It was a good idea in theory, I have read about many successful homesteaders keeping ducks and chickens together in the coop with no problems. I was prepared for the pooping, I mean ducks poop ALOT. What I was not prepared for was the water fights. How three small ducks manage to decimate 5 gallons of water from a poultry waterer in just hours flat is still beyond me!
I thought I had done my homework. I picked the smallest breed of duck that I thought would be a good fit, I mean look at these little guys, so cute!
I thought I had done my homework. I picked the smallest breed of duck that I thought would be a good fit, I mean look at these little guys, so cute!
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The first problem was when the chickens (albeit much smaller birds as they are all just under 2 months old) started trying to pick the ducks apart, feather by feather. That began the separation. I had to, for a time, put the ducks in a completely different location in the witness protection program for their own good.
After a little R & R in the program, I reintroduced the ducks, I mean they were now almost 3 times the size of the chickens. Surely they can protect themselves.
The answer was yes, there does not seem to be any further feather picking, but that was only the start of my problems.
It is the incessant water wars.
After a little R & R in the program, I reintroduced the ducks, I mean they were now almost 3 times the size of the chickens. Surely they can protect themselves.
The answer was yes, there does not seem to be any further feather picking, but that was only the start of my problems.
It is the incessant water wars.
I have never seen anything like it. The ducks must make water bombs that they lob from one side of the coop to the next when I'm not looking. I am not even exaggerating here, they are going to rot the floor right out of the coop with these antics! I fear that whatever water party they are throwing will eventually drown the chickens in a wave of surf (okay, not really but it is pretty ridiculous looking out there!)
I called a friend, a wonderful neighbor with all kinds of fowl, I may have even begged. She is a dear and said that we can relocate the ducks to her place, she has a large pond and not so many bird dogs as we do so the ducks stand a much better chance of free-range happiness over there.
So much for the duck eggs I was planning on baking with.
So much for the cute little ducks that would wander around our place as adorable lawn ornaments.
So much for the advice of all the other homesteaders who have successfully had ducks in the coop.
My assessment, it just doesn't work. Nope, no ducks in the coop here. They gotta go.
I called a friend, a wonderful neighbor with all kinds of fowl, I may have even begged. She is a dear and said that we can relocate the ducks to her place, she has a large pond and not so many bird dogs as we do so the ducks stand a much better chance of free-range happiness over there.
So much for the duck eggs I was planning on baking with.
So much for the cute little ducks that would wander around our place as adorable lawn ornaments.
So much for the advice of all the other homesteaders who have successfully had ducks in the coop.
My assessment, it just doesn't work. Nope, no ducks in the coop here. They gotta go.
