I also have a question!

Tim is the founder of the poultrykeeper website and lives in Herefordshire, UK. Or am I overreacting? This article contains incorrect information. I am having trouble with 3 of the chickens chasing the ducks. Aug 19, 7 Somerset, CA. Search Advanced search…. This oil keeps their feathers waterproof. Always feed your flock near their water because ducks eat and drink at the same to avoid choking. Yes No.

This makes it much easier for them to digest. This article contains incorrect information. Yes No. Take it from the girl that has tirelessly chased three ducks around a run at dusk to make sure they were up safe every night. We already said that chickens and ducks can live together, but this is a different story. May 1, 1, 31 Mason WV. A lean-to type shelter is really all they would need, to get out of the elements. Right now they are living in separate pens and free range them together in our garden about an hour a day. Ensure there is adequate housing space or provide different housing for each.

During mating season, drakes can easily injure a chicken hen; therefore, keeping a protective rooster would be beneficial. New posts. Chickens and ducks are both plagued with their fair share of diseases and health concerns , but ducks tend to be quite hardy. Chicken Feather Loss: Cause and Cure. LOL, that way I can use the large, covered, dog run that I bought for the ducks for some turkeys in the spring! There are special waterers that you can also look into that keep themselves clean by design. Typically, having enough hens around for everyone will mean there is less to fight about. One setup that works well for ducks and chickens is a nipple or cup waterer for your chickens and a kiddie pool for the ducks. Make sure to provide an area where the ducks can sleep without getting pooped on by roosting chickens. The duck run butts up to the chicken run and sometimes during the day, they all huddle together on each side of the fence for a nap.

Thread starter Roosterboy Start date Nov 2, Ducks may squabble a bit and and move on. Health Issues Chickens and ducks are both plagued with their fair share of diseases and health concerns , but ducks tend to be quite hardy. The chickens are the first to go into the coop at night, but both of my ducks also put themselves away each evening. Ducks, on the other hand, tend to prefer to sleep on the ground. That being said, there are some backyard chicken and duck owners who have claimed that their ducks and chickens socialize a little bit. Drakes have corkscrew-shaped penises, which can injure a chicken and cause vent prolapse for the hen as well as injure the drake. Ducks and chickens sleep in completely different ways , and this is something that you will need to think about when you are planning your chicken coop and run. Luckily chickens and ducks can eat the same kind of feed as adults. Some ducks will run up behind the chickens and pull on their tail feathers and sometimes the chickens will peck the ducks.

Oct 28, 1 If you have a raised coop, you may consider building a safe shelter on a ground level somewhere in the run so your ducks have somewhere to go at night. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Thanks for your help! If your hens have raised nesting boxes, make sure you provide a clean spot on the floor for your ducks to lay their eggs. Chicken vs Duck Food Luckily chickens and ducks can eat the same kind of feed as adults. To observe this you can follow these instructions. Comments I have 2 pet ducks and 2 pet chickens. Ducklings should have access to additional niacin.

Search forums. And what they don't muddy they use up and then the chickens have no water to drink. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The birds will only associate with others of the same species. Forums New posts Search forums. I currently own three Silkie Bantams. I am definitely the person that researches such things with a box of ducklings in my lap once the damage is done. Latest: ClumsyUzi 5 minutes ago. Thanks for your help! However, you will need to make a few changes to the way your coop and run are set-ups if you want both of the animals in there.

If you have a raised coop, you may consider building a safe shelter on a ground level somewhere in the run so your ducks have somewhere to go at night. Plus the ducks don't usually go into the coops. For this reason, I opt to keep all waterers for chickens and ducks outside the coop. We have 40 ducks and 60 chickens. Basically, if you do not have a ton of space available, it is unlikely that you are going to be able to fulfill the requirements of both animals and may want to stick to just one. Great article really informative and helpful, we ahve people keeping both bantam chickens and ducks together so this was really usefull. Once the chicks are hatched, mama duck will want to show her babies to the water. Ideally, the ducks and chickens will all treat each other nicely with only the occasional squabble.

