Wife wants ducks. I want to do this right.

[Redheadhomestead]

Hey all I’m sure the information is somewhere on this vast forum but I figured I’d ask. We’ve had 12-20 chickens for years so we’re not completely green, but we’ve never had ducks. My wife almost brought 2 home from TSC yesterday and I told her we need to research more first. Any helpful tidbits into integrating the ducks would be great.

I know they need a pool/water source.
Can they be confined to the coop/run/natural area that the 20 chickens are? How do I train them to go into the coop at night? I have an automatic door that opens and closes with the sunrise/set when I add chicks every year I just put them in the coop in the morning show them the food and water and let them find their own space. They’ve always come back to the coop with the rest of the birds by nightfall.

Do ducks fly a lot? Can you clip wings like a chicken or is it largely un necessary?

I’ve heard male ducks can breed/kill chickens. Anyway to get just female ducks like buying pullets?


How do you feed them can they eat 16% chick layer food or is it mandatory to switch to an all flock?


Anyway if anyone started with chickens and added ducks I’ll take any helpful tidbits. Thanks in advance

 

[HollowOfWisps]

1. Ducks can cohabitate with chickens if the space is large enough, but ducks are very messy with the water which can make it too wet for chickens. Ducks will need water every day that is deep enough to fully dunk their head to clean their eyes and nares. My ducks and chickens are separate at night and free range together during the day. Also as you noted below drakes can kill chickens.

2. Training is the same as chickens. It just takes time herding them in at night for a bit, but eventually they do catch on.

3. Flying depends on breed. Typically the larger the breed the less they are able to fly. The smaller breeds that do fly can have their wings clipped.

4. Yes you can buy sexed female ducklings at most hatcheries.

5. The biggest thing with ducks is niacin content in the feed. Technically there are feeds labeled for chickens that have enough niacin, but you will need to check either on the bag or contact the company to be sure. Many people also supplement their feed with brewers or nutritional yeast. I personally use Kalmbachs 20% flock raiser. However, I would highly recommend picking up Durvets B complex from your local farm/ag store when you are gathering supplies and dose at 1ml daily if you see any signs of a niacin deficiency.

 

[Knobby]

Following..since I just came home with 6 Peking ducks this morning from TSC. We have 12 acres and 2 ponds, but am not planning on letting them wonder freely on the ponds since we have coyotes, hawks and eagles that roam in the area. Am planning on possible building a coop/run area with one of those plastic koi ponds that you bury..we shall see. This is a new adventure or us as well, but currently have a flock of 10 chickens.

 

[Redheadhomestead]

Can I buy a dog house or separate enclosed pin for them to be in and put it run so they could have the space and hang with the chickens all while going to their own area to sleep at night and possibly lay? I’ve seen people use dog house sized pens. How long could 2 ducks stay in (with food and water of course)there if we were gone for a vacation

I’m really not looking to buy a second auto door.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Hey all I’m sure the information is somewhere on this vast forum but I figured I’d ask. We’ve had 12-20 chickens for years so we’re not completely green, but we’ve never had ducks. My wife almost brought 2 home from TSC yesterday and I told her we need to research more first. Any helpful tidbits into integrating the ducks would be great.

I know they need a pool/water source.
Can they be confined to the coop/run/natural area that the 20 chickens are? How do I train them to go into the coop at night? I have an automatic door that opens and closes with the sunrise/set when I add chicks every year I just put them in the coop in the morning show them the food and water and let them find their own space. They’ve always come back to the coop with the rest of the birds by nightfall.

Do ducks fly a lot? Can you clip wings like a chicken or is it largely un necessary?

I’ve heard male ducks can breed/kill chickens. Anyway to get just female ducks like buying pullets?


How do you feed them can they eat 16% chick layer food or is it mandatory to switch to an all flock?


Anyway if anyone started with chickens and added ducks I’ll take any helpful tidbits. Thanks in advance

I have both, and they free-range together during the day. But, they have their own coops at night. They need more space than chickens to do their thing, and as mentioned, they are MESSY. But I love them, especially my Muscovy!

I would recommend getting a minimum of three, just in case something happens to one of them. Yes, you can get sexed ducklings, but I wouldn't trust TSC for that. Best to order directly from a hatchery, or better yet, buy from a local reputable breeder. Welsh Harlequin can be sexed at hatch, and are amazing layers.

I have to herd mine every evening, and sometimes it's a pain if they decide they don't want to go in! Or they'll dawdle along the way, nibbling at this, taking a sip of water, looking at the sky... ANY excuse not to go to bed! That's mostly my Muscovy. They're worse than kids, lol!

