Every spring, the adorable baby chicks and ducklings filling local farm and feed stores present an incredibly tempting decision: whether or not to bring them home. If you’re considering bringing both home, a common question arises: Can you raise chicks and ducklings together?
The answer, as you’ll discover, isn’t a simple yes or no, but rather a consideration of their similarities and differences, often coming down to personal preference and management.
Having firsthand experience raising both chicks and ducklings, I’ll share insights into their care requirements, highlighting where they align and where they diverge, to help you make an informed decision.
Raise chicks and ducklings together: What sets them apart?
While both poultry species share some basic needs as hatchlings, their unique characteristics lead to distinct care considerations.
Growth Rate & Brooder Duration
One of the most significant differences lies in their growth rate. Ducklings grow considerably faster than chicks. This means that ducklings will typically be ready to leave the brooder and move to a more mature setup at around 5 weeks old, whereas chicks will require brooder heat and protection for a longer period. However, both are able to be away from the heat lamp for short periods or get supplemental heat in the sunshine.
Feed Requirements
Fortunately, when it comes to feed, both chicks and ducklings can initially consume the same starter feed specifically formulated for young poultry. This simplifies feeding management in a mixed brooder. However, due to their rapid growth, ducklings will naturally eat more than chicks and, consequently, produce more waste.
Water & Mess Management
This is where ducklings truly stand out in their needs and habits. Ducklings require access to water deep enough to submerge their entire beaks. This is crucial for them to clean their nostrils (also known as nares), clearing out any dirt or debris that can get stuck while foraging or eating. This instinctual behavior, while vital for their health, leads to them being exceptionally messy with water. They will splash, play, and track water everywhere. With their feed and water intake, also comes more waste.
Bedding
Given the ducklings’ love for water messes and their higher waste production, bedding management becomes a major difference. You will find yourself changing the bedding on the duckling’s side of the brooder much more frequently – often daily – to maintain a clean and dry environment, which is essential for preventing health issues in both species.
Heat Requirements
Chicks generally require supplemental heat for a longer duration than ducklings. Because ducklings grow faster and feather out more quickly, their need for an external heat source diminishes sooner. This means you’ll need to monitor both species closely to ensure adequate warmth for the chicks without overheating the ducklings as they mature.
Brooding: Raise Chicks and Ducklings Together: My Experience:
I have successfully brooded chicks and ducklings together, and also separately. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Brooding Together:
- Easier Integration: Starting them together eliminates the need for a separate integration period later on, which can often be a stressful and challenging process for both the birds and the keeper.
- Socialization: They learn to coexist from a young age.
Chicks and ducklings together in a temporary brooder while we get everything set up in their larger one. Photo bomb by curious cat in the background.
Drawbacks of Brooding Together:
- Intensive Bedding Changes: The biggest drawback, as mentioned, is the mess created by ducklings. Between their water splashing and higher waste output, the bedding on their side of the brooder will require daily changes. This is a significant time commitment and can become quite costly.
- Temperature Management: You’ll need to be vigilant about temperature zones, ensuring the chicks have enough heat while the faster-growing ducklings don’t overheat. Providing a gradient where ducklings can move away from the heat source is crucial.
- Poultry Waterer: You’ll need to find waterers that allow ducklings to submerge their beaks while minimizing splashing for the chicks. If you don’t do this, it gets quite wet and messy very quickly.
In conclusion, while it is certainly possible to brood chicks and ducklings together, it requires a higher level of vigilance regarding cleanliness and temperature management, primarily due to the ducklings’ unique needs. Weigh these factors against the convenience of avoiding later integration to decide which brooding method is best for you and your new feathered friends.
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