When can they move in with the chickens *UPDATE*

[Luna9]

Ive got 2 Muscovy Ducklings and they get along great with my hens and my little roo chick. They keep the chick warm and my hens watch over them. I previously had a roo and a mallard duck that LOVED each others company. I couldnt keep them apart and they were both males! I think it really depends on the individual birds and as long as everyone's needs are met I dont see the issue

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I used to keep chickens, ducks, and geese in the same (huge) yard, but had different nighttime coops for them.

For the most part, they all got along fine. I did have issues with drakes bullying goslings and I wasn't home to see the cause of the great chick drowning that happened one day in the ducks' pool. They did watch for hawks together and heed each other's alarms. But they were never the best of friends. In fact, I had cliques in my flocks too. Sometimes as many as about ten sub-flocks.

I never wanted mine mixed. The duck coop especially could SO easily become a mucky mess. I used deep litter in my chicken coop and I can't imagine what ducks would do in there. Also the ducks were heavy feeders and heavy wasters of feed. I fed them twice a day by their coop, but I kept a filled feeder in the chicken coop. When the ducks discovered it, they set up raiding parties. I had to put a board across the coop door to keep ducks out. While raiding, they also upset some broody hens.

I guess each person finds what works for them.

I never raised chicks and ducklings together. I can't even imagine the mess since my duckling brooders had to be cleaned twice and sometimes three times a day. Lots of rain and humidity in that climate too, and I just didn't want my chicks/chickens exposed to all that. If I'd known back then how to make waterers for the ducklings that they couldnt splash most of the water out of in twenty minutes, it might have been better.

 

[mommyofthree]

Quote:
Me too!!! My ducks and chickens were raised together and get along fine. We even took in some 5 month old ducks last fall and although they didn't like my chickens at first they all get along now and live in the same coop with no problems. I also just got a 3 week old pekin duckling along with my day old chicks and they are doing great. The chicks actually crowd around the duckling (who is a lot bigger than them) and follow her around as if she's their mother, it's adorable!!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I have ducks and chickens in the same enclosure but I think one reason it works is that they have A LOT OF SPACE.

 

[Kaitie09]

I just wanted to say that they will be "free roaming" during the day. We have 1/4 acre of a fenced run that the goats have, the coop is right next to the run so we just let them in there, it is also a protection from hawk because of the goats. Their food and water is both outside anyways, so we don't mind the mess. Also, the run has sand on the ground. The only thing they would really be sharing would be the coop at night, and a 8'x24' run when we are not home.

Also, when would be the best age to clip their wings? We do not want them getting into the pond down the hill that they could possibly see, and there are a lot of hunters that come around.

 

[MissusDee]

Quote:
You can do it when the wing feathers completely grow in. Just trim one side.

 

[kraftyladies]

I am new to chicks and ducks. We recently bought some chicks and hubby wanted 2 ducks at that time as well. I believe the ducklings were a cpl weeks old. They have been in the same brooder since day one. I was thinking that the ducks sure made a mess, and decided I was going to separate them. Ummmm...no way! The ducks cried and cried when I separated them. I put them back in the same brooder and all the little chicks came right over to them and cozied up next to them and went to sleep. If it becomes a problem, I will separate them if I have to...but they all seem to get along fine. Yeah, the ducks are messy...but it's worth the extra mess.

 

[Kaitie09]

*UPDATE*

I just took our Speckled Sussex and put her in the brooder with the ducks. They are almost as long as her, but have a slightly smaller build. When they stand up, they are the same height. At fist they had no clue what sort of thing she was, but eventually they warmed up and started checking her out. She completely ignored them, even when they started tasting her feathers. She just made a little grunt and walked away. She is one of 12, 8month old pullets. They all basically have the same personality as her. I am going to put Big Red (RIR dominant hen) in with them so see what happens. If they can pass her approval, she will protect them from the mean hen.

 

[Kensfarm]

I actually was wondering about this situation as well. I have some 4 week old chicks now doing great as I am just introducing them to the free range yard.

My wife has some friends who just found rouen ducklings at a local feed store and thought we should try and have them live with the chicks.

I figured if they all grew up from a young age, there wouldn't be too much of a problem.

I had a pair of rouens before, and they were not too bad. I never supplied a swimming area for them, as I was told that type of duck didn't require it. I think the swimming area would be the most messy anyway. They did however eat everything in sight.

Do you think the ducks would sleep in the coop at night with the chickens? I don't think they would roost like the chickens, so would they make a bed out of the laying boxes?

 

[Kaitie09]

Our's will be sleeping in the coop, but we have an area under the nesting boxes that will protect them from poo, and it is the perfect size to fit their nests under. They do not roost, but they like a nest. Right now our have a milk crate that is covered so it is mainly dark. They go to it when they get freaked out and to sleep.