So a couple of months ago I got a bug up my booty about getting some ducks. I've read they make excellent garden pest control, and I'm a new organic gardener battling quite the slug infestation.
I've been hunting and searching around for a free-range/organic/humane farm to get babies from, and now have 3 excellent options. I'll either end up with some Welsh Harlequins (from my homestate of CA), some "mutts" (rouen, sweedish and pekin) from PA or Runners/Cayugas (from my homestate of CA). I plan on getting 3.
As it becomes more of a reality, I'm feeling a bit nervous. I'm used to dogs, not poultry
I ordered my kiddie pool, which will serve first as the brooder and then their pond.
Here are my questions:
1. Is there a good, affordable place online to buy duckling started feed? All my local feed stores only carry medicated chick started, and I know that's a no-no.
2. I was planning on letting the ducks free-range in the garden all day (with my smaller plants protected)-is this a bad idea? I don't want them destroying everything. We DO live on a fenced acre; would it be dangerous to let them free range on the acre while we're at work all day? I worry about predators. The garden itself is fenced, but the fencing squares are about 4-6'' inches. So it's either a smaller fenced garden (maybe 15'x40'?) or a fenced acre. The fencing is quite low in some places, we have deer in the yard all the time.
3. Whether they're in the garden or on the property, how can you give them safe access to their coop while keeping predators out? I do plan on putting them in the coop every night, no exceptions.
4. Do they NEED a fancy coop? I've seen photos of people's ducks here with dog crates or houses are shelter, but those a-don't seem big enough for 3 ducks and b-I'm guessing are probably in completely secure pens.
5-Do I need some kind of vitamin pack, or should duckling feed be sufficient?
I'm sure I'll think of more questions, but that's it for now
I've been hunting and searching around for a free-range/organic/humane farm to get babies from, and now have 3 excellent options. I'll either end up with some Welsh Harlequins (from my homestate of CA), some "mutts" (rouen, sweedish and pekin) from PA or Runners/Cayugas (from my homestate of CA). I plan on getting 3.
As it becomes more of a reality, I'm feeling a bit nervous. I'm used to dogs, not poultry
Here are my questions:
1. Is there a good, affordable place online to buy duckling started feed? All my local feed stores only carry medicated chick started, and I know that's a no-no.
2. I was planning on letting the ducks free-range in the garden all day (with my smaller plants protected)-is this a bad idea? I don't want them destroying everything. We DO live on a fenced acre; would it be dangerous to let them free range on the acre while we're at work all day? I worry about predators. The garden itself is fenced, but the fencing squares are about 4-6'' inches. So it's either a smaller fenced garden (maybe 15'x40'?) or a fenced acre. The fencing is quite low in some places, we have deer in the yard all the time.
3. Whether they're in the garden or on the property, how can you give them safe access to their coop while keeping predators out? I do plan on putting them in the coop every night, no exceptions.
4. Do they NEED a fancy coop? I've seen photos of people's ducks here with dog crates or houses are shelter, but those a-don't seem big enough for 3 ducks and b-I'm guessing are probably in completely secure pens.
5-Do I need some kind of vitamin pack, or should duckling feed be sufficient?
I'm sure I'll think of more questions, but that's it for now
