Ducks and Chickens Living Together?

[D13]

This is something I just wanted to hear from all the BY Chicken veterans; should chickens and ducks be kept together?

I've been watching my neighbors poultry recently and they have a bunch of pullets and a few adult ducks. The ducks and chickens are in different houses at night but free-range in the same yard during the day. I was watching the chickens eat after I fed them their corn and the ducks started interrupting the chickens and chasing them off; nothing super serious but noticeable.

I've wondered this cause I want to get ducks at some point and wanted to know: what's the best way to go? Together; or separate?

 

[BoundlessLove]

I free range everything together, but make sure to have several different feeding stations available.
Are you using an all flock feed?

 

[User690263]

I've successfully kept ducks and chickens together previously without issues. Just be aware that if you have a Drake, it can lead to serious injuries to you chicken hens if he tries to mate with them, as a drakes... equipment is very different from that of a rooster

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Mine are together, but I have plenty of duck hens for the drakes to mess with, so they don't go after the chickens. They also know the chickens are in charge

 

[User690263]

Thankfully I personally never had to deal with my drake trying to mate with my chickens, but I've heard stories from a friend about how they had to put one of their hens down due to significant internal damage.

 

[Yardmom]

When dealing with live animals nothing is ever for sure. Ducks and chickens can live peacefully together. Mine free range together and I have had circumstances where ducks including drakes have lived in a coop with chickens without any issues.
I have also had experience brooding ducks with chickens and I believe this contributed to drakes trying to mate with chickens.
There can be issues with roosting. It is best for ducks to have a place to sleep where poop is not going to fall on them.
Another issue can be water. Ducks need places to dunk their heads and they love to swim. It can create a wet mess that is not always the best for chickens. The water could be very dangerous for chicks.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think it is going to depend a huge amount on your available space. In a traditional back yard, maybe not. In a farm like setting, it might work.

But the truth of it is, maybe...maybe it will work, and maybe it won't. If it doesn't work, you need a plan that you can do.

Mrs K

 

[D13]

I free range everything together, but make sure to have several different feeding stations available.
Are you using an all flock feed?

Oh they're not my ducks; I don't have any yet.

My neighbors don't really use any brand feed, they just feed all of them dried corn kernels.

 

[D13]

Another issue can be water. Ducks need places to dunk their heads and they love to swim. It can create a wet mess that is not always the best for chickens. The water could be very dangerous for chicks.

Yeah, the ducks' waters are super muddy lol.

They do have a pond (It's a very nice one too if I do say so myself) but they're ducks don't go around it much after one died to a snapping turtle attack.

The ducks and chickens do have access to multiple separate waterers; so I'd say they've got water covered.

 

[D13]

Thankfully I personally never had to deal with my drake trying to mate with my chickens, but I've heard stories from a friend about how they had to put one of their hens down due to significant internal damage.

Yeah; they're yard is littered with piles of white duck feathers. I haven't seen it in action but...I don't think I want to anymore