Is this something normal or should we be concerned? When supplementing calcium, make sure to feed the calcium in a separate dish so the laying birds can eat it as they need it. Right off the bat, we can tell you that you should have absolutely no issues with chickens and ducks living together. There is a chance they won't get along. They naturally know how to clean up by dunking their head in water to clear away the gunk. When I open the run door, the ducks waddle out to the trough, swim a bit, then head back to the run on their own. During mating season, drakes can easily injure a chicken hen; therefore, keeping a protective rooster would be beneficial. It is known that a rooster can try mating a hen duck. There are special waterers that you can also look into that keep themselves clean by design.

However, chicks and ducklings can only eat the same type of starter feed if it is unmedicated. Something about them eating it too fast and OD'ing on the meds. Ducks rule the roost, lol. Happily, chickens and ducks enjoy the same kinds of treats. Should I worry about her one red eye? Thread starter Roosterboy Start date Nov 2, I currently own three Silkie Bantams. Chickens seemingly obsess over who is at the top. However, you will need to make a few changes to the way your coop and run are set-ups if you want both of the animals in there.

A lean-to type shelter is really all they would need, to get out of the elements. Even though ducks might attempt roosting, they generally do best sleeping on the ground. The social aspects of your flock will vary depending on the size of the flock and the breeds of ducks and chickens in the flock. Latest posts by Tim Daniels see all. You can buy the Domestic Duck on Amazon here. Keeping your ducks and chickens together can certainly require some extra work to make sure everything runs smoothly. This makes it much easier for them to digest. Chickens are fine consuming water from a water nipple.

I currently own three Silkie Bantams. Quote:Can't chickens be taught to use nipple waterers? Good little duckies that they are! Latest: yakitori 7 minutes ago. Can i raise them together? I don't keep my chickens and ducks together because they are all different ages and I didn't want the ducklings getting picked on. I love watching the antics of the chickens and ducks together To avoid any issues with overfeeding it is often easier to just keep young birds in separate brooders.

The birds will only associate with others of the same species. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Not so much. Ensure there is adequate housing space or provide different housing for each. I am definitely the person that researches such things with a box of ducklings in my lap once the damage is done. Will these adorable little ducks integrate with your chicken flock or will they need a set up of their own? Chickens, on the other hand, prefer to stay dry at all costs. Random Ramblings. How do you keep chickens and ducks together? Aug 19, 7 Somerset, CA.

Random Ramblings. Latest threads A. When supplementing calcium, make sure to feed the calcium in a separate dish so the laying birds can eat it as they need it. Some ducks will run up behind the chickens and pull on their tail feathers and sometimes the chickens will peck the ducks. My coop is raised by 18 inches with a ramp and my ducks hated that coop. Aug 19, 7 Somerset, CA. When starting a homestead , chickens are usually the first animals to make their debut on the farm. Yes, you can keep them all together. Chickens and ducks are both plagued with their fair share of diseases and health concerns , but ducks tend to be quite hardy.

While there is a bit of overlap in the needs of these animals, they each have their own distinct requirements. Chickens seemingly obsess over who is at the top. Chicken Feather Loss: Cause and Cure. Tim is the founder of the poultrykeeper website and lives in Herefordshire, UK. However, you will need to make a few changes to the way your coop and run are set-ups if you want both of the animals in there. Forums New posts Search forums. Once a rooster was convinced it was a drake and slept with the ducks and watched over them everywhere they went with care. If your hens have raised nesting boxes, make sure you provide a clean spot on the floor for your ducks to lay their eggs.

New Member Introductions. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It will work, but if chickens could talk they would probably tell their owners how annoying their playmates are at night. The birds will only associate with others of the same species. Chicken Feather Loss: Cause and Cure. I remember our first two ducks, they were quick to become attached to the children and they just would not separate. Both the younger versions will have slightly different needs when it comes to their food, but that is out of the scope of this guide. Day 21 of incubating shipped eggs- movement but still lots of fluid in the eggs??? ChickenToes Songster 11 Years.

When supplementing calcium, make sure to feed the calcium in a separate dish so the laying birds can eat it as they need it. While there is a bit of overlap in the needs of these animals, they each have their own distinct requirements. Chickens and ducks can get along, but probably they will not interact one another. Roosters and Drakes It is possible to keep a rooster and a drake together in the same flock if they were raised together, otherwise, they may become aggressive toward each other. You can experiment on your own but I always recommend starting off with separate feeders. Last edited: Nov 2, A young polish buff rooster wandered up to my front yard this AM. I am a bit concerned though as it seems my hens, and even the roosters are a bit afraid of her.

