Are runner ducks good for a small city lot?

[FenDruadin]

I personally don't see how duck poop is any more offensive than dog poop, and certainly not more work--you can just wash it away--no scooping involved. I also don't think people mind quacking too much--ducks make people think of city parks and lazy Saturdays, and a little happy quacking is unlikely to annoy anyone.

It *is* work having ducks--but so are dogs, cats, ferrets, and pretty much every other pet in the world. The difference is, the ducks will reward you with yummy eggs and pest control.

If noise is a major factor, you could get a small flock of males--they are very quiet, and as long as there are no females to fight over they'll usually get along just fine. They won't give you eggs, but they'll handle your slugs, japanese beetles, and other yummy pests for you.

Have fun!

 

[L0rraine]

My Runners survived in a fairly small grassy area (about 25'x40') with an adjacent 'safe' pen (14'x20' - but it wouldn't need to be nearly that large) that they stay in at night and when I'm not here. They pretty much confined themselves to that area for a year or more and they didn't seem to damage it. I thought the grassy area did remarkably well and is virtually weed free compared to the rest of our yard. However, recently they've discovered that they can get access to the whole yard and now they spend their days covering about an acre of yard around the house. They are kind of noisy though. We don't notice it too much, but depending on your neighbors, they might be unhappy.

 

[pirtykitty]

I put the straw from their night pen around in the garden areas and cover with dirt.. Keep turned every so often till it breaks down.. then we till it in... This year we have beautiful vegetable garden.. ( squash, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, beets. radishes. corn cucumbers, carrots.) They have not torn up any of the plants.. they have sampled the beet tops in the raised beds.. but haven't destroyed any thing.. We keep them out until the plants were established.. now they wonder through the vegetable garden and help themselves to bugs..

They have the run of the back yard. Hubby runs sprinlker system several times a week and that washes poop into grass. if they get poop on the drive it is washed away quickly with hose.. He would love to beable to let them into front yard to eat bugs and fertilze the front yard but it's not fenced in so not safe.. We have know snail or bug problems, get the back fertilzed and get eggs to boot..

Neighbors on the left love to hear them.. Neighbors on right aren't there but on week ends.. They have 6 noisy dogs