kitbag Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Hi guys! I was just wondering, do any of you have any experience of keeping chickens and ducks together, especially new ducks with an older chicken?? Does it work? Thanks xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Tom123 is the guy to talk to I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 Brilliant thanks!! xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Ducks are so messy. They make so much mess and they smell. Every bit of water they think is theirs so unless they have A LOT of room and A LOT of water for both chickens and ducks not the best combination. Trust me I went into this as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Good sales pitch their RJ! Despite what most people say, it is very possible. I currently have a pair of Call ducks and 2 Pekins living in harmony. It is very possible so long as the housing and run are suited. If I am correct, your hen is a hybrid and lives in an Eglu with a standard run?? If I'm right and you would like to get ducks then you will need either an extension on the run or a bigger fenced area. I would probably go for one of the smaller, large breed ducks such as Khaki Campbells or Magpies. You would need two so they have a duck buddy! A minimum run size of 2m x 3m (1m x 4m if eglu run) for 1 hen and 2 large ducks is essential so it doesn't get a mess and they can get out of the way of each other if needed. Obviously any bigger is better! Definitely site the run on slabs and have a pond such as a large, shallow tub trug at one end of the run and the food and house the other end. The whole run can be hosed down every/every other evening to keep it clean and the water would need changing every day. I don't really think an eglu run is a good place to keep ducks due to the mess, a walk in run or fenced area would be so much easier. Good luck and PM me if you have any more questions Tom x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 aaww brill thanks Tom! I will have a think and get back to you with any questions! xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Well Tom you gave me both sides so I thought i would give the bad and you could give the good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Yes ducks are messy but only if they aren't given the right housing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Ahh well I was correct about them thinking every bit of water was for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Well Tom you gave me both sides so I thought i would give the bad and you could give the good Good Cop/Bad Cop Great info Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Housing? Wassat then??? Why would you want to sleep in a nice cosy safe duck house when you can sleep in your paddling pool and cause your human to have to stumble about in the dark, frequently landing on her butt because you've turned your pen into a quagmire??? Oh yes and they do own all the water, if they freerange at the same time as the chooks, they deliberately go into the chook pen and fill the mushroom drinker with mud, despite having a pool just for them But these things are all kind of endearing really, I do like them I wouldn't probably get a drake with your ducks though, mine is getting a bit amorous with the hen that lives with them (I actually got ducklings to keep a lone chick company and they have loved eachother up until recently). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Yes, not a good idea to have a mature drake in with hens. They can do them some damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Ive had ducks and chocks together and they got on well with the ducks, 4 Indian runners and 2 call duck drakes (I do miss having them as we were foxed Christmas eve, but thats another post altogether)...... its nothing like when you add a new hen, well not in my experience...... The ducks can be messy (I couldnt comment on the smell as I cant smell any thing any way) emma x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
