01/28/2023
Can you keep chickens and other fowl together? Yes, but do your research as it may not work for you. I currently raise ducks and chickens in the same space so my experience is limited to the two types of fowl. They're both packed with personality and cute in their own way. Whether you adore them or they're a producer for you, they've got their own needs.
Both need the basic necessities - food, water, housing, and protection.
I got my ducks🦆 and chicks🐓 a week apart but raised them in separate brooders. Why? Ducklings are waterfowl and are very messy, wetter and grow faster than chicks. Chicks need it dry. Ducks also cannot use ni**le waterers. They need to dip their heads in the water to clean their nares (nostrils), eyes and mix their food with water or they may choke (thus being wetter and messier). Ducks will p**p anywhere, everywhere- liquid shot straight out their backside. 😳 Chicks are a bit more cleaner in that they too p**p anywhere but it's more solid and they especially p**p a lot when they sleep. Don't get me wrong, they're both p**ping machines. Ducklings need niacin in their food to build strong legs. They can share the same feed as chicks, but most chick feed lacks the amount of niacin ducklings require, which can be added with brewers yeast or another source. Niacin is fine for chick's also but if not provided, the chance of duck leg deformity rises and is almost certain. Ducks also tend to bury their faces in the food and create a bigger mess as they eat. Chicks peck at their food and scratch at it, likewise spreading it. Although ducks and chicken adolescents and adults can share space, raise them in separate brooders.
Ducks sleep on the floor of a coop and do not roost like chickens. They also aren't very steady climbing up ramps, so may have an issue with an elevated coop. Chickens jump, and roost on bars or in the rafters of the coop.
Chickens use elevated nesting boxes most of the time, ducks lay eggs at floor/ground level, will tend to lay eggs wherever they want. Finding their eggs can be a daily hunt. I give my ducks floor level bedding space and nesting boxes and they typically change where they lay daily, usually all laying in the same spot. Ducks lay eggs early morning and chickens can lay throughout the day. I have one chicken hen that lays her eggs in the sand of the p**p table and the others use the nesting boxes. I have also found eggs outside in the run. If they share space with other fowl, make sure the nesting boxes are above the reach of the other birds or the chickens may not use them. At times, my chickens return to the coop to lay eggs after the ducks are out for the day.
Depending on the breed, your ducks and chickens may fly. I think most will catch air and fall gracefully/ungracefully for a few feet. Chickens typically won't fly away, even if free ranged but ducks might. If their wings affect clipped or provided an overhead net or ceiling, even a 6 foot tall run may not be high enough for non flying breeds like the Rouen. I lost one of my girls when she flew up from the pond and tipped over the top of the run. My coonhound was standing right there and thought she was manna from heaven. She wasn't eaten but it was a deadly flight which was 100% preventable on my part. 😭
A rooster 🐓 or drake 🦆 is the guardian of the flock but are not necessary to produce eggs. Many areas will not allow roosters because they're louder. Drake's are more quiet than duck hens - they do not quack but have a raspy voice. Only duck hens quack. Roosters and Drake's ARE required if you want fertilized eggs/chicks.🐣🐥 It is imperative to understand that duck and chicken anatomy is very different and if a drake is not monitored or provided with female ducks of his own, he MAY try to breed with chickens. This can result in the injury or death of your chicken hens. Ducks and chickens are not monogamous (they do have their favorite) and should have several females. If the male to female ratio isn't large enough, males will fight to earn breeding rights. Each male should have 4-8 females. The males of either bird can also be more aggressive to each other and people. My drake, Puddleton has 4 females and completely ignores the chickens unless they try to boss him around, then he will peck at them.
Sharing space in a small coop may not be feasible because of the moisture ducks can add to the coop, which is not best for chicken welfare.
Ducks like to swim and chickens can't. You might find your chickens hanging out by the duck pond but they won't swim. When it's hot or they want a drink however, you might find them standing on a step, rock, and ledge in the pool so they can get cool, but they don't swim. Ducks don't require but are infinitely more joyous with a pool - and they'll tell you about it. Ducks also love to catch fish and both will eat pond vegetation. My ducks think it's hilarious to splash the chickens.
Space - there is a pecking order within the social hierarchy of all birds. Mine tends to share the same space separately, meaning they get along well, yet have their boundaries and social circle. I have provided several feed and water stations so they don't compete with each other. Chickens need fresh water and ducks will put dirt in everything you give them within seconds - I think it's a mission. To be happy, stressless and healthy, each bird requires space. If the space is too small they may develop aggressive behavior, peck each other, pull feathers and certainly be more apt to become ill. Many ready made coops and runs say they will hold x number of chickens but I don't see how.
I'm sure I'm leaving something out but this gives you an idea. Even though they're all birds of a feather, they all have their own needs. Pictures below are from their first few days loose in the run - I did have grass in the run at one point. Ahhh memories.
