Thinking of adding ducks.. some questions

[Wildhaus]

Hi everyone!

I'm new here and have some questions I'm hoping the resident duck experts can help with.

We recently got chickens, and I've been tossing around the idea of adding some ducks. We would want the ducks for eggs, not for meat.

Chicken housing is a 6x8 coop with an attached 10x20 run. Moveable chicken tractor for them during the day. We can't have the chickens truly free range due to predators so the tractor is the best of both worlds in that regard.

I've searched the forum and it seems like adding ducks to the chicken flock would probably work in terms of them getting along, but there is no guarantee and we wouldn't know for sure until we tried.

I would like to have the ducks range freely during the day, rather than be in the tractor with the chickens. Mainly because we have a 1/2 acre pond that I am sure they would love.

Here are my questions:

There is a pair of wild geese that makes our pond it's home every summer, and we get wild ducks as well. Would this be a problem for domestic ducks sharing the same pond?

How predator resistant are ducks, in the sense can they get away easily if they are free to move about as much as necessary and can get out in the middle of the pond? The biggest concern would be hawks, fox, raccoon or weasel. We do have coyotes but they don't venture onto our property much. Would they be reasonably safe ranging around the property and pond during the day?

The pond area where I imagine they would spend the majority of their time is a good 50 yards from the coop. How likely are they to be cooperative at coming back to the coop in the evening? Are they suckers for treats like chickens so they'll come when called/lured? We would want them closed in with the chickens for predator protection at night when there is the greatest danger, but also so that we would have an opportunity to collect the eggs in the morning before letting them out again.

Is having them housed together at night, but separate during the day, likely to cause any problems with the chickens and ducks getting along when they are in the coop/pen area, or would it have no impact there and they either will get along or they won't regardless of where they spend the daytime?

Do you think this arrangement would work, or would we be better setting up a small duck house and pen near the pond and putting them in there at night? We'd rather not have 2 separate coops for each type of bird, especially since the pond is a ways from the house so much less convenient for doing chores morning and night than the chicken coop near the main barn, but if this arrangement wouldn't work we may either skip adding ducks or provide separate housing.

Thanks!
Chris

 

[missnu01]

I would assume that ducks and chickens only together in a coop at night would basically ignore each other. I don't think ducks will go back in a coop on their own the way a chicken will but you can train them, to go in at a certain time by putting them some treats or snacks into their coop at a certain time everyday. I am not sure on any of this though as I am new to ducks and plan on building an 8x8 coop split in the middle to make 2 4x8 coops that will be for my ducks and turkeys. At least that is the plan. If it doesn't work out I can always just use another spot in our building that is under the chicken coop.

 

[jdywntr]

Here are my questions:

There is a pair of wild geese that makes our pond it's home every summer, and we get wild ducks as well. Would this be a problem for domestic ducks sharing the same pond?
Wild birds can carry diseases that are not common in your area since they migrate. It is best to try to not have wild and domestic together. It is doubtful that the wild ones would try to harm yours but care should be taken.
How predator resistant are ducks, in the sense can they get away easily if they are free to move about as much as necessary and can get out in the middle of the pond? The biggest concern would be hawks, fox, raccoon or weasel. We do have coyotes but they don't venture onto our property much. Would they be reasonably safe ranging around the property and pond during the day?
Ducks are just as predator resistant as chickens, not at all. They may be fine but they are much more likely to face predation if they are not in a safe fenced area.
The pond area where I imagine they would spend the majority of their time is a good 50 yards from the coop. How likely are they to be cooperative at coming back to the coop in the evening? Are they suckers for treats like chickens so they'll come when called/lured? We would want them closed in with the chickens for predator protection at night when there is the greatest danger, but also so that we would have an opportunity to collect the eggs in the morning before letting them out again.
Ducks, like chickens, need to know where home is. If you were to get ducklings, you would brood them in a similar fashion to chicks. When they moved (if not brooded in the coop) they would need to spend some time in their coop ( a week or so) to get used to it. They may need to be "shown" how to go back in at first. Mine stay out until full dark but go in the coop on their own if I haven't herded them in yet. Most love treats, peas are usually a favorite. Fox, raccoons, weasels and coyotes all hunt at any hour of the day, not just at night. I've never lost a chicken at night, only during the day. Ducks can be given nests just like chickens and just like chickens may not lay first thing (mine don't). My ducks return to the coop to lay.
Is having them housed together at night, but separate during the day, likely to cause any problems with the chickens and ducks getting along when they are in the coop/pen area, or would it have no impact there and they either will get along or they won't regardless of where they spend the daytime?
They either will or won't. Mine tolerate each other but are not housed together anymore only in the run and ranging together during the day. They don't "hang out" together.
Do you think this arrangement would work, or would we be better setting up a small duck house and pen near the pond and putting them in there at night? We'd rather not have 2 separate coops for each type of bird, especially since the pond is a ways from the house so much less convenient for doing chores morning and night than the chicken coop near the main barn, but if this arrangement wouldn't work we may either skip adding ducks or provide separate housing.
It could turn out to be best to have a seperate coop for them. It doesn't need to be at the pond but could be attached to the chicken coop or whereever else you like. But you always want to have a backup plan in case things don't work out.
Thanks!
Chris

If you don't want meat or ducklngs I would STRONGLY advise that you get sexed females. A male duck (drake) can mate with chickens which is dangerous/deadly to them. Getting just females allows you to avoid drake headaches.

Check out the stickies section at the top of the duck forum in the blue banner. Lots of easy to find info there.