What animals can live with ducks and chickens?

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BelValleyDaisy

BelValleyDaisy

Songster
Oct 10, 2015
109
25
116
UK
Hello all!
I have 2 ducks, 3 bantam hens and 1 big hen. The ducks and chickens share the same space and get along fine, there are muddy and dry areas (mud is mainly down the end though where the chickens don't go). The ducks don't have a bath in the coop, it is outside for when we let them out twice daily for 2 hours at a go. They all live in an aviary. They all seem to get along ok. Had the bantams from 2 months and then brought the ducks up from ducklings and then rescued the large hen. I was wondering what other animals could live with them? We were thinking quail, turkey or pheasant but then i learnt that it is a big NO NO because of coryza. i don't want to risk any catching disease. What else could join them? could guinea fowl be ok? Do they eat poultry layer as well? and how noisy do they go off squawking? Any ideas welcome on any other animals, no pigs, goat or sheep. i mean bird company.
Thankyou!
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Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. I've had a few geese with my ducks and though I've never owned any guineas, I know people who have guineas with their chickens. However, I don't know about keeping geese and/or guineas with both ducks and chickens. Hoepfully someone else can give you a more complete answer to your question. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Cheers.
 
BelValleyDaisy said:
Hello all!
I have 2 ducks, 3 bantam hens and 1 big hen. The ducks and chickens share the same space and get along fine, there are muddy and dry areas (mud is mainly down the end though where the chickens don't go). The ducks don't have a bath in the coop, it is outside for when we let them out twice daily for 2 hours at a go. They all live in an aviary. They all seem to get along ok. Had the bantams from 2 months and then brought the ducks up from ducklings and then rescued the large hen. I was wondering what other animals could live with them? We were thinking quail, turkey or pheasant but then i learnt that it is a big NO NO because of coryza. i don't want to risk any catching disease. What else could join them? could guinea fowl be ok? Do they eat poultry layer as well? and how noisy do they go off squawking? Any ideas welcome on any other animals, no pigs, goat or sheep. i mean bird company.
Thankyou!
fl.gif
Click to expand...

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined the flock! Gamebirds and Guinea fowl in my opinion should not go with water fowl. The reason why I say this and other people do is because water fowl can be carriers for Avian Influenza and never show signs but Guinea fowl and some game birds like turkeys will drop dead suddenly. That's why some people say you should never mix waterfowl and land birds. I've seen people when free ranging have chickens, ducks, peafowl, turkeys, geese, and guinea fowl all run around. It's possible to mix birds but make sure they have enough pen space.
 
Thankkyou all,
i'll guess the guinea fowl is a no no then, i don't want to risk anything.
any more ideas welcome
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I so want another bird !!!
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I have chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys all pastured together (separate night quarters). I also have pigeons. Never had any cross-species health problems. I do use an avian vet from time to time for flock advice; he hasn't said anything negative about having them all together. I have heard that guinea roosters will kill chicken roosters, but never had guineas of my own. There are some turkeys who will kill chickens or ducks, so I guess that depends on how aggressive a variety or an individual you have. My turkeys are Royal Palms, a lot smaller than the majority of turkeys, and that may be a factor.

Just an aside on the whole avian flu thing; it can be found in scads of wild birds, you're a lot more likely to get exposed from a wild bird than from a reputable waterfowl breeder such as Metzer Farms. Which is why big ag and the USDA look crosseyed at those of us who let our birds out on pasture instead of keeping them confined. So you have to consider, what are the real risks to what you want to do? (Had mixed pastured poultry more than 25 years, no disease disasters)
 

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