[Rikki Jean]

Well, I'm finally getting the hang of chickens, and now we're thinking about throwing some ducks into the mix.

Here are my questions:

-Will they/can they live with the chickens?
-Do they have to be sheltered at night?
-Do I have to have a large water source for them? I don't even have irrigation for my garden!
-They're 2.5 w/o; do they need to be inside still?
-If I don't really want to deal with incubating, hatching, etc. later on, do I want to make sure to only take mallards?
-Anything else that i need to know?

 

[bender]

We had our mallard ducks sleep in the chicken pen. I think they would find their way at one point, but when I recall them, they were both blind so my dad and I would herd them into the coop each night.

At first we had a kiddie pool for them, but our chickens were stupid and kept drowning in it (2 inches of water!). Then my parents just used a large container. We'd clean it every day, because they make the water muddy very quickly.

If you don't wnat to deal with incubating and hatching eggs, just eat the eggs before the ducks start nesting. We put duck eggs under one of our chickens, and she raised them pretty well. However, she was really concernced that the ducks weren't scratching properly and kept trying to go in the water dish.

 

[Chicky2]

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[chaoticzenmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bender However, she was really concernced that the ducks weren't scratching properly and kept trying to go in the water dish.

LOL, that had me spitting out my coffee! Imagine the confusion for that poor hen.

 

[Rikki Jean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bender We had our mallard ducks sleep in the chicken pen. I think they would find their way at one point, but when I recall them, they were both blind so my dad and I would herd them into the coop each night. At first we had a kiddie pool for them, but our chickens were stupid and kept drowning in it (2 inches of water!). Then my parents just used a large container. We'd clean it every day, because they make the water muddy very quickly. If you don't wnat to deal with incubating and hatching eggs, just eat the eggs before the ducks start nesting. We put duck eggs under one of our chickens, and she raised them pretty well. However, she was really concernced that the ducks weren't scratching properly and kept trying to go in the water dish.

Thanks for the input. I thought about a kiddie pool, but I'm worried about the chickens drowning in it. I'm glad to know that it's a rational fear.

I guess that I thought they needed someplace to swim regularly...is that not really the case?

I'm still trying to fully understand the egg process, so thanks for explaining that to me.

I'd love to hatch babies, but I just don't think that I have the time in my life right now! I can't afford the extra expense of incubating materials either. I've always wondered though...what's the reason that most people don't just let their birds sit on their eggs, instead of incubating them? Is it just because then that bird won't be producing, or is there another reason?

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaoticzenmom Imagine the confusion for that poor hen.

This was my thought too, lol!

 

[veggiemomma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikki Jean ..what's the reason that most people don't just let their birds sit on their eggs, instead of incubating them? Is it just because then that bird won't be producing, or is there another reason? This was my thought too, lol!

I am no chicken expert, but I THINK from what I have read, it is because they don't produce when they are broody and because it is physically hard on the hens. They don't eat and drink much, they pull out their own feathers to insulate the nest. Sometimes they get very aggressive toward the other birds. So, I am guessing to keep healthier hens, and ducks, too, people take over the operation of hatching the eggs. JMHO

 

[verde]

I bought some chickens from a woman who had chickens, ducks and turkeys all sharing a large coop and yard.

 

[Rikki Jean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by veggiemomma I am no chicken expert, but I THINK from what I have read, it is because they don't produce when they are broody and because it is physically hard on the hens. They don't eat and drink much, they pull out their own feathers to insulate the nest. Sometimes they get very aggressive toward the other birds. So, I am guessing to keep healthier hens, and ducks, too, people take over the operation of hatching the eggs. JMHO

hm, makes sense. then again, i wouldn't like it if someone took my baby away to incubate it just because i got a little crazy while pg!

