Thinking of getting ducklings. Can they live with chickens?

[Wyo Chick]

Southern States has all the cute baby chicks and ducks! I have always had chickens and now thinking ab out geting a couple of ducks. Can they live together and how hard are ducks to take care of?

 

[Funsizeracing]

Glad you asked because I've been considering the same thing.

In fact, I'll probably be driving all the duck owners crazy with all my questions as I know nothing about ducks

 

[ranchhand]

I have chickens and ducks in the same run, and I will change that as soon as I can. Ducks are MESSY and poop 10 times more than a chicken. I tried setting up separate waterers, note the plural, for the chickens- the ducks trash each one as soon as I clean and refill it.

I love the ducks, but I won't keep chickens in there again. Chickens like/need clean water and dry ground.

 

[askjcm2005]

Yes they can live together just fine but keep an eye on them. When the ducklings are younger the bigger chickens can pick on them but when the ducks get bigger they might pick on the chickens. We have 2 pekins who were raised with the chickens grom ducklings and all was fine til now the male who is 8 months old is obsessed with 1 of our hens and he chases her all the time, idk if he wants to breed with her or what but hes not too mean to her.

I am newer to ducks havent even had them a year but they arent too hard to take care of. Hardest part is there love of water. They use a kiddie pool that gets soo dirty I have to clean it out and put fresh water in all the time. Then by there water bowls it constantly gets muddy so I have to move the water bowls every couple days to let the old spot dry out. The ducklings cant be outside though until they are feathered and there fuzz is gone.

 

[Duck Keeper]

I have a perpetually open barn that my ducks, chickens, geese, and goats can go in and out of at all times, but the ducks and geese are rarely in there except during feeding time. I leash the goats and feed them all so the girls can't suck up the chicken feed.

I have a large pen for them, and they all range around out in there. There's a kiddie pool outside for the ducks, and the chickens and geese also drink out of that (if you can believe it). I'd prefer the chickens drink out of the nice, clean water bucket in the barn, but they choose the lower pool for their own convenience.
If you have any more questions, feel free to shoot me a PM. I'm not thinking quite as well as I'd like this early in the morning.

 

[Wifezilla]

I have ducks but I am considering adding a few chickens for their scratching ability. Ducks mat everything down, chickens fluff everything up. Between the two they will make some great compost

.

With my 3 years of duck experience, I would definitely put any waterer for the chickens on a platform that the ducks could not reach!

Ducks are like little kids when it comes to water. Their only thought is how they can turn it in to mud

Being in a dryer climate, it isn't such a big deal, but if I lived in a wet area it would be a problem you would have to prepare for.

 

[cbrown86]

Don't put them in the same brooder! I had 4 chicks die, which I think was bc my ducklings splashed so much water that they drowned.

Since I moved the ducks to their own tub, everyone is thriving happily. I have the 2 tubs close to each other, bc I plan on putting them all in the same run. Good luck!!

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Hi Zilla, I tried that, thought I had the problem solved. Forgot I have Mallards, who fly better than the chickens.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I have chickens and just got ducks. I have 4 three week old Mallards that I just moved into the coop (in their own pen) and they don't seem to mind each other at all. I ordered 10 more ducks that arrived yesterday with 4 roos (ugh) And sent an email to a local who has 4 BSL chicks that she wants to sell. I don't have room to brood the chicks and ducks separate, but the kiddie pool that they are in is plenty big enough for the chicks to stay dry. So far so good, but I have to tell you that the older ducks were extremely wet and messy and they poop everywhere. I got the warnings from people on here about how messy ducks were and I figured, "I've got an infant and 3 yr old, how bad could it be" Well, awful and stinky.....but well worth it. If you are in a warmer climate and can brood them outdoors, you should do that. 3 weeks was enough stink I could handle in the house.