2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[txswanie]

Can chickens and ducks live together? I have 4 chickens who seem quite happy, they live in a cube inside a big, run. (20x40') I got a distraught call from a woman I know saying she has to get rid of 2 ducks and would I take them? Obviously the ducks would have to have their own housing (what do ducks need?) I was thinking of adapting the space under the cube in some way. Will there be problems with dominance, food, space issues. I have heard that ducks are very messy compared to chickens, anyone have experience of this. Also, I will have to supply a small pool, will this be safe for the chicks? I have a slightly uneasy feeling about this , the chicks seem happy and I don't want to upset the apple cart but I fear for the ducks. I wouldn't want them to end up in the pound.

thanks

Colette

[Chortle Chook]

I asked exactly the same thing a month ago under the ducks section of the Omlet forum. In the end a friend of mine had the 2 ducks in question and yes they do live with her Pekins just fine - in fact in the same house, though I think I'd probably give them a house of their own. Chickens have sharper beaks so if anyone is going to get pecked it is the ducks. To start with her ducks (bigger than the little hens) used to avoid the chickens and nested under the hen house, but after a few days they got used to one another and all has been well ever since. They all eat mash (the ducks made a horrid mess of any pellets) and the 'pond' the ducks have is a sort of plastic tray no more than 6ins deep to avoid the chickens getting too wet.

 

Apparently ducks do a lot more and smellier poo but I still think that come Spring I may get a couple of white Pekins - they are so cute looking.

 

Oh one thing, ducks can't climb chicken stairs (they need a ramp) and obviously don't use roosting bars but like to tuck up in the straw of a nest box. Another reason for them having a different house I think.

[chicken bark]

I have chickens and ducks sharing run space together. They have separate housing. My ducks eat the layers pellets and drink the water I put out for the chickens. The chickens drink the bucket of water I put out for the ducks. Ducks only need to be able to submerge their heads in water and this water needs changing daily. I prefer to give mine a pond (an old childs hard paddling pool) and put a brick in it in case a chicken decided to get in.

 

Ducks are messy drinkers as they filter feed so they put mud into the chickens water. The chickens don't care about this. The ducks feed out of the chicken feeders. They can all eat the same treats.

 

I've not noticed ducks being messier except where mud is concerned. They do like dibbing their beaks in mud which can mess up the garden a bit.

 

Overall definitely worth getting.

 

What type are the ones you are looking at? Are they ducks or drakes? Drakes are quieter but may cause problems for your hens. Ducks can be noisier depending on breed.

[Chucky1]

Hi Collette

 

We have chickens and ducks and they get on fine. The chooks are in two cubes and the ducks have their own house. There are threads on the duck forum about ponds and houses for ducks.

 

All will eat layers pellets. Our chickens like nothing better than pooey duck water and yes ducks are messier but they always look so pristine.

 

One word of caution. The chooks will drink from the duck pool. There is a potential drowning hazard for the chooks if the slip into the pool and cannot get out. We got around it by creating a "beach type" ledge around the pool, but there are other solutions too.

 

I'm sure you won't regret it if you get ducks.

 

Good Luck

[txswanie]

Update..These ducks were supposed to be food ducks, one is a Pekin, not sure about the other. One drake one duck. Apparently they are really quite fat and have limited movement (very short legs) I guess that's the way food ducks come out. I wonder if that is asking for health troubles down the line? These guys were not supposed to make it past 6 months, how long will I get from them? (I don't want to be bawling my eyes out in 6 months time) but if I can get a reasonable amount of time and stop them going to the pound I will go for it.

Thanks for all the answers...p.s. I didn't know there was a duck forum, is it on Omlet?

 

Colette.

[Chucky1]

Thanks for all the answers...p.s. I didn't know there was a duck forum, is it on Omlet?

 

Colette.

 

Colette, yes on Omlet. Click on Board index, then scroll down for ducks.

 

I would ask your last question there. There are a few duck experts on the duck forum that have little interest in chooks.

 

I don't know anything about meat ducks I'm afraid - but I would have reservations about taking them on.

 

Good Luck