 

[momtoalexsarah]

We have muscovy ducks - 3 ducks and a drake. They lay each year and hatch their own duckling - then take care of them. We call them the farm freebies - we sell them in the fall for decent money and haven't spent a penny on them. They eat the flys, any grain that we spill that would have otherwise attracted wild birds and they just live in the barn with the rest of the animals. Most often sleeping in the ally of the barn at night for me to trip over in the dark (if not a duck then a weaner pig LOL)
As far as 2wo ducklings - a 3X3 wooden box that has a roof and a spot for drinking water and feed (a little sratch grain) would be best then let them out durring the day although you might want to put up a little chicken wire around them for a few weeks so that they don't wander to far and get taken by predators.

I have 8 duckling that I raised from 1do because they hatched the first week of March (we had 6inches of snow here till 2 weeks ago). They spent the first 2 weeks in the house in a rabbit cage - my kids loved them(even changeing their "daiper" (towel) twice a day) and they went to kindergarten and daycare for a visit - there again the kids had a blast.
They are 6 weeks old now and kinda ugly looking but now they get their freedom of the barn when I am out to watch. They still can't fly so they can't get away from a pig if they get cornered - normally a mama duck keeps them away from the pigs. When I've not out the live in a one of our farrowing rooms that is empty (10 X10ft room - straw floor and a big wading pool - even left some manure in it to grow flys for them - duck heaven and safe.)
All in all ducks are great fun, and we love our ducks, we would be lost without them here.

 

[Chicky2]

We only have chickens and guineas for birds so far, but w/our chickens, a few of them go broody and hatch out some chicks each year. When I am sure one is broody, I put her in her own space (small coop) and check several times a day to make sure she has water and feed. I have never had one pull out her feathers. I give hay and/or pine shavings for her to nest in. I would think it wouldn't be much different for ducks. We don't let a hen hatch out more than one clutch per year, so as not to stress her body too much.

I have had keets (baby guineas) drown in a horse watering trough before. But that was before we learned to put a big stick in the water, sticking out of the top. That way they can climb out.

We are looking to get ducks and/or geese in the next year or two. I plan to make their own coop/run, though. I figure they can free range during the day. I obviously haven't worked out all the details yet, though. We're doing a goat area first (next month!).

 

[MamaMonica]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momtoalexsarah All in all ducks are great fun, and we love our ducks, we would be lost without them here.

I love mine, too. I enjoy their quacking and funny personalities. They free-range daily are so much fun to watch. Because they range over a large area, duck poop isn't a problem.

 

[mamadelbosque]

We're getting ducks! We're going to order some Indian Runners from McMurray's in the next couple days

I'm so excited!

We've had chickens off and on for years and years, and do now.. but we're down to just 3 hens and the rooster, and they aren't friendly and are just... yeah. So, we're going to get ducks!

We've tried to let our chickens go 'broody' a few times but never had any success with them actually hatching out chicks... they always seem to get bored of it after a few days, and so then you just have x many eggs you can't eat and have to chuck, which is really sad.

 

[islandfarmgirl]

Hey Rikki,

We have muscovys and two Pekin ducks, as well as chickens, geese and feral guinea birds.

It's not recommended by the bird breeders to mix turkeys with chickens and ducks...but I haven't read anything that says you can't mix chickens and ducks... seems like it would be easier to feed them and so on... but in general I wouldn't. The ducks might get picked on by the chickens and they have less defenses against the sharp beaks of chickens. Plus ducks make a different kind of mess with their water than chickens do -- they like to get a mouthful of grain and then mix it with water and mud so their water tends to get really dirty compared to the chickens. Chickens scratch up the soil, and ducks tend to mat it down and make boggy, buggy areas if they are not moved around regularly to new areas or given deep bedding. Could turn your yard into a mudslide... how much pasture do you have for the birds and how many birds do you have?

Shelter at night depends on your climate. Ours (and our chickens) stay in moveable chicken tractors (portable coops) because of feral and pet dog predation, and so egg collection is simplified (no hunting all over the yard). Ducks are smart and they will hide their nest given the opportunity. Our birds get fresh pasture daily and have shelter from sun and rain.

