A Tall Order

[TravisBumpy]

Might be a bit to ask. But here it goes. Looking for a quiet, flightless duck. I am looking for something to weed my blackberries. Tried it with my EEs. But they hop the fence and go visit my none too impressed neighbors. I know I can get all drakes. But I was hoping to get some eggs out of the deal. Any help would be great.

 

[Amiga]

I would be concerned about their feet getting scratched up, and chronic foot infections.

 

[TravisBumpy]

They are thornless blackberries. Prime ark travelers and prime ark freedoms.

 

[mlh328]

Have you looked into maybe the Muscovy breed? They are supposed to be much quieter than a duck but they are big and can fly so you would need to keep the wings clipped. I don't have any of that breed so I couldn't say how they are at weeding. They don't look much like a traditional duck but they are pretty neat looking!

 

[Ducks4us]

Might be a bit to ask. But here it goes. Looking for a quiet, flightless duck. I am looking for something to weed my blackberries. Tried it with my EEs. But they hop the fence and go visit my none too impressed neighbors. I know I can get all drakes. But I was hoping to get some eggs out of the deal. Any help would be great.

I would say get chickens that cant fly....
My easter eggers could fly too till i cut their wings
Maybe a heavier breed... my buff orpingtons could not fly.
Silkies are small , quiet and cant fly
Female ducks arent quiet. And i wouldnt call them good weeders personally.
My ducks have grass and weeds growing in their pen. When i had chickens nothing grew in their pen. They eat grass in the yard, but nothing like the weeding a chicken can do

 

[TravisBumpy]

I really don't like clipping wings. Tried it my first year. Wasn't fun for both parties. Silkies are a possibility. And we have a friend who raises them. I just tend to worry about them. They just look so delicate. Would they integrate into the flock? Or would the blackberries be their permanent home? Which it wouldn't bother me. I could build a coop in the blackberry patch.

 

[jofanx]

What was the issue with clipping the wings? I got my muscovies as adults and even though they weren't used to people, I just walked each into a corner, extended the wing (a few of them I had to put my leg against to hold still), took some good kitchen scissors and cut the first ten longest flight feathers on one side. My male huffed and puffed and my females trilled but didn't retaliate. I wouldn't dream of attempting this with chickens, they just explode in all directions.

They're only good weeders if they have nothing else to eat and are confined to that area. They get lazy if I give them feed in the mornings so I only give them half a cup each before I coop them up at night.

Good egg layers definitely. I have two that lay every day and one that lays every so often (still young).

 

[Ducks4us]

I really don't like clipping wings. Tried it my first year. Wasn't fun for both parties. Silkies are a possibility. And we have a friend who raises them. I just tend to worry about them. They just look so delicate. Would they integrate into the flock? Or would the blackberries be their permanent home? Which it wouldn't bother me. I could build a coop in the blackberry patch.

I think if they had their own coop in the blackberry patch that would be nice.
Seems silkies dont mix well with other breeds of chickens often. Although some people have no trouble.
I think they are pretty cute. Small, cheap to feed. And would prob love your blackberry patch!

 

[TravisBumpy]

Thanks to all for the advice. I have appreciated it. Looks like probably going to be Silkies and not ducks. Take care all.

 

[Ducks4us]

Thanks to all for the advice. I have appreciated it. Looks like probably going to be Silkies and not ducks. Take care all.

I think you will be happy with that decision