Trying to decide on Ducks to go with the Chickens

[mtocih]

Hi, I joined the board the other day and have read and researched and some say its an okay set up and some say no. So I thought I would post here and see what everyone thinks and if there are suggestions.

At this point I have 9 hens and 1 rooster. In a couple weeks I can get some Ducks from the same guy my rooster came from. The pen I have set up for Birds is 20x20feet. I can extended the pen to about 40x20 feet. I am also hoping to get some Guineas.

I realize that I don't want to have the Ducks in the same house at night as the chickens though I am not sure how I will possibly keep the Ducks out, but plan to convert a medium sized dog house into a duck hut. There will be netting over the pen. And I was thinking of the pool being at one end, farther away from the chicken house (chicken house is near the front of the pen..)

I was told to free-range them, but I am not sure I want to do that. I do like having them in their own area. If I free ranged them I would be concerned about my garden, but I do have a creek at the back of my property (which is not as safe for them) and I do have a drainage ditch thru the center of my property that runs a lot like a small creek.

We also just got a swimming pool and would like to keep the ducks out of the pool for obvious reason. It is above ground. I am not yet sure what breed of duck the breeder has and thought of calling him this weekend. I do have some questions for him, but am trying to research as much as possible first.

So would you even try to raise ducks with chickens the way I am thinking? Any suggestions, any thoughts? I am researching this, but the Breeder will be taking his extras to the sale soon. He will keep them for me until they are big enough to go in the pen with my hens and rooster.

Thank you for any thoughts.

 

[Going Quackers]

Well people do mix them i choose not too, loads of reasons, water being one.. my chickens would be one ticked off group of hens if they had to contend with the wet & mud the ducks create, plus if you have drakes the risk of them harming(or killing) a hen in trying to mate is a realistic concern.

Definitely, keep key areas apart, ie; waterholes and waterer's they will fowl up the chickens drinking water and soak the surrounding area of the pools.

Plus i would think there would be a drown risk for the chickens with deep bodies of water. I free range my main flock(which are basically all Muscovy, i have two buffs that will be adding later on) i don't find they go near my gardens other than to clean the bugs out, but you could fence areas off. Pools? yes, they could be a concern but that would depend on the breed, as an above ground they'd need to be able to fly in and not all breeds can.

This really is one of those, depends, the set-up personalities of the ducks/chickens, ratios and so forth.

 

[mtocih]

That is what I was wondering to some extent. I am going to call the breeder either today or over the weekend. (we are sorta on a staycation) I want to know the breed and if his fly. I would love to say they can free range, but there is to many predators around and so I need a good run area for them. The breeder lets all his free range and has an actual pond...He has Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Guineas, and Goats..oh and a Llama or two..he has two fields one at his home and one a couple miles away. He has done this for years.

Behind us the next half mile or so over is a gentleman that rescued some wolf hybrids..and so all things need locked down. My dogs keep them away most the time..but the dogs are really just the alert system. The wolf hybrids are in a small pen, but have escaped a few times and ran with the coyotes that seem to stay in the area because of them. So it makes things scary at times.

 

[furbabymum]

Again, it depends. Mine are all together. I did have to dispose of my males for the reason Going Quackers stated. They always kept to themselves until the hormones kicked in, then they were going after the chickens. I find my chickens like the mud though. They could certainly avoid it but they can often be fond sloshing around in the mud looking for bits of things to nibble on. When I drain out the duck pond they will all rush to where the water is building up to hunt for food.

My concern about what you wrote is the guineas actually. I think it's too small to have guineas in with your other birds. Guineas are mean little cusses. They teased my older rooster something terrible and even chase the peacocks (who are way bigger) off. As soon as your guineas are full grown you are going to have fighting issues. That's just what I see coming for you but I could be wrong.

 

[Sweetfolly]

...plus if you have drakes the risk of them harming(or killing) a hen in trying to mate is a realistic concern.

I have the opposite problem - my free-range roosters are constantly trying to mate with my free-range ducks (both male and female)!

The drakes, on the other hand, have never shown any interest in the hens whatsoever.

 

[mtocih]

well it looks like we are avoiding getting the ducks this year. Maybe next year..has to do with layout and space. and well funds to make the space better. I am getting the guineas..hubby and the breeder have talked about those for years...so soon..they are coming and will live with the Chickens. Thank you for your help!