I keep my ducks and chickens in separate housing for several reasons; one is because ducks are so messy...poop machines to be exact. If you have bathing receptacles for them they get the bedding wet and it requires frequent replacement otherwise it can get moldy which is not good for chickens or ducks.
Another thing to consider when housing ducklings and chicklets together is that ducklings can't tolerate the coccidiostat that's found in the medicated chicklet feed, it can kill them. They need a waterfowl starter that is not medicated.
I know that some folks feed chicken feed to ducks and don't seem to have any issues however, it will cut down on their egg laying and it also lacks the necessary amount of niacin that is required for waterfowl. Without the proper amount of niacin, you run the risk of health problems...not always but some ducks are more susceptible to lack of niacin in their diets.
For instance, just about every year I get calls from people who feed chicken chow to ducks complaining of neurological symptoms and this is due to lack of niacin. In most cases, it's easily remedied with a few weeks of added niacin and switching to a proper waterfowl diet but sometimes the situation is profound and the ducks don't survive.
Evidently, there are feed stores who sell ducklings but don't know about the niacin requirement for waterfowl (or that medicated feed can kill ducklings) and unknowingly recommend feeding chicken chow.
Just a few things to consider when housing ducks ;)
Sue
WLR
--- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, "Scotty" <sc00ter4900@...> wrote:
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> I was thinking of getting Some ducks.I have a big area so I dont think the chickens would bother the ducks? I like what I have read on the muskovy duck. Whats the best hatchery to use to order Muskovy . I dont want to order 30 ducks. Thanks Scotty
>
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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