Chickens & ducks?

[Wildestflower]

I've had some conflicting advice about whether chicken and ducks can cohabit. We have a large, fox proof, walk in run and four chickens live in there. The chickens are in a coop at night. If we are in the garden, the chickens free range. This is to stop the foxes taking them, which they did in broad daylight. I have a friend who is looking to rehome two pet ducks as she is moving to a flat. I haven't offered to have the duck as my plan would be to house them with the chickens. My DH thinks the chickens would bully the ducks. We also have a small wildlife pond with frogs, dragonflies etc but no fish.

Would love some advice from experienced keepers.

[StellaHeyStella]

I think they could happily live alongside one another but bear in mind that the ducks won't automatically go into the coop at night with the chickens so you could be spending some time each evening chasing them in.

[JoyTheUnicorn]

We have chickens and ducks, they don't seem to socialise together, and in ten years I've never seen any chicken to duck bullying.
We have a separate duck house, as they tend to be much messier than chickens, although I know someone who has a shed concerted with perches for the chickens and a space on the floor for ducks, so same house can work.
I would fence off the pond, or cover it with strong mesh so the ducks couldn't get in, as it will become a stinking muddy hole very quickly! For water, a paddling pool is ideal as it's easily changed, and gives them the chance to submerge their heads (essential so they can clear their nostrils out).
They eat the same, so in that way it's easy enough.
It's as well to know that ducks are far more destructive than chickens, and if they free range in a garden, and there's a small boggy area, they will turn it into a large mud patch, so you may want to block off muddy areas.

[steppemum]

you may be better off getting them their own house inside your foxproof run.
They do not perch like chickens do, they need a bed of straw.

They also need access to water at all times, enough water to dip their heads in, this is to help with feather preening.

No reason why they should co-habit though.

[steppemum]

What type of ducks?
because eg Muscovy ducks only eat grass, like geese, but other ducks will strip your garden bare!

[pinkmagic1]

They will be fine. I have previously kept them together and my in laws still do.
Just be warned that ducks are extremely messy and will turn your run into the Somme in no time!

[Wildestflower]

Thank you so much. I had no idea ducks are messy and that they need to be kept out of ponds. Thank you for all the advice.

The ducks are called Indian Summer ducks. I don't know if they eat grass?

[JoyTheUnicorn]

Indian runner ducks?

We find that ducks like to poke their beaks just under the grass to find grubs and insects rather than eat grass. If they have a large area the grass may survive, if they're in a small area it will be turned to mud.
We have just under half an acre, in that area there is a boggy patch about 20m x 10m that is now pure mud. We normally fence it off before winter but for some reason didn't this year.

[Wildestflower]

they are Indian Runner ducks. i thought they were called Indian Summer ducks, for some reason. They look a bit like small penguins.