You don't need to give ducks any more water than they need to drink. You CAN give them a bucket every couple of days to splash from and have a bath, but nothing that they need to get INTO with both paws.

The age I'd put them LOOSE outside is the age at which they are big enough that they won't get eaten by rats, cats or other predators. That would be at least 3-4 lbs and with full feathers (not down). Our ducklings are always outside, but they do have a cozy cardboard box for the first few weeks and that is inside a predator-proof enclosure like a dog kennel or a wire cage.

When you say mallards, do you mean males? Males are called drakes and the females are called hens. As long as you don't let them set on a whole nest of eggs you won't have a breeding problem. We keep our Pekins mostly for the eggs -- they are rich and delicious for baking and cooking. The hen would have to set the eggs for about three weeks after spending about two to three weeks laying a full clutch of 7-15 eggs, so it would be hard for the ducks to breed without you knowing it if you have them in an enclosed space.

Other tips? There's a great book called the Home Duck Flock that has a lot of handy info about raising ducks. Sorry I can't put my finger on it to give you the author. Waterfowl in general are prone to foot and leg injuries so be careful not to let pets or children chase them. Ducks are cute and fun and always smiling their funny little smiles, enjoy!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikki Jean Well, I'm finally getting the hang of chickens, and now we're thinking about throwing some ducks into the mix. Here are my questions: -Will they/can they live with the chickens? -Do they have to be sheltered at night? -Do I have to have a large water source for them? I don't even have irrigation for my garden! -They're 2.5 w/o; do they need to be inside still? -If I don't really want to deal with incubating, hatching, etc. later on, do I want to make sure to only take mallards? -Anything else that i need to know?

 

[Bluegoat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikki Jean Well, I'm finally getting the hang of chickens, and now we're thinking about throwing some ducks into the mix. Here are my questions: -Will they/can they live with the chickens? -Do they have to be sheltered at night? -Do I have to have a large water source for them? I don't even have irrigation for my garden! -They're 2.5 w/o; do they need to be inside still? -If I don't really want to deal with incubating, hatching, etc. later on, do I want to make sure to only take mallards? -Anything else that i need to know?

They can live without water to swim in, but, the question is will they be happy? Ducks really love the water and spend a lot of time there preening, they can get pretty ragged looking otherwise.

I never had a problem with chickens in the pool, so you could give it a try and see. In any case, they can't use a chicken waterer, they need to get their whole beaks in the water.

I wouldn't let them sit on eggs if you can help it, regular ducks don't tend to be great moms, which is why people put them under a broody hen. You have to get the hen as soon as she goes broody though, as duck eggs take longer to hatch. Not all chickens go broody, laying breeds have been bred not to do this so they will continue to lay. But old breeds will go broody, usually in spring.

I don't think I would house them together, ducks are pretty messy and also might get pooped on by the chickens.

Your ducks might wander away, and will not come in to roost at night with the chickens, you will have to teach them to come to you, herd them, or pen them. They will lay anywhere, so penning can be a help in finding eggs.

The drakes can be agressive to each other and the females, so it is usually best to watch the ratio of males to females or the girls will be run ragged.

 

[MamaMonica]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluegoat The drakes can be agressive to each other and the females, so it is usually best to watch the ratio of males to females or the girls will be run ragged.

Good point. And some drakes can be agressive to chickens, so you need to watch for that, too.

 

[Rikki Jean]

Thanks for all of the input everyone. I still haven't decided what I want to do. I'm thinking that I'm probably going to hold off, especially since we're going on vacation in the summer, and my mom and DH's grandma are already not thrilled to death about having to trade off on the job of coming over here to take care of the chickens (it'll only be a week-and-a-half

). Maybe in a few years, when I'm a seasoned city-homesteader, I'll get some ducks.

LOL, in the time that I wrote this, I just decided, didn't I?