What I do, is put wheat under water in a half-size bucket for the ducks. May 14, 2, 9 NE Wisconsin. I am having trouble with 3 of the chickens chasing the ducks. Your answer will be used to improve our content. Medicated feed will kill a duck, I have heard. Ducks rule the roost, lol. May 7, 2, 12 Bergen, NY. So, if you have only chickens, you only need this setup.

Learn how your comment data is processed. Right now they are living in separate pens and free range them together in our garden about an hour a day. In fact, even if they are in an enclosed space do not do this , there is still a minimum chance that they will fight. Sure, both will still drink from water nipples, but the chickens are still going to want to access that water basin. You will need to clear out that water basin at least daily. Would he hurt them? One issue that is sometimes common in a mixed flock is crossed species mating. In general ducks are bigger and stronger than chickens so they might try to push the chickens away and eat their food. I am afraid to lock them all up together as the ducks are less able to get away I am putting them in a large dog crate inside the building, and I hate doing that to them.

Right now they are living in separate pens and free range them together in our garden about an hour a day. Latest threads A. Close Menu. There will be a pecking order established, just like in any flock of birds. Ensure there is adequate housing space or provide different housing for each. As youngsters, chickens and ducks require a different type of food. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. From a purists point of view, they should be kept in separate enclosures but I have kept my chickens and ducks together for many years with very few problems. Food stuck in beak, not throat.

For the run, ducks need square feet per duck. That being said, there are some backyard chicken and duck owners who have claimed that their ducks and chickens socialize a little bit. Great article really informative and helpful, we ahve people keeping both bantam chickens and ducks together so this was really usefull. Latest posts by Tim Daniels see all. From a purists point of view, they should be kept in separate enclosures but I have kept my chickens and ducks together for many years with very few problems. I love my chickens but they are such mean girls. Both the younger versions will have slightly different needs when it comes to their food, but that is out of the scope of this guide. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

And yes, ducks are soooo messy Random Ramblings. A duck can get quite dirty, and buildup can form in their nose and eyes. Once the chicks are hatched, mama duck will want to show her babies to the water. Tim is the founder of the poultrykeeper website and lives in Herefordshire, UK. JavaScript is disabled. Even though ducks might attempt roosting, they generally do best sleeping on the ground. Ensure there is adequate housing space or provide different housing for each. I am so worried one of the ducks will end up getting hurt.

Latest: ClumsyUzi 5 minutes ago. Random Ramblings. May 14, 2, 9 NE Wisconsin. This will all depend on the temperament of the two males. Chickens need water so that their crops don't get impacted. Thank you for Subscribing. There are a few things that you will need to do to ensure that they can live together while each having all their needs filled, but it is nothing too crazy. Sponsored Content, Contests, and Giveaways.

Thanks for your help! The birds will only associate with others of the same species. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Chickens, on the other hand, prefer to stay dry at all costs. In general ducks are bigger and stronger than chickens so they might try to push the chickens away and eat their food. Can i raise them together? Your answer will be used to improve our content. What is the best pet duck? New posts New threads Active threads Latest posts.

Chickens can rest on perches, and ducks on the floor. Can i raise them together? It will be a little bit different for ducklings and chicks. You can experiment on your own but I always recommend starting off with separate feeders. New posts New threads Active threads Latest posts. They naturally know how to clean up by dunking their head in water to clear away the gunk. Comments I have 2 pet ducks and 2 pet chickens. While there is a bit of overlap in the needs of these animals, they each have their own distinct requirements. Once the chicks are hatched, mama duck will want to show her babies to the water. Chickens seemingly obsess over who is at the top.

How to choose the perfect breed of chicken for you- including our top 5 beginner picks. Since ducks love to make a mess, feeders, waterers, and even bedding can become perfect places for bacteria to thrive, so it is extremely important to keep living quarters clean. No matter your situation, it is, in fact, possible to peacefully manage a mixed flock. Chickens raising ducklings can be a slightly different story than the other way around. Refer to this article. As far as the feed goes, it's ok to feed them together, provided the feed is NOT medicated!! They will try to bathe in any water they can find! Some ducks will run up behind the chickens and pull on their tail feathers and sometimes the chickens will peck the ducks. They have some good meat too. A lean-to type shelter is really all they would need, to get out of the elements.