The Poultry Keeper

sarahc · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Hi, im new here and just after a bit of thoughts and advice.
Im getting some chickens in August, but would really like a couple of ducks. I'd like some indian runner duck's, Ive read they are very good layers, dont fly need little water (safer with chickens) and are quite quiet.
Is it OK to keep say 2 chickens (thinking about silkies) and 2 ducks together or 2 silkies and 1 duck?
Can they all share the same coop?
Would they also be ok to have the run of a garden with my giant rabbit (its a biggish garden, and would only be out 'free range' when i was home)

Thanks.

james419 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject:

Our ducks geese and chicken all run together - but one duck would be very lonely, they like company - at the moment we have 3 Indian game chicks and 7 runner ducklings all about 2 weeks old and at the chicks insistence they share a brooder, when they want a break they just jump over to their own part!

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1088 Location: Sussex

I think it would be best keeping them seperate, atleast seperate housing anyway. You would also need atleast 3 chickens and 3 ducks (incase one of the ducks or chickens die)

tracey061196 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

Hi

I have ducks running with chickens and they get on fine.

I have 8 ducks and 8 chickens in a large pen. The chickens have an ark and the ducks have a house.

I do let the chickens out first as the ducks will eat all the layer pellets really quick.

sasha.p · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 492 Location: gwent

we keep our ducks and chickens housed separate due to the fact the ducks i find make the house messier a lot quicker but they run together fine i can not imagine why they would not get along with a rabbit as long as there is enough room for them all.i loverunner ducks they are so entertaining i have just had 10 hatch last week under some of my broodie hens Very Happy

would pop a picture on but have no idea how to?

LauraMH · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:04 am Post subject:

We have Ducks and Chcikens free ranging in the garden. We do have a good amount of space for them to happily live together.

We do have a seperate duck house but they have all decided to sleep in the poultry house together. 2 off the muscovy ducks even decided to build nest in there and both have gone broody. We have Runners aswell and lots of duckling we have hatched. They currently have a huge poultry shed but soon as hubby gets his garage up I will have the other 12 ft x 6 ft shed aswell.
All live happily together without any problems lol

sarahc · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Thanks everyone!

I'm thinking of getting a wooden dog kennel for the ducks, the enterances are quite high, and they are low to the ground as they have no steps or ramps. I was going to drill some air holes/vents in around the top and put on a door so i can keep it shut at night. If they end up going in the coop i wouldnt mind and this will be a just in case thing!

Would this be an OK idea before I get a kennel?

debcat · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:

Kennels are brilliant for duck housing Very Happy