I feed my ducks and chickens duck-specific feed, often times the duckling starter, especially in the winter. It has higher niacin and protein. Oyster shell is offered separately.

I honestly wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my ducks for more than a day or two. The ducks will foul their water quickly and may run out from splashing it all over. They also eat everything in sight, so I'm sure that food would be gobbled up the first day. Having someone you trus take care of them is a better option, imo.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Following..since I just came home with 6 Peking ducks this morning from TSC. We have 12 acres and 2 ponds, but am not planning on letting them wonder freely on the ponds since we have coyotes, hawks and eagles that roam in the area. Am planning on possible building a coop/run area with one of those plastic koi ponds that you bury..we shall see. This is a new adventure or us as well, but currently have a flock of 10 chickens.

Please do not let your ducklings into a pond until they are fully feathered unsupervised. My friend bought 6 Rouen Ducklings from TSC and had a large tub of water that he saw them get into and out of. The next day three of them were dead in the bottom of it. They do not have the waterproofing that a Momma Duck gives the when first hatched out by her own feathers on them and they get water logged. Just FYI. Good Luck with your babies.

 

[Knobby]

Please do not let your ducklings into a pond until they are fully feathered unsupervised. My friend bought 6 Rouen Ducklings from TSC and had a large tub of water that he saw them get into and out of. The next day three of them were dead in the bottom of it. They do not have the waterproofing that a Momma Duck gives the when first hatched out by her own feathers on them and they get water logged. Just FYI. Good Luck with your babies.

We are actually keeping them in a brooder until they feather out. Don't want them to freeze outside and want to be sure they are ready.

 

[HeritageFan]

Following..since I just came home with 6 Peking ducks this morning from TSC. We have 12 acres and 2 ponds, but am not planning on letting them wonder freely on the ponds since we have coyotes, hawks and eagles that roam in the area. Am planning on possible building a coop/run area with one of those plastic koi ponds that you bury..we shall see. This is a new adventure or us as well, but currently have a flock of 10 chickens.

If you get one of those plastic pond/ liners, please really think about how you can completely drain it.
If you are on a slope and can add a majorly large drain pump that won’t die from the sludge, go that route. If you can afford an also large transfer pump that can handle the sludge, that can also work.
I stick w the kiddie / dog pools, 3’ max, so I can dump them, hose the sludge out, and refill every other day.
Ducks are wonderful. We love them. And they make SUCH a mess esp of their pool!

 

[HeritageFan]

Oh. And. I do have fertile Welsh Harlequin Duck eggs available for sale.
I don’t ship ducklings, but I do ship eggs.
WH are a great breed; large enough to not fly far, and, while I have read that you can only “expect” about 150 eggs a year.... we are on our second group, and about 8 years into these ducks, and I get an egg almost every day from all of my girls. Year round if you set up a UVA/B (I use a 4’ fluorescent style “reptile”/ aquarium light on a timer in the winter in the hutch to increase “daylight hours”)
I believe Murray McMurray still has sexed WH ducklings available for shipping if you don’t want to add an incubator to your projects
Khaki campbells are also great layers, but they are smaller and more adept fliers (as are runners and most smaller duck breeds).
My experience w runners is that they are less docile than the KC, and the WH are (again, my experience) the most docile of the dual purpose ducks (meat as an option, and lots of eggs).
Muscovy are good at flying (I’d clip one wing if I chose to keep muscovy ducks...), are usually only offered as a straight run/ not sexed at hatch, don’t lay as many eggs per year.... but are helpful at controlling flies and mice if that is a concern for you. Many people have said they are a great option esp if considering ducks for meat. I haven’t had them, personally, so only speaking to what I’ve read.
Just food for thought when thinking about your future w these endearing quackers

 

[Luv Ducks]

I do like my Muscovy Ducks as they are quiet and pretty friendly towards me. They have taken quite an interest in my Runner Ducklings I recently moved out and sit by their pen all day. I wonder if it is because they are light colored like they are and they can relate to them. Mine are the Fawn and White ones and my Muscovy are both white Hens that give me nice large eggs. My other Ducks don't seem to be interested but they surely are. My Rouen Hens are also very friendly along with my Mule Duck Hen and Khaki Campbell Hens. I have pinioned almost all of the babies that I have bought as I live in a neighborhood that has large dogs next to me and if they were to fly over the fence I would lose them for sure to them.