4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[elam]

This has probably been done to death but can't find any answers when I've hunted through. I have a cube in a 12x6 WIR with hens. I'm thinking of getting a duck and would like to know whether I can keep one with my hens. I gather from some of posts I've seen that a duck wouldn't cope with the ladder but if cube was on floor would hens and duck be able to get in and are they ok sleeping alongside each other?

 

If anyone got any experience of this I'd love to hear about it.....

 

Emma

[miller30]

Hi you could do it but ducks are better of with other ducks in their own house chickens roost at night ducks dont and ducks splat poo every where and make way much more mess mine all free range my large garden in the day but go to bed in their own houses.

[elam]

Thanks for that, all information is gladly being absorbed!

 

Do ducks have to freerange? - or are they ok in large WIR? I've got a huge veg patch so I don't let my hens freerange. If ducks not ok in WIR how messy are they in the areas away from their water? I've got three young children and don't want to be overly concerned about where they're treading all the time. I gather that they are extremely messy in and around the water but would they wreck the rest of the garden?

 

Emma

[miller30]

Hi emma no ducks dont have to free range they can live in a run but they are very messy as they do splatty poos and yes they will trash your garden the bottom end of my garden does not have a blade of grass left in it and 2 of my ducks i have rehomed from my mums neighbour as she found they were to messy. In winter they are worse i dont wont to sound like im putting you off just letting you know they are messier than chickens but i wouldnt be without mine hope this helps leanne.

Edited June 29, 2009 by Guest

[elam]

Thanks Leanne. Not putting me off - just checking what I'd be getting myself into! Thank you for your time in replying - all very helpful. Out of interest, what breeds do you have and how noisy are they?

 

Emma

[miller30]

I have indian runners ,khaki campbells, indian runner crosses and a dark campbell it is only the females that quack and some of them are very loud mine only get mouthy when they have been spooked by something or the drake is getting frisky with them and they are telling him to go away.My favourite are indian runners all mine will eat out of anyones hands and my kids always bring their friends in to see them leanne.

[elam]

Thanks for all your help.

[Guest]

Hi

 

yes very messy domestic ducks dont perch..depends how big your garden is etc but that is the one thing my campbells and Aylesburys free ranged all day and they never ate my plants they loved the snails..they do dabble in the lawn though and do splatty tarry greasy poos...and in the winter boy do they love the mud..do need to have some water for dunking their heads under. They dont put themselves in at night easily either you do have to be around but if you had a WIR at least they would be safe

 

Good luck indie