danb_1985 Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Hi I'm new to this and recently bought a coop to come this week. The coop can house 8 birds but know that isn't the case. I ultimately wanted chickens but am now also wanting a duck too. I will be buying birds in the very near future and need advice. My question-will 1 duck (Campbell) live happily with 2 chickens? If this is the case this is what I will be goin with. This gives me the option to add another duck and chicken in a year or 2 to make 5 birds. If I need to buy 2 ducks I'd be going with 2 ducks and 2 chickens then add another 2 chickens in a year or 2? Ideally I'd rather start with 3 and increase to 5 so living is more comfortable for the birds. All answers and advice appreciated thanks. Ps sorry for posting in both chicken and duck forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I haven't kept ducks before, but I imagine they have very different needs from chickens. Maybe you can clarify a bit about where you are planning to keep them. Are you planning to have them share the coop? Or only the run? How big is your run? Are you planning to get chicks and introduce those or planning to get adult birds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Thanks for the reply They will share coop and run. Run will be approx 3m by 1m. I will include some water for the duck to splash in. Each bird will be point of lay so no real chicks? I think from what I've read/heard that they will be ok together, my real question is will one duck be happy with 2 chickens as companions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Can't really help you there. But there are a number of Omeleteers that also keep ducks. No doubt someone will be along shortly. I can tell you that 3m by 1m run will never be big enough for 5 birds, let alone the 8 the manufactorers of the coop advice. Especially when part of the run will be dedicated to water for your duck. My run is roughly the same size as yours and I already find it too small for my three bantams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Would it be too small even though they will be given free reign of the garden once or twice a week too? I would be looking to extend that run in the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I currently have 2 pekins and 2 Wyandotte bantams in a 3m Eglu Go run. They come out to free range every day when I get home from work, and for a good few hours on weekend days (except this week while they're being wormed - it's been horrible not being able to let them out they look so bored ), and even so I think the run's only just big enough. I agree with cat tails, that especially when you have some space taken up for water for the ducks it won't really be big enough for 5 and certainly not for 8. Until you can extend, if they're only going to come out a couple of times a week I'd stick to 3 for now. I don't know about combining chickens and a duck though - sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Thanks for the replies. Taking what you have both said on board, I think I'm going to start with 3 chickens and put off 2 ducks for a month or so. I will then extend at least another metre and maybe around my tree (I know that means nothing to you). Thanks for advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 You've done the right thing a Duck would be very unhappy with a chicken as a friend leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 How noisy would 2 khaki Campbell's be? My garden is immediately connected to 4 others so don't want to upset the neighbours?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Hi I know other people do but I don't house my ducks and chickens together as ducks are very messy and do splatty poop also don't need perches chickens do but like straw as bedding but I don't give chickens straw due to impacted crops all my chickens are housed in houses with just shavings and all the ducks in houses with straw they all free range together but go their separate ways at bedtime.The noise issue you wont really know until you have them some are quiet some not depends solely on the bird I think. I have khakis they don't tend to make a noise unless something alarms them or they tell me their food bowl needs refilling but they are 9 so are quite chilled out these days lol leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks for the reply. I think space wise I'd need to keep them together and 5 birds would be my max. Would hate to get ducks then have to get rid of them due to noise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I think it depends on the breed of duck - obviously call ducks are very loud! Males are definitely quieter though, it's only the females that quack, so if you want quiet, get a couple of male ducks. Chickens can be quite nasty - I think 1 duck versus 2 chickens wouldn't stand a chance, it would be bullied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I think you would be wise to stick to just chickens to start with. They have very different requirements to ducks and though they can free range together you would need lots of space for them to do so as ducks quickly churn up the ground into mud with their flappy feet, and as they are messy eaters they also soon make their food into a widely spread 'porridge'. There is also the question of bullying. Ducks do not have the sharp beaks of chickens to defend themselves with and as they don't perch they'll get pooped on every night by the chickens who do perch. All in all I don't think you'd have a happy set up if you went for 2 chooks and 1 duck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for your replies. I have bought 3 chickens and letting them settle in now. Still interested getting 2 ducks. If I needed to get a small coop/hutch for them could be an option if absolutely necessary. Would like Campbell's and males would be best option for the noise but read that they try to mate with hens so couldn't have males. How noisy are 2 Campbell's realistically going to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 No one can really answer that I have khaki Campbells some girls don't make a peep one has a very large quack if your that worried I wouldn't bother with Ducks but chickens are not that quiet but I would deffo not put them in the same house and pen as come winter as others have said you are gonna get a sloppy poop run which could harbour god knows what nastys and chickens like to s"Ooops, word censored!"e at the ground and peck leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb_1985 Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 No one can really answer that I have khaki Campbells some girls don't make a peep one has a very large quack if your that worried I wouldn't bother with Ducks but chickens are not that quiet but I would deffo not put them in the same house and pen as come winter as others have said you are gonna get a sloppy poop run which could harbour god knows what nastys and chickens like to s"Ooops, word censored!"e at the ground and peck leanne You could be right. Maybe wait till I can dedicate an area of the already small garden to them or move house before getting ducks. Already enjoying the chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
