work? A kiddie pool works good but the water needs to be changed often. Ducks are very messy with there water.