Raising a duck with chickens

[yomama]

Hi there,

Currently I have 4 laying hens, a Black Australorp, a RIR, a RIR bantam and a Black Sex link bantam. I am possilbe adding a few hens or chicks, haven't decided yet, this summer. My question is, is it ok to raise 1 duck with chickens? I have always loved ducks. I had a mating pair of Cayugas a few years back, but lost them to a stray dog. (The one and only night I didn't lock them up at night. Very stupid!!!)
I currently have a fenced run of 10'x40' that is completely fenced, bottom, sides and top, with the hen house inside. The hens free range in a fenced yard when I am home. I realize the duck would want access to swim somewhere, but would it be happy being the only duck amongst chickens? I would have a ton of ducks if it weren't for the fact that they are so much messier than chickens. I am hoping that only one duck would not make TOO big of a mess. My neighbors have ducks and chickens. Sometimes I will just sit and listen to the ducks talk and it just makes me laugh. I love it. But then I get a wiff of there pen and I remember how stinky they can be. I am pretty nuerotic about cleaning my pets pens and such, but they are very messy, nonetheless. I would appreciate any advice on this.
( Just in case, I am going to post this on the chicken section too, so sorry if you happen to see this question twice

Thanks!

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

I know a lady who has three roosters, 30 hens, and one pekin drake. The chickens love him, and he is always with the chickens. In fact, he thinks he is a chicken.

By the way, i love the title

 

[yomama]

I forgot to mention that if I chose to get a duck,I would most likely get a baby duck and raise it with chicks. I would order the chicks, but not sure about the duck. If I were to purchase a baby duck from the feed store, any diseases I need to worry about it passing to chicks? Would it be better to adopt an older duck?

Thanks!

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I keep my ducks with my chickens without a problem (other than the fact that I have to change the water all the time), but if you're going to get a duck I think it would be much better to get a pair. Ducks, like chickens, are very social and I think they'd be happiest with another of their kind. It just seems to me like a lone duck would be lonely, even with chickens around... You also would likely have the problem of the duck (if it's male) trying to mount the hens, and that can get old quickly.

If I was you, I would just get a pair so they can keep each other company. A pair should be fine, though--I have a trio in with all my chickens, and they do great together. The ducks are a little pushy towards the chickens, but not bad. They don't cause any damage.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Order it with the chicks

 

[houndit]

It usually works alright. You do need to be careful though. If you only have one sometimes aggressive chickens attack it. Our sexlinks used to attack the ducks when there were only a couple. Now that I have lots they are alright. I have raised ducklings and chicks. Chicks like to peck at the ducklings feet sometimes.

 

[yomama]

I was wondering if the duck would think it was a chicken. I have a Suffolk ewe that has been raised with goats. Not only is she the queen, she acts just like a goat! Does your neighbors duck swim anywhere, or is it content just hanging out with the chickens?

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

She has horses, so she has an extra horse trough with water that the horses dont use that he will go jump in.

 

[yomama]

What about housing. I'm assuming that the ducks would want their own house for nighttime. Would it be alright if they were confined together in their run, if I wasn't able to free range them on certain days?

 

[sumatra]

I kept 5 runner ducks all year with our chicks. Since runners can't fly, i kept an extra waterer on a shelf for the chix. The only problem I ever had was a small running fight for dominance between the ducks and 1 rooster and my big tom turkey. The turkey is boss , but the ducks like to ron up behind him and pull his feathers. So I have a turkey being goosed by ducks who are chicken.