emmaw298 Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Hi there! Having kept hens for a couple of years now, I have decided to branch out to ducks too. I know they are a lot messier but I am hoping I can keep them in the same bit as the hens where the garden is already quite trashed! My questions are: - is it ok to keep hens and ducks together, I've read some mixed reports on this - what is the minimum amount of pond they need and does this vary according to breed? - are the layers pellets that ducks eat the same as that given to hens? I would really appreciate pictures of people's set ups if possible please!! Many thanks in advance for your help Emma x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Hi emma yes ducks are so messy my ducks and chickens all run together in the day but they go to bed in seperate houses at night and yes they eat the same layers pellets as my chickens and you can use a kids plastic sand pit as a pond which would need emptying out every day mine have a large pond which gets pumped out once a week but they have fresh drinking water daily all ducks love water hope this helps a bit leanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 My questions are: - is it ok to keep hens and ducks together, I've read some mixed reports on this - what is the minimum amount of pond they need and does this vary according to breed? - are the layers pellets that ducks eat the same as that given to hens? They're a lot louder than chickens too. I keep mine together - only in the day but will permanently eventually - but have a drake and he chases them ... and the rest We're taking the intros really slowly so hopefully they'll be ok They live in the WIR in a Go at night (click the WIR picture in my signature for more photos ) I have 2 big red tub trugs which they swim in, and they also us the pond Layers pellets are the same yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaw298 Posted April 15, 2010 Author Share Posted April 15, 2010 thanks both for your helpful updates - love your WIR setup! is it ok to let ducks and chickens sleep in the same place too? guess there's any issue with the roosting bars though thinking about it..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Our ducks sleep in the Go (with no roosting bars) + the chickens are in the Ducks can't use the roosting bars, so shouldn't really be in the same place. In the wendy house, the ducks try to sleep under the perch + get pooed on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaw298 Posted April 18, 2010 Author Share Posted April 18, 2010 nice!! thanks for the advice - i'm trying to seek a second eglu (without roost bars!) as we speak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
