nikkichick Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 We are planning to get 2 chickens in the feb half term, I have friends who have an extra call duck duck (not sure how) and they wondered if i would take it to go with the chooks. I have a red Eglu go with run and an area where the duck can splash! Do ducks and chickens live together ok? Can i feed them similar diets? I think the duck is a female so would this make it easier? Don't mind taking on a duck but would need a bit more knowledge. Thanks!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I think lwescott has one duck with his chooks and they live together ok A couple of things to bear in mind though... Female calls ducks make a lot of noise - an awful lot and can be louder and more regular noise makers than a cockerel Ducks make a lot of mess and can smell - they live best in an area that can be hosed down regularly which probably isnt the best environment for chickens Its not impossible but if you are dealing with a small space it might not be the most ideal situation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beckyfitz Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Hi, I have two ducks, both female, living with my two chooks & they live harmoniously. When I first introduced the ducks they were quite young & chickens did pick on them a bit for a while, but since I've had a change of hens & introduced a new hen to the flock, she doesn't worry the ducks at all & all is calm now. They do, however, have separate sleeping arrangements - the ducks have a wooden house & the chickens have an Eglu, all within a WIR. The duck won't be able to sleep on roosting bars, & the chickens will so you will really need separate housing even if they live in the same run. HTH Becky x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I have a close friend who has 3 hens, one little cockerel (all are Pekins) and two white (breed uncertain, possibly Aylesbury) ducks. The ducks were the last to arrive in her group and though they are a bit bigger than the chooks, they did get a little picked on to begin with and used to hide in a corner. However all are happy now. She did use one wooden house for all, to start with, but it seemed unkind to have the chooks roosting above the ducks and pooing on them, so now she has a bunny house for the ducks and the previous house for the chooks. Both are in the same fairly small WIR. She has put one of those large, shallow tub trugs as a duck bath in the WIR as that is not too deep and so does not put the little chickens at any risk of drowning. For food, all eat layers mash. She said that the ducks find the mash easier to eat than the pellets. The downside is that the ducks do a lot of poos - even more than chickens so her WIR gets pretty mucky. It might be better if she had a run on a hard surface that was washable and could be covered in Aubiose. Then she could put the houses one at either end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
