Newby Chicken/Duck

[Dagi]

Hello,

A newby to the forum but also to all things poultry! We are set to have our first chicken coop arrive on Monday and look forward to having some lovely pets and eggs soon! We are still debating slightly which way to go on breeds, even species! I think the most important factors for us are:

1. Want a pet, so something relatively friendly and will interact with us (yes, I know it is up to us to interact and handle the feathery friend)
2. Eggs - would be nice to have eggs for us and maybe a few to sell off/give away to friends and co-workers
3. Resilient - as newbys we're embarking in areas we aren't experienced in - have books but books only take you so far but we have no real-life experience!
4. Of adequate size - not too big as we do not have a big coop but big enough to scare off the curious cat (they'll mainly be in fenced areas but it would be good if they were bold enough to push back - in our previous location we lived next door to multiple chickens and it seems our cat did not mess with/bother them - so he must have been frightened enough!)

So we still debate chickens/ducks/both?

I've never had chickens but have had ducks though it was short-lived as they ran away. I love the personality of ducks and think they can be amusing and fun pets but in reading some say chickens can be quite rewarding as well. I think for eggs both - depending on breed - can be quite prolific in providing eggs and if you are happy to accept duck eggs (as it can be different from what you're used to with chicken eggs) you probably won't suffer from number of eggs. I get the impression from reading that it is all about breeds, breeds and breeds both for character and egg laying!

I should mention that we live close to a river - as it runs alongside our garden, though about 10 feet down the wall that keeps our garden from flooding in times of heavy rain (which seems to be fairly often these days). We have loads of slugs - so good treat for ducks?

So questions - if ducks, will they enjoy our wet weather more than chickens? and would they want to run/swim away if given access to the river?

If we decided on both - and I understand from reading that both can be challenging as their needs can be in conflict - one loves wet and the other loves dry, excessive poo and other bits. Are there breeds that get along with one another better than others (do not plan on getting any males!) and if we had a chicken at POL and got a duckling (to imprint and therefore remain loyal to this home) will the larger chicken abuse and hurt the duckling?

I know they are social creatures and if we started out with one of each and then upon finding our way with a preference of one due to how they adapt here and we with them, and add one more chicken or duck (so in total 3) are we ok with one of each species initially and then subsequently adding another?

Are we going to want to smack ourselves for getting one of each? And are there difficulties in pet sitting if we are away for a weekend in finding sitters for now two species?

Sorry for all the questions and background but want to try to get this right, have animals that we can enjoy and that will enjoy being here!

Many thanks for your advice and help!

Ginelle

[Peas'n'Kews]

Welcome to the Vine, Ginelle! I have no idea about chickens or ducks as I don't yet keep any, but someone will be along soon to answer you chook-based questions.

Meanwhile, it is very helpful when getting advice if you put your location in your profile (although this may be more of a gardening thing than a chook thing!)

Enjoy!

[veggiechicken]

Hi Ginelle and welcome. I have kept chooks but not ducks. Are you thinking of keeping a chook and a duck in the same coop? I'm not sure how that would work to be honest. I'll leave it to the experts to advise. Let us know what you decide.

[petal]

ducks and chickens do not do well kept too closely together. They will get along well enough in a large garden/paddock. they have very different requirements you see, chickens not swimming and all that. ours are housed separately but peck (or shovel) together during the day. Ducks prefer to be a pair, or trio- (boy/ girl- the boys are quiet and prettier usually) get 3 bog standard hybrid chickens first time round- fully vaccinated, no fuss, nice personalities, lots of eggs. There are so many lovely ducks out there- buff orpington, rouen, campbell, call, cayuga..... they add movement and colour to the garden plus their eggs are great for cakes. You will need 2 coops to lock them away at night- 1 for ducks 1 for hens. The river is a problem- can netting be put at the downriver end to prevent escape? or can you pen ducks in for a bit?

[Dagi]

Thanks for the advice. We are in West Yorkshire, the home of the constant rain (at least these days anyway). We may stay with just chooks for the moment but am always tempted with cute and characterful ducks - so maybe someday I'll talk the hubby into building a separate sleeping quarters for a coupla of them and will keep your suggested breeds to hand for that day

We're hoping to get some hybrids, I'd like a maran or maran mix as I understand they eat slugs and we have one too many of the buggers here. Know any good breeders?

[petal]

Chickens tend to ignore slugs, fussy devils. Ducks like slugs though- get that OH building a duck shed.!!

[BigJim]

I'd just go for some ducks. They are a lot more robust (less prone or resistant to pests and diseases, don't rot in wet weather), do a lot less damage when they get in the veg patch (mine are only a danger to lettuce), don't scratch up the lawn, usually good natured (and always smiling), fantastic eggs with loads of omega 3 and I rarely see a slug these days.

I take it the river doesn't belong to you? Ducks tend to stay in one group so you'll find it easy to go and fetch them but they will want to explore. I might give them supervised access if it's not a big river, although you may find they learn their territory.

As for cats, mine gets nibbled if he goes near the ducks so he keeps away.

Finally drakes are more confident than ducks so better as pets. If I turn my back on mine and run away he'll chase me, but as soon as I turn around he'll stand there acting casual with his head slightly tilted. I have to keep mine with at least four ducks as mating is a bit aggressive.

