Raising Ducks: A Beginner’s Guide to Care, Housing, and Feeding
Ducks are friendly, hardy birds that make great additions to farms, backyards, or homesteads. Whether you’re raising ducks for eggs, meat, pest control, or as pets, understanding their basic needs is key to keeping them healthy and happy. This guide will walk you through the essentials of raising ducks, from their housing and care to feeding them the right diet.
1. Why Raise Ducks?
Ducks are low-maintenance compared to chickens, and they can thrive in many climates. They lay rich, large eggs, are excellent foragers, and can help control pests in gardens or yards. Many duck breeds are also friendly, making them great for families with children.
2. How to Raise Ducks
Raising ducks starts with choosing the right breed. Some popular breeds include:
Pekin: Fast-growing meat ducks.
Khaki Campbell: Great egg layers.
Runner: Upright posture and prolific layers.
Muscovy: Quiet, fly well, and eat lots of bugs.
Cayuga: Black feathers with green irredescent coloring.
Once you’ve chosen your breed, you can start with ducklings, adults, or hatching eggs. Ducklings should be kept in a warm, dry brooder for the first few weeks, with temperatures starting around 90°F and reducing by 5°F each week. Never use slippery flooring—use straw or pine shavings to prevent leg injuries such as splay leg.
3. Duck Care Basics
Ducks are relatively easy to care for. Here’s what they need:
Clean Water: Ducks love water—not just to drink, but to bathe and clean their eyes and nostrils. A kiddie pool, tub, or small pond works well. Below is my first time mom and her babies playing in cold water!
Safe Shelter: Protect them from predators like raccoons, foxes, and hawks.
Daily Routine: Let them out during the day and lock them in at night. Check water and food regularly, and clean their space weekly.
Unlike chickens, ducks are less prone to disease, but it's still important to keep their area clean and dry, especially where they sleep.
4. The Ideal Duck Coop
A duck coop, often called a duck house or shelter, doesn’t need to be fancy, but it must be secure, dry, and ventilated. Here’s what to include:
Space: About 4–6 square feet per duck inside the coop, and 10–15 square feet per duck in the outdoor run.
Ventilation: Ducks produce a lot of moisture, so fresh air is key to prevent mold and respiratory problems.
Bedding: Straw, hay, or pine shavings. Replace when it becomes wet or soiled.
No Roosts Needed: Ducks don’t roost like chickens—they sleep on the ground.
Easy Access: Include a ramp or low entry so ducks can walk in and out easily.
Also, ducks are messy with water. If you place waterers inside the coop, use trays or bricks to keep bedding dry, or better—keep the water outside.
5. What to Feed Ducks
Feeding ducks properly is crucial to their health and egg production. Here's what to feed them:
Starter Feed: For ducklings, use unmedicated chick or duck starter with 20–22% protein.
Grower Feed: From 3 to 7 weeks, reduce protein to 16–18%.
Adult Feed: Use a quality layer feed with 16% protein once they start laying.
Niacin Supplement: Ducks need more niacin than chicks— you can add brewer’s yeast to their feed, it's especially recommended for ducklings.
Treats & Foraging: Ducks enjoy:
Greens (lettuce, spinach, peas)
Grains (oats, rice, corn)
Bugs and slugs (they’ll forage on their own if allowed)
Avoid feeding: bread, salty or sugary foods, citrus, avocados, or spoiled food.
Always provide fresh, clean water when feeding ducks—especially if you’re giving them dry food, as they need water to swallow properly.
Ducks are wonderful animals that bring life, noise, and productivity to any backyard or farm. With the right setup, good feed, and proper care, you’ll find them to be enjoyable, hardy, and even helpful companions. Whether for eggs, meat, pest control, or just enjoyment, ducks are a rewarding part of farming.
Ducks are friendly, hardy birds that make great additions to farms, backyards, or homesteads. Whether you’re raising ducks for eggs, meat, pest control, or as pets, understanding their basic needs is key to keeping them healthy and happy. This guide will walk you through the essentials of raising ducks, from their housing and care to feeding them the right diet.
1. Why Raise Ducks?
Ducks are low-maintenance compared to chickens, and they can thrive in many climates. They lay rich, large eggs, are excellent foragers, and can help control pests in gardens or yards. Many duck breeds are also friendly, making them great for families with children.
2. How to Raise Ducks
Raising ducks starts with choosing the right breed. Some popular breeds include:
Pekin: Fast-growing meat ducks.
Khaki Campbell: Great egg layers.
Runner: Upright posture and prolific layers.
Muscovy: Quiet, fly well, and eat lots of bugs.
Cayuga: Black feathers with green irredescent coloring.
Once you’ve chosen your breed, you can start with ducklings, adults, or hatching eggs. Ducklings should be kept in a warm, dry brooder for the first few weeks, with temperatures starting around 90°F and reducing by 5°F each week. Never use slippery flooring—use straw or pine shavings to prevent leg injuries such as splay leg.
3. Duck Care Basics
Ducks are relatively easy to care for. Here’s what they need:
Clean Water: Ducks love water—not just to drink, but to bathe and clean their eyes and nostrils. A kiddie pool, tub, or small pond works well. Below is my first time mom and her babies playing in cold water!
Safe Shelter: Protect them from predators like raccoons, foxes, and hawks.
Daily Routine: Let them out during the day and lock them in at night. Check water and food regularly, and clean their space weekly.
Unlike chickens, ducks are less prone to disease, but it's still important to keep their area clean and dry, especially where they sleep.
4. The Ideal Duck Coop
A duck coop, often called a duck house or shelter, doesn’t need to be fancy, but it must be secure, dry, and ventilated. Here’s what to include:
Space: About 4–6 square feet per duck inside the coop, and 10–15 square feet per duck in the outdoor run.
Ventilation: Ducks produce a lot of moisture, so fresh air is key to prevent mold and respiratory problems.
Bedding: Straw, hay, or pine shavings. Replace when it becomes wet or soiled.
No Roosts Needed: Ducks don’t roost like chickens—they sleep on the ground.
Easy Access: Include a ramp or low entry so ducks can walk in and out easily.
Also, ducks are messy with water. If you place waterers inside the coop, use trays or bricks to keep bedding dry, or better—keep the water outside.
5. What to Feed Ducks
Feeding ducks properly is crucial to their health and egg production. Here's what to feed them:
Starter Feed: For ducklings, use unmedicated chick or duck starter with 20–22% protein.
Grower Feed: From 3 to 7 weeks, reduce protein to 16–18%.
Adult Feed: Use a quality layer feed with 16% protein once they start laying.
Niacin Supplement: Ducks need more niacin than chicks— you can add brewer’s yeast to their feed, it's especially recommended for ducklings.
Treats & Foraging: Ducks enjoy:
Greens (lettuce, spinach, peas)
Grains (oats, rice, corn)
Bugs and slugs (they’ll forage on their own if allowed)
Avoid feeding: bread, salty or sugary foods, citrus, avocados, or spoiled food.
Always provide fresh, clean water when feeding ducks—especially if you’re giving them dry food, as they need water to swallow properly.
Ducks are wonderful animals that bring life, noise, and productivity to any backyard or farm. With the right setup, good feed, and proper care, you’ll find them to be enjoyable, hardy, and even helpful companions. Whether for eggs, meat, pest control, or just enjoyment, ducks are a rewarding part of farming.
