However, chicks and ducklings can only eat the same type of starter feed if it is unmedicated. Raising chickens with ducks is achievable and ideal for those with limited space.
Chickens, however, take any new additions to the flock as an affront to their rigid pecking order. Whether the newcomers are chickens or ducks, our ducks seem unperturbed and seldom bother new additions to the flock. Because ducks tend to eat much more, and faster, than chickens, they can consume too much of the medicated feed and become sick. While there are similarities like the fact that they both lay eggs they are not the same species. Both species eat grains, bugs, and greenery, but ducks prefer to eat more greenery than chickens. For some, raising ducks in the same coop as chickens is not practical. When building a chicken coop make sure to plan the space accordingly for both species. Luckily chickens and ducks can eat the same kind of feed as adults. Also, chickens and ducks can consume the same type of poultry feed, herbs, and natural supplements. Ducklings should have access to additional niacin. No chickens and ducks do not belong to the same species. Most treats, like mealworms, cucumbers, and watermelon, are enjoyed by both species, but you should also add treats like leafy greens to your ducks’ diets. Ducks, geese, and chickens all have slightly different nutritional needs, and each requires different feed formulations at different stages of their development. On the surface, keeping chickens and ducks together makes sense. They won’t be as likely to touch seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or flax seeds. Ducks can also forage in lakes, ponds, wetlands, and other waterways, too, while chickens are restricted to the mainland. Ducks welcome newcomers far more quickly than chickens do. You can feed ducks and chickens the same treats, too.
Ducks adhere to a far less aggressive pecking order. They eat the same feed (there is waterfowl feed sold commercially specifically for ducks, but it’s often hard to find), enjoy many of the same treats, need the same predator protection day and night, and in the winter, the ducks’ added body heat can help keep the coop and chickens warmer.