Keeping Ducks And Chickens Together (Yes You Can)

Yes. You can keep ducks and chickens together.

I do, and it is very simple and straightforward. That said, there are some differences between ducks and chickens that require you to make some adjustments to your coop. And there are potential safety and health concerns too. Luckily, nothing that can’t be easily managed, so let’s explore this topic in depth.

a group of geese, ducks, chickens on a green pasture
This is a small sample of the various geese, ducks, and chickens I keep and house together without problems. They also free-range and eat together, so everyone is friends.

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Soon after getting chickens, I realized I wanted to keep ducks too.

So I got myself some Saxony, Cayuga, Muscovy, and Welsh Harlequin ducklings and even hatched some out.

(Next is Silver Appleyard.)

Ducks lay delicious, large eggs and provide delicious meat – better than chickens in both departments as far as I’m concerned. But would I need to build or buy a separate (expensive) duck house? Fortunately, the answer to that was a resounding NO from every knowledgeable person I spoke to.

Keeping ducks and chickens together makes sense if you have a coop or shed that is large enough and that is all you need. There is no good reason to house your ducks separately as their requirements are very similar in all the ways that matter. 

Muscovy duckling and orpington chicks outside a brown shed that is their coop foraging for bugs and weeds
My Muscovy ducklings and Orpington chicks learning to forage together outside the coop they share. They shared the same brooder as day-olds until it was time for them to go live outside.

Brooding Baby Ducks & Chicks Together

Yes, you can brood your baby ducklings and chicks together in the same space.

They can even be raised on the same feed. I’ve done this now with countless chicks and ducklings and have produced nothing but healthy and high-quality animals.

But there are a few caveats to this — the first is that you cannot feed medicated chick starters to ducklings.

Feed regular unmedicated chick starters instead. 

Or, do as we do and feed a quality fermented chicken grower right from the beginning and skip the specialty “chick starter” feed that I think is completely unnecessary. 

All of our chickens and ducks get the same feed (soy-free, 18% protein chicken grower) regardless of age or if they are primarily an egg-laying bird or meat bird or a heritage dual-purpose type. 

We also provide a weekly feeding of scrambled eggs mixed with flax meal, kelp, and black oil sunflower seeds right from the time they hatch for optimal nutrition. 

(Sometimes they get some oatmeal mixed in with that too.)

a bresse pullet and a muscovy duck hanging out on pasture together
My young Bresse pullet and her Muscovy duck friend on pasture in the summer.

The second is that your chicks and ducklings need to be of similar age and size. 

I have seen week-old chicks bully and peck at younger ducklings that are bigger than they are.

Do not mix ages and sizes because aggression is a real concern.

But if they are raised together right from the start, all should be well. Regardless, keep an eye on your brooder and make sure all actually is well.

Finally, ducks need extra protein and also a nutrient called niacin (vitamin B3) in greater quantities than chicks do to grow and develop properly. This is easily provided through the scrambled eggs (very high in Niacin) I feed weekly. 

You can also add extra niacin in the form of brewer’s yeast by sprinkling it on top of their food.

If you’re not willing or able to do this, brood your chicks and ducklings separately, and then introduce them together at a later time.

a bresse rooster next to an orpington hen and some ducks eating together from a metal bowl on pasture
My ducks and chickens are given the exact same feed and they eat together.

Introducing Adult (Or Older) Ducks & Chickens To Each Other

When your ducks and chickens get older, it’s getting closer to the right time to introduce the two flocks. Luckily, introducing ducks and chickens is easier than introducing two flocks of adult chickens to each other.

A good way to start raising ducks and chickens together is by keeping the two flocks in separate pens where they can see each other.

Your birds will acclimate to the presence of the other flock, which can be especially important if you have any aggressive birds.

Once a few days have passed, you can let the backyard ducks and chickens out together and monitor their behavior.

You can try to introduce them during the fall or winter for the best chance of success since the mating season for ducks is in the spring and summer and they may be extra aggressive during those months.

Keeping the two flocks separate as they get used to each other is important to prevent the spread of disease. Ensuring that both flocks are healthy when you finally combine them will prevent any losses of birds.

two welsh harlequin ducklings preening and drying off after a dip outside in a pond
My Welsh Harlequin ducklings preening after a dip in one of their ponds.

Water Needs Are Different Between Ducks & Chickens

While ducks and chickens are compatible in many ways, their water needs are completely different. 

Chickens don’t have waterproof feathers and can be prone to becoming chilled or even sick if wet, so they usually avoid water. And while chickens need water just like any other animal, they don’t rely on it for digestion as ducks do.

Ducks have glands that secrete waterproofing oils on their feathers when they groom. They use water to help them eat food and enjoy splashing around whenever a pool of water is available.

Water is also very important for keeping their feathers clean due to their messy eating habits and keeping their bills cleared.

Ducks need water that they can submerge their entire heads into and it is best if they have a pond or small pool of some sort for bathing too.

a deep red shed converted into a chicken coop sits out in a pasture with blue skies and fluffy white clouds behind it
This is one of the wooden sheds we use to house chickens and ducks together.

