So, you visited the feed store…
And you came home with not only chicks, but ducklings, too.
Hey, we’ve all done it! (and some of us will CONTINUE to do it…)
Now you’re stuck in a predicament: two species, one brooder.
So naturally, here you are.
You need to know if the ducklings and chicks will get along, and if they can be raised together.
Well, do I ever have good news for you….
Can Ducklings and Chicks Be Raised Together??
The most simple answer is: Ducklings and chicks can be raised together.
However, there are a lot of but’s and what if’s that go along with this territory.
So, hold your horses before you just throw some chicks and ducklings in together, all willy nilly!
We’re going to touch base here with a lot of these but’s and what if’s, that way you’ll ensure that both your chicks and ducklings will thrive.
There are many complications that can result (even death) if you’re not careful, so be sure to pay close attention to the needs of your new feathered friends.
Be Careful with Feed! Don’t Make This Fatal Mistake!
When it comes to feeding your ducklings and chicks, you’re going to have to offer them the same feed if they are in the same brooder.
However, many people feed their chicks medicated starter; this is a major no-no when it comes to ducklings.
Medicated feed can kill ducklings, so avoid it when shopping for feed.
Instead, shop for a poultry starter that is appropriate for ducklings and chicks both.
Chicks need 20% protein while ducks need 21% to 22%; therefore, they’re very close in protein requirements, which is nice. However, ducklings will need a niacin supplement.
Supplemental niacin can be offered in the form of Brewer’s Yeast, making it a simple, cheap, and effective solution to prevent niacin deficiency.
Can Chicks Have Niacin?
Good news: the chicks can have the niacin too, so no worries over split feedings! Niacin is important for bone development in chicks as well as ducks, so it will not harm them to add a bit of brewer’s yeast to their diets.
Chicks do not need quite as much as ducks do, but it is important nonetheless!
Hoping for Harmony: Watch for Bullying
Since ducklings and chicks are quite different anatomically, you may notice that the two species will pick on each other out of curiosity. Among the hundreds of baby birds I’ve owned in the past, this has rarely been anything to worry about.
However, this harmless curiosity can turn into true picking and bullying. Just keep an eye on the babies, and make sure that no one is missing down or feathers, that there are no sore or bloody spots, and that the chicks haven’t pecked at the webbed feet of the ducklings. The younger they are when introduced, the better. If they begin eating feathers and picking on each other later on, you should take a look at protein levels.
Introducing Chicks and Ducklings at a Young Age
I cannot stress this enough: introduce the babies as soon as you possibly can!
When you introduce the older chicks to older ducklings, there may be more issues when trying to get the two species to get along. When chicks and ducklings are little (under 2 weeks of age), they are mostly concerned with eating, keeping warm, and finding water; the older they get, the more likely they are to pick at those who are different. This is why it’s never a good idea to introduce newly hatched chicks to much older chicks.
If you wait until the chicks are too old, you begin to stumble into completely different territories. As they age, they mature; young cockerels could become aggressive, which isn’t an easy situation to fix.
Ducks Are Messy- Chicks May Suffer!
Ducks love the water, and ducklings are no exception! Ducks and ducklings have protective coatings that prevent them from getting too cold when in water. Chicks on the other hand don’t. Therefore, a wet chick could become way too cold. To solve this issue, only offer water in a fountain that the ducklings cannot get into. This will reduce the wetness in the brooder. In addition, place the water fountain inside of another container to contain spills (I actually use an upcycled rabbit litter box, which has low sides that the ducklings and chicks can climb over.) This will keep the brooder and chicks dry, preventing losses and ultimately reducing odors!
You’ll still need to clean the brooder quite frequently, so consider this fair warning. Ducks will muck a brooder up much faster than chicks, no matter how much you try to prevent it; chicks aren’t too mess-free either, so be prepared for a lot of cleaning. One of my trade secrets is puppy pads… I place these at the bottom of the brooder, beneath the pine shavings, so the babies cannot reach it. It works like a charm to soak up extra fluids.
This is a great video showing how well things can go when the chicks and ducks are adjusted to their new roommates!