[vicky w]

We are about to get some chickens (about 8: 4 hybrids and 4 wyandottes) having converted an old greenhouse frame into a run and restored an old and massive galvanised chicken house (big enough for about 30 hens!) but my son would really like to have a couple of running ducks too. Is it possible to keep all of them together in the same house/run? We plan to let them out in the garden when we're around and we have a pond. We'd be geting the chickens as pullets but haven't found a duck supplier yet as we don't know whether its possible to keep both happily. Any advice?

[Foxy]

well I breed runner ducks and chickens and as long as you have plenty of space, (so make sure that you keep stock to a minimum).If they been together from a youngish age, shouldn't be too much of a problem. You will need to keep on top of the husbandry as ducks will make a lot of mess!If you can manage a smaller run for ducks in the worst of the weather, the chickens will be very grateful! From the perspective of behaviour you shouldn't have any agression problems with runners and chickens together, altjhough watch out with your drake ratio as they can become quite fiesty in the spring and even a chicken will be fair game!!!!