Can You Feed Ducks And Chickens The Same Feed? (Hint: Yes)

Conveniently, ducks and chickens can be fed chicken feed when kept together.

While there are some exceptions to look out for, adult ducks and chickens have similar dietary needs and will prosper on chicken feed.

You mustn’t feed ducks medicated chicken feed. Ducks eat more than chickens do, so if they consume the medicated feed dosed for chickens, they can overdose. Also, medicated feed is usually formulated to prevent and treat coccidiosis, something which ducks aren’t susceptible to.

Also, it’s important to supplement any chick feed used for ducklings. Growing ducklings simply have different needs than chicks do, and if they don’t get feed with enough niacin then they can develop neurological issues.

Adding a pound of crushed brewer’s yeast powder to 40lbs of chick starter can get the feed to proper vitamin levels.

Or you can feed scrambled eggs weekly as I do.

I also recommend fermenting the feed which you can read about in my article The MANY Benefits Of Fermenting Chicken Feed {& How To Do It}

ducklings and chicks outside their coop that they share

Housing Ducks & Chickens in the Same Coop Properly

The two priorities in maintaining a coop for chickens and ducks are ensuring that it stays clean and that both the ducks and chickens are comfortable.

Because the two species roost differently, it is easy to configure a coop for ideal cohabitation.

Chickens prefer to roost high up, so you can offer comfortable perches towards the top of the coop.

Ducks prefer the floor and can be offered soft, moisture-wicking bedding. 

Using the deep litter method to maintain your coop is extremely effective at reducing how much time you spend maintaining the flock. Instead of scraping out and cleaning the coop bedding frequently, you can use compost to your benefit.

Start by getting an ample amount of carbon-based bedding, such as chopped straw, grass clippings, shredded paper, or leaves. You’ll need enough dry bedding that it’s about six inches deep.

The chicken and duck droppings will contribute the nitrogen you need. 

By ensuring that your coop is well-ventilated, the ammonia and moisture will air out with no effort on your part.

a flock of chickens perch on a wooden fence post in a garden
My Orpingtons and Bresse as pullets. Despite living together and free-ranging over the same property, the species tend to stick to their own.

Problems That Can Arise & Solutions

Chickens and Ducks Mating (deadly to chickens)

Male ducks or drakes are aggressive by nature and will try to breed with as many females as possible, which can be extremely dangerous for chicken hens. If a drake mounts a hen, it can cause severe internal injuries and even death. It’s necessary to have roosters who will protect the hens and separate drakes if necessary during mating season.

Roosters may try to breed with duck hens but aren’t able to harm them. 

Excess Humidity and Wetness (especially in winter)

One risk that arises when raising ducks and chickens together is ducks are prone to making a mess with water.

Unfortunately, this can also cause the coop to become dirty and humid, contributing to the growth of bacteria and severely harming the flock.

Keeping the waterers and feeders outside the coop is a good way to improve the cleanliness of their spaces. There are waterers designed to reduce mess with chickens or ducks, but it can be difficult to find one that works for both species.

If you want waterers inside the coop, however, you may be able to find an option on the market right for your flock.

While ducks tend to struggle with waterers designed for chickens, chickens can happily use dishes for ducks.

Deep water dishes or kiddie pools are great options for both chickens and ducks. The chickens will know to simply drink from the dish, while the ducks will have the added options of rinsing themselves or playing in the water.

Again, proper use of the deep litter system will fix these issues and you can read about that in great detail in my article The Deep Litter Method {Why I’ll Never Do Anything Else}

a white bresse rooster flaps his wings on a green pasture
My Bresse roosters were extremely aggressive — to people. They didn’t care about the ducks.

Drake and Rooster Aggression 

While you can keep drakes and roosters raised together in a mixed flock, it is extremely difficult to introduce adults – especially if they have aggressive temperaments. 

Keeping only drakes or roosters isn’t a solution, either. Drakes are aggressive birds with incompatible anatomy and can easily harm a chicken hen unless a rooster is there to protect her.

Having many hens for both species can appease roosters and drakes, reducing aggression overall.

Diseases That Can Be Passed From One Species to Another

Fortunately, chickens and ducks don’t present any strong disease risks to each other.

Ducks are very healthy, clean animals. They bathe frequently and have a naturally high body temperature inhospitable to many parasites. They also aren’t susceptible to coccidiosis or Mareks, which are common in chickens.

Because they enjoy playing in the water and making a mess, ducks can cause a coop to harbor dangerous bacteria.

Keeping up good maintenance habits and ensuring the coop has dry bedding can help reduce any disease transmission.

Final Thoughts

There you have it — keeping ducks and chickens together is easy and straightforward through all stages of their lives.

It’s quite easy as long as you provide proper feed that everyone can eat, and proper housing with a suitable coop management system.

a flock of chickens on green pasture.

The Ultimate Guide to Homestead & Backyard Chicken Keeping 

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