Separate houses for chicks and ducks? And coop size?

[shawluvsbirds]

Yes, "its the sometimes rasp, sometimes quack, all four birds are running together with their mouths open, which is making the quack????" moment of puberty I struggle with, which is why I usually need a few weeks of watching the birds at that age to be completely confident. If I raised them differently, kept more separation or handled them more, I'm sure it would be easier.

Have yet to mistake a drake feather, but if I see the curl, chase the bird, and it runs away rasping... its a drake.

oh yeah when you have a whole herd of them together it's hard to tell who is making what noise.
At about 6 weeks I usually start picking them up one by one and start to walk away from the herd. They will usually let me know real quick if they are a girl or not.
But mine are in a pen.
That's harder to do if they are out in the open.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I just purchased some ducklings this week and have chosen to keep the chickens and duck separate in their own area but I have both spaces next to each other so that I could choose to utilize them together as a larger space. They will be able to free range together.

 

[Knighstar679]

To answer your question about the road; your ducks are not likely to let you pick them up and move them across the road. I would be worried about car hitting them if you were to regularly herd them across the road.

as for your brook, the ducks might decide to swim away down stream when it’s slow, but that fast current I would avoid.

if you doing straight run ducks you certainly want them separate from your chickens. Your chance of males always seem greater straight run. A drake without enough girls will try for chickens next, and that NEVER ends well for the chicken.

 

[Diane H]

Thank

Thank you! No it wouldn't require any river crossing! Do you think the ducks would fine swimming in that waterway? Or would they get swept down the river. I added another pic to show it looking a little calmer (today!). I'm getting 5 unsexes ducks (pekins and indian runners), so hopefully no more than 2 males!!! (might give away all but 1).

Ducks tend to prefer calmer water, ponds or very quiet creeks. That’s got too much current.