When I first started keeping chickens, I was sure that would be enough. I’d always loved the idea of fresh eggs and a backyard full of clucking hens. But after the first year, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to add ducks to the mix.

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Ducks Are Messier, and Water Is Their Playground

One of the first things I realized is that ducks and chickens don’t have the same relationship with water. Chickens will take a drink and walk away. Ducks treat water like an all-day buffet, a bathtub, and a science experiment.

If you put out an open bowl, they’ll get in it, splash it everywhere, and drop mouthfuls of mud in just for fun. I’ve watched them pick up bits of dirt, dunk it in the water, and then sift around to see if any bugs crawl out for air so they can eat them.

To manage the mess, I started using a 5-gallon bucket as a homemade drinker. I cut a hole just large enough for them to fit their heads through to drink and clean their nostrils. That way, they can’t climb in and soak the bedding every time they take a sip. I’ll post how I did this in the coming weeks after this post!

It’s not a perfect solution—they still manage to splash a little—but it has saved me hours of cleanup compared to using an open pan or traditional waterer.

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Ducks Are Louder Than You’d Expect

I’d read that ducks were quieter than roosters, so I didn’t think much about noise. What I didn’t realize was that while roosters crow occasionally, female ducks quack a lot.

If you’ve never heard a group of laying hens and then a flock of female ducks in full voice, you might be surprised. Ducks are conversational. They’ll call to each other across the yard, and they’ll definitely call to you if they see you coming with food. Grab the hose? Get ready to hear the song of their people.

It’s not necessarily unpleasant, but it is louder than chickens, and something to keep in mind if you have close neighbors.

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Different Feeders Work Better for Ducks

Chickens are tidy eaters compared to ducks. They peck and pick through their feed, but they don’t need much room to get their beaks in. Ducks have broad bills and a different way of scooping feed and water.

If you’re using a standard narrow chicken feeder, you might find your ducks struggle to eat comfortably. I switched to a wider, low-sided trough feeder for them, which makes it easier for their bills to scoop and swallow without spilling half of it.

And of course, ducks tend to mix water with their feed, so it helps to keep their food and water separate to avoid making a paste. Don’t feel too bad about making them walk back and forth; what else did they have going on today?

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Nutritional Needs Are Different

Ducklings in particular need more niacin than chicks. If you plan to raise ducklings, you’ll need to either feed them waterfowl starter or supplement chick starter with brewer’s yeast. Adult ducks can usually do fine on an all-flock feed, but it’s worth reading labels carefully to make sure they’re getting balanced nutrition. I use Purina Flock Raiser, which contains enough niacin levels to feed my ducklings and chickens without issue. Just be sure to always offer your laying hens oyster shell to pick freely!

I’ve found that keeping everyone healthy has meant paying closer attention to what each bird is eating and making adjustments as needed.

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Ducklings Grow Faster Than You Expect

If you’re used to raising chicks, you might be surprised by how quickly ducklings grow. With chicks, you have several weeks where they still look small and fluffy. Ducklings, on the other hand, seem to transform overnight.

The ducklings in the photo I shared with this post are only two months old, but you’d never know it by looking at them. They go from little puffballs to almost full-grown birds so fast that if you blink, you’ll miss it.

This quick growth means you need to be ready with appropriate housing and supplies sooner than you might expect. They outgrow brooder boxes much faster than chicks, and you’ll find yourself moving them to a larger space well before you planned.

It also means they’ll need more feed and clean water as they develop, and you’ll want to keep an eye on their bedding since their size (and love of splashing) makes everything messier in a short time.

Integrating Ducks and Chickens

I was a little worried about integrating ducks into a flock that already had an established pecking order. But, to my surprise, ducks are more laid-back than chickens and usually slot in without much drama.

I did the same slow introduction I would with new chickens: let them see each other through a fence, then short supervised mingling sessions, and finally full-time living together.

Ducks are generally less territorial, so once everyone was familiar, they coexisted pretty peacefully. That said, ducks do like their space around water, so providing enough room and multiple water sources helps avoid squabbles.

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Housing Considerations

One thing I didn’t think about ahead of time was how much more moisture ducks bring into the coop. Even with the bucket drinker, they drip water from their bills, and they love to bathe whenever possible.

If you’re converting a space, make sure you have good ventilation and plenty of dry bedding. I also use extra straw/pine shavings in the areas near the water bucket to soak up spills.

While chickens prefer to roost off the ground, ducks are happiest sleeping on bedding, so you don’t need extra roost bars for them. They quickly come to an understanding; chickens go up high, ducks stay down low.

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Final Thoughts

Adding ducks has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in this whole backyard poultry adventure. They’re funny, curious, and have a way of making even routine chores feel entertaining.

But it’s worth going in with your eyes open: ducks are messier, louder, and have different needs compared to chickens. With the right setup and some planning, though, they can get along beautifully and add a lot of personality to your flock.

If you have questions about mixed flocks or want to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment or reach out. I’m always happy to talk ducks and chickens.