[OverWyreGrower]

We have 9 ducks (runner ducks and khaki campbells, including 2 drakes) as well as around 25 or so chickens, including 4 cockerels (I keep losing count!).... they have split level housing (e.g. ducks on the bottom of the shed, chickens on perches above) although at this time of year, the ducks stay outside 24/7 (even with the torrential rain/hail/thunder/lightening)

They get along OK, but generally don't mix - i.e. the ducks all stay together and the hens all stay together - they don't cosy up! They are OK about the others being close to them though.

If you wanted to keep both, I'd say you need 2 or 3 of each, rather than 1 of each...that way, the ducks can do messy duck stuff together and the chickens can do chicken-y stuff together.

Do not underestimate the messiness of ducks though!

[Dagi]

Well we got our chooks! 3 in fact. 1 Amber Star, 1 Gingernut Ranger and a Bluebelle...suck sweet girls and they put themselves to bed each night. Still getting used to catching them if we let them out for a bit. Really enjoying them though and maybe someday when we get a little more settled with the girls, we'll look at the ducks!

Thanks again for the advice and as we get to know our chickens and have more care questions.

[Dagi]

ok - so chooks here and have started new questions on them!

1. We let them out to free range a bit - supervised for the moment as they're still new and we want to watch where they go but we have thought about putting a run a bit further out for them but not necessarily alway attached to their current coop/run (so a corral). So I am looking for a mobile sort of thing and know about omlet's products, are there any other suggestions out there...not looking for more expensive options as we want to keep a bit of a budget so omlet price or less would be what we're looking for.

2. Omnivores - the chickens seem to like their feed and some feed that has corn in it (big treat for them!) but much else seems limited. I've brought them fruit home, like strawbs, melon, mango - and they pick at it a bit but mostly it goes to waste. We've tried to give them worms from the garden, snails, slugs - they - may - poke it a bit but then that's it too. So I want them to have a good well rounded natural diet that hopefully includes something other than just feed but can't seem to entice them with much else. Any suggestions? Any ways in which to coerce them to eat something else (oher than starvation tactics)?

Thanks for the help!

[chris]

You can buy netting (I think omlet do some) that's like a temporary pen, if you didn't want to build anything permenant.. unless I've misunderstood you?

Their pellets will have everything that they need in it to maintain a healthy life style.. too much worms/slugs/snails will give them the runs (and can also introduce worms). They like greens, but as they're still young (I'm guessing POL? - 16-22 odd weeks old?) they'll be still getting used to their new home, and establishing their pecking order. Believe you me, if they're on grass in no time at all they'll be no grass

I often give mine a cabbage to peck at if they've not had any greens for a while - but more often than not they'll strip my currant bushes and raspberry canes down to just sticks anyway. Don't starve them, they should have their pellets available at all times really, so they can eat when they want.

I've a bluebell too, my 2nd one infact - she's HUGE ! My first one was lovely, but I can't believe the size of this hen

[Dagi]

yes, looking for something permanent - are omlet the only ones to do this?

No, we defnitely don't want to starve them - just didn't want the suggestion that they say with finicky cats, give them what you want to give them and they'll eventually eat it...I call it the starvation method but I don't like to do that so wanted a bit more a positive way to encourage variety eating. We've tried cabbage, nothing happens! Yes, they're at POL - not laying yet so a little young.

We love our Belle but she is the most challenging to capture. I am trying to encourage more social interaction with them so if they eat the corn that they love, it comes with stroking or holding.

[petal]

all they have ever known is pelleted food, they will get the hang of foraging in the end. ours have their fill of layers in the morning(or growers if younger),ad lib grit, forage for bugs and weeds(nettles, etc..) daily with a bit of corn in the evening(stays in the crop longer overnight)If I have a bit of crusty bread or pasta- that would be seen as a real treat to them. However, ours are home reared by broody hens- a different scenario to how hybrids come into the world.
I remember when we rescued ex batts- it took them ages to learn normal chicken behaviour (ie, attacking a frog and running round and round the garden with the others chasing- its a good game!) and I would guess its the same for mass produced hybrids? So, be patient- they will try a little of this and that but most of their feed ought still to be pellets.
Had you wanted true guzzlers that eat anything then you would have ducks!!!!

[chris]

I build my run, pretty much 6 x 3 panels, of weld mesh. Concrete base due to the foxes around here. (though overlooked a gate into my garden as a weak point, and as a result I lost 5/6 of my lot just over a week ago.

I bought my mesh from hills of devon, it was the cheapest that I could find..

In terms of catching them, it'll come. When they're ready to lay, they'll squat (as in position ready to be mounted) - makes them easy to catch

[RichmondHens]

Echo what Petal says - just give them pellets and anything else as a treat teatime/pre roost. I train mine to the corn pot from an early age. They know to come to the sound of corn rattling in a pot. They just don't get any if they don't respond. Currently trying to "train" 8 week old turkey poults who were raised in a brooder - they are seriously thick! The younger ones raised under a hen are already clued up as to the sound (following mama of course).

Back to your young hybrids, they will respond best to a routine, just like children. Keep to the same thing every day and they will soon learn and expect certain things at certain times.