Are ducks easier to raise than chickens?

[Giddyup]

The drakes may not crow but the ducks sure do QUACK when they want something! But, the neighbours can't complain because they can't tell if it's mine or a duck on the pond across the road, LOL

I find them easier to clean up after. I use a bucket for water (cause they're tall) so they don't empty it like a gravity waterer. They love the kiddie pools too.

Indian Runners are prolific layers. My gals lay pretty much daily very early in the morning and take a break through winter. They are VERY comical and entertaining too - but not the cuddly type.

 

[sussexgal]

Good Morning John,

I had ducks before I had chickens. They are beautiful in the spring summer and fall - winter, not so much. Great foragers, quirky personalities. Winter is an issue tho. They tend to fling water. The 3 gallon waterer lasts about 5 minutes with my 4 quackers. I end up with an iceberg in their coop in very short order. The iceberg is difficult to remove and I end up with a very stinky mess in the space of days. During warm weather they are way easier than chickens - they almost tend themselves.... But winter and frigid temps? yuck. So... I guess it would depend on your set up. I can say that ducks are very cold hardy. And mine have not been sick at all in the 3+ years they've been here.

Celia

 

[Attack Chicken]

I had ducks earlier this year. Nine mallards to be exact. If you don't have a pond they can get very VERY messy. I had to clean out their swimming pool 2 times a day at least. The hardest part was letting them go. The first bunch of 6 did fine(all drakes). Then when I let the other three go I came back the next day to find the first 6 drakes gone..no where to be seen. Then my worst fear came true. My Champion Drake got killed by an owl that night. Later we found his two hens and brought them home and release them later on at a different spot with some wild ducks. They did find. You could hear the one girl clear across the lake when I call for her.

 

[blueskylen]

if you want tame-friendly ducks, you have to pick them up and make over them alot while they are babies. if not, they are hard to catch. we had a pet duck when I was a kid, and he was just like a dog - followed you around- played-demanded that you pet him - he finally died at 9 yrs old.

i didn't have any more ducks until this spring when i got a Kahki and a Peking for my grandson - i made the mistake of not petting them while in the brooder, and could not catch them after they got outside. our dog attacked one, so I had to give them away.
i sure did miss them, as they were quite comical to watch.

 

[jmc]

Quote:
Hi Celia:

Nice catching you on 'this side' of the forum. Yes, I am thinking of 'converting' lol !!!

Your message is very welcome; however I want very much to touch on the point quoted above.

I just talked with a lady yest. who breeds and sells various ducks and chickens. She lives here in Cent. Mass. too, so her climate is, +/- like ours. Anyway, like all ducks, hers stay outside in the most dreadful of weather winter and summer, etc.

But HER WATERERS ARE NEVER KEPT IN THE COOPS--EVEN IN WINTER. She empties them each eve./nite, then in the am, she refills 'em, and brings 'em back out. In all 4 seasons, she NEVER feeds or h20s the ducks in the coops. (She is also NPIP certified, BTW.) I would guarantee that it's because ducks are messier.

I think this could solve your problem, depending on your setup.

 

[vfem]

I have learned that Runners (the duck I REALLY REALLY want) will lay almost an egg a day. They average 300 eggs a year! Very productive. However, broodiness is almost non-existant. You'd have to incubate for sure. If its eggs you really want for eating, they seem like the perfect choice. I bake for a living, and to have a few runners, it would keep my business going well and more cost efficent for sure. Plus, I think they are so pretty to look at!

I am hatching pekin eggs right now, but they were free and I know they are good eating so if they end up all drakes we'll have a few really nice meals since they are so meaty.

 

[sussexgal]

Quote:
Good points John! And good to talk to you again also

My problem is my elevation. We get deep snows.... I coop the ducks because they are a bear to catch. Everybody free ranges at our place. My biggest fear is that they go off to the pond and we get a good blast of winter dumping a couple feet of snow. The pond freezes over and the ducks are... well, sitting ducks, for every predator in the county. So.... in the coop they stay. I could add a run outside but in Jan and Feb we get a cold snap that leaves us in the below zero range even in daytime. Hmmm.... this is all food for thought though. They could be watered outside for a good part of winter and only cooped when absolutely necessary and at night! Thank you for that.

NPIP certified! Now I know she has your interest!

Good luck to you in your new endeavor. Duck eggs are excellent to bake with.

Celia

 

[ChickenToes]

Yes, by all means, do not keep their water or food in the coop with them! I brooded my ducklings inside their coop and the mess just from the 1-quart jar waterer was unreal.

Now that they are older, the feeder and waterer are kept outside with them. They still make a mess, but now I don't have to worry about it soaking into the floorboards of the coop.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I don't have chickens yet, so I can't compare the two types of poultry for you.

What I will say is that I think ducks are naturally "shy", especially the females. However, if you dote on them like I do, you will find that they will eat out of your hand (if you offer them something better than what is in their feeder) and, especially when they are young, they will dabble at your shoes and such. What they don't like is being handled. I only handle them when necessary. They will get accustomed to being handled every once in a while, but they will never enjoy it.

I keep their water in plastic troughs in their night-quarters and only leave them food during the day. I keep the food a distance from the water trough and I keep it in rabbit feed hoppers with plastic trays underneath to catch the overspill. The feed and the water is kept in a corner of the pen that has a sand floor, the rest of the pen is bedded with straw. This set up works well for us, with minimal mess.

During the day, when we are home, they are allowed to free-range, but we keep a close eye on them. We dug them a small pond, which they seem to enjoy and which aids in their ability to mate.

Most of all, they are a blast to watch.

I think I could kill a chicken for food long before I could ever harm a duck.