Raising ducks and chickens together?

[ChickenCrazedMoma]

Anyone out there raising chicks and ducks together? We have a friend who is trying to give us two ducklings,we already have 10 pullets and we were hoping that they could be housed together. Also how different is the care and raising etc?

 

[HOUSE OF ROCK A DOODLE]

Yes I have done this several times currently I have 12 chicks and 2 ducklings the ducks just sit next to the chicks and poke there beaks under the heat lamp I have had no problems and yesturday the state official testing my chickens thought it was cute that I brought along the 2 adults ducks ( there are inseperable) good luck and have fun

 

[HOUSE OF ROCK A DOODLE]

you can feed the chicks and ducklings the same grower crumble but you CAN NOT use anything MEDICATED ! not good for ducks

 

[ChickenCrazedMoma]

Is it safe to change the chicks feed from medicated to non if that is what they have been on?

 

[sevenchickens]

I did that last year and didn't have any trouble.

 

[Shel'sChirpChirps]

I am brooding 4 chicks and 2 ducklings right now...all were hatched on the same day and have been together ever since. So far they are getting along fabulously! My only concern is keeping a water dish deep enough for the ducklings. They are growning quite a bit faster than the chicks (natually). I know the ducks need the water to clean their nostrils, but as they are getting bigger i need to get them something deeper. But i am nervous about the chicks being able to reach or getting too wet and so on and so on... Any thoughts?

Shel

 

[Chica]

I am planning on doing the same when they are adults. I can't now, because my chicks are a month old, and my ducks are still really young, and I didn't buy them together. I've always been told when you buy them together, you can keep them together until they are adults. But if you buy seperate, keep them seperate until they are both adults. That's just what everybody I have asked has told me. That is what I'm doing. I have three ducks and two baby chicks that we bought together and they are on a duck/chick starter feed. My other chicks are on a medicated chick feed to help prevent coccidiosis. But my ducks don't get that.

 

[bikergirl]

Yep you can, I did last year! This is Crackers and chesses, they were inseparable, they would cry if they weren't together. I hatched them, Chesses is 1 week older them Crackers