Can Chickens and Ducks Live Together? Real Tips That Work

Thinking about mixing chickens and ducks in the same space? I’ve done it—here’s what you need to know to make it actually work on your homestead.

Two white ducks and a white chicken in an outdoor run, facing each other near a wire fence.

If you’re juggling the idea of raising chickens and ducks in the same space, you’re not alone. I’ve done it, more than once, and let me tell you—it’s not as simple as just tossing them into one coop and calling it good.

But it’s absolutely possible. In this post, we’re going to break down the real-world struggles that come with keeping chickens and ducks together, plus the practical tweaks that can make your mixed flock thrive. Whether you searched “can chickens and ducks live together” or are just thinking about expanding your flock, I’ll walk you through everything I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way).

The Struggles of Keeping Chickens and Ducks Together

Living together doesn’t always mean living in harmony—at least not without some planning. Here are the biggest hurdles you might run into when housing chickens and ducks together.

Wet Living Conditions

Ducks love water. Chickens? Not so much. Ducks will splash, dip, and track moisture everywhere. This creates:

Damp bedding, which quickly leads to mold and ammonia buildup
Higher risk of respiratory problems for chickens
Slippery surfaces and increased mess inside the coop

Different Sleeping Styles

Chickens want to roost up high. Ducks prefer sleeping on the floor. Without dedicated spaces, you might end up with:

Chickens covered in duck poop (ask me how I know)
Ducks blocking access to chicken roosts
A general lack of peace when bedtime rolls around

A group of white and tan chickens roosting on wooden perches inside a coop. — Chickens naturally want to sleep up high, while ducks bed down on the floor. Providing options for both prevents nighttime conflict.

Feeding Challenges

Ducks are messy eaters and drinkers. They:

Dunk their feed in water, turning it into a soupy mess
Splash water into feeders meant for dry feed
Can gobble up feed too quickly, leaving little for the hens

And don’t forget—ducklings need extra niacin to grow properly, something chicks don’t require in the same amount.

How to Successfully Raise Chickens and Ducks Together

So yes, there are challenges—but none of them are dealbreakers. If you’re willing to adjust a few things, you can absolutely keep chickens and ducks in the same space.

Design a Divided Coop

Start by giving each species a space that suits its natural habits. With a little forethought in coop design, you can prevent a lot of tension and mess.

Create zones. Add a low divider or use layout tricks to keep sleeping and feeding areas separate.
Elevate roosts. Chickens still need their nighttime perch, and ducks will be content bedding down on the floor.

Keep the Water Outside

This one’s a game changer. Ducks love water—and they make a huge mess with it—so smart placement is key to a clean coop.

Duck waterers go outside only. Something deep enough for duck nostrils but not so big it causes a swamp. Place them near a drain or a gravel area so water doesn’t soak the bedding.
Use nipple waterers for chickens. These stay clean and dry, and ducks tend to ignore them.

Light brown duck drinking from a large black water bucket on wet, muddy ground. — Ducks are notoriously messy with water. Keeping their water stations outside helps maintain a clean, dry coop for everyone.

Use the Right Bedding

Bedding choice and cleaning schedule are everything when you’re dealing with duck moisture and chicken preferences.

Go deep. Pine shavings or chopped straw help absorb moisture and smell.
Clean often. Expect to refresh bedding more frequently than with chickens alone.

Feed Smart

Feeding ducks and chickens together can get messy fast if you’re not careful. Here’s how to keep things balanced and clean.

Elevate chicken feeders. Ducks struggle to reach hanging or elevated feeders, which helps keep chicken feed dry and clean.
Offer a separate duck-friendly dish. Especially important if you’re feeding ducklings. Sprinkle in a bit of brewer’s yeast to ensure proper niacin levels.

Make Room for Personality

Just like people, every bird has its quirks. Giving them space and observing their interactions makes all the difference.

Give plenty of space. Ducks are bold and active. Chickens can get bossy. The more space they have to avoid each other, the better they’ll get along.
Monitor behaviors. Occasionally, a bird just doesn’t play nice. It’s okay to house them separately if that’s what works best.

These days, I raise my ducks and hens side by side in a shared coop and run. It took a few tries to get it right, but now they coexist without any drama.

Black chicken standing alert with a blurry duck in the background on green grass. — Chickens and ducks have different personalities, but they can learn to share space with a little observation and adjustment.

What About Turkeys and Quail?

You might be wondering if other birds can join the mix too. Here’s a quick rundown:

Turkeys and chickens: They can live together with space and proper biosecurity, but there’s a risk of blackhead disease (a parasite turkeys are sensitive to and chickens can carry).
Quail and chickens/ducks: Nope. Quail are too small and don’t do well with larger poultry. They’re best kept in separate, specialized housing.

Common Questions About Mixing Ducks and Chickens

Not ideally. Chickens prefer cozy boxes off the ground. Ducks often lay in corners or on the floor. Provide different options and let them choose.

Sometimes. Ducks can be pushy at feeding time, and roosters may get aggressive. Observation is key—separate birds if one is getting picked on.

No. Ducklings get everything wet, which can cause chicks to get chilled. They also grow much faster than chicken chicks, which can lead to the chicks getting hurt. It’s safer to brood them separately.

Not necessarily. Adult ducks and chickens can usually share a standard layer feed without issue. Just keep in mind that younger ducks may still need added niacin until fully grown.

Mixed Flock Tips That Actually Work—Pin This for Later

A brown hen stands near a group of ducks in a farmyard with dirt and puddles.

Chickens and ducks can absolutely live together—but it’s not as hands-off as some articles make it sound. If you’re willing to make a few changes to how you house and feed them, they can coexist just fine.

From personal experience, it’s all about managing moisture, creating boundaries, and staying on top of coop maintenance. And honestly? Watching them interact makes all the extra effort worth it.

Have you ever tried keeping ducks and chickens together? What worked—or didn’t—for you? Let’s share tips in the comments!

8 Comments

Ambra says:

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I’d love to have some information of keeping mixed breeds of ducks – pro’s and con’s.

stella says:

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I had 2 drakes and had to get read of them because they were trying to mate with the chickens .
I miss them they were fun so I am thinking to try one more time for a male and a female pair .
Any advise on this.
Thank you Stella.

Cera says:

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I actually have an aviary for my quail and we keep some of our smallest bantams in with them. So far, it’s worked out great and the quail seem very happy to have a big pen wit room to jump and fly around whenever they want.

1. Jessica Lane says:
  
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  Wow! That’s really cool that they are getting along so well.
  
Kat says:

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For the most part we haven’t had any problems with bantams and standards together– there was one instance where our two Australorps ganged up on our little Barred Rock and we ended up getting rid of the two of them (they were mean birds overall, and our girls are more pets than anything, so…). But for years our little cochin bantam maintained Queen-hood over ALL the others, big and small!
The quail with chickens is a big problem, though– we had a few coturnix and they could NOT handle being in with the chickens. We ended up putting them in a separate pen with our muscovy ducks, which worked surprisingly well. The ducks couldn’t care less about the spazzy little quail 😀

Erica Mueller says:

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We always kept our ducks, chickens, Bantums, and turkeys together. Never had any issues. But we did free range and keep the water outside so we avoided most of the mess. The ducks slept and laid their eggs are n the floor on one end of the coop and the chickens and turkeys slept on the roosts on the other end. They worked all that out themselves. Lol

Nicole says:

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I have a pigeon in with my girls and haven’t had a problem. I put them together when the chickens were still young. He stays out of their way and has his own perches and food area high off the ground, out of reach of the girls. I zip tied a rabbit cage to the ceiling in the corner, added a perch, food and water, and three walls to keep out the elements.

Alecia @ Chicken Scratch NY says:

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We have our coop in a barn, the ducks (muskovy) prefer sleeping outside the coop but have no problem laying and sitting the in the nest boxes or going in for food. I usually get the largest clutches from those birds too. We free range and keep the waterers out of the barn in the summer but winter can get a little sloppy. We just keep adding more shavings around the waterer so it’s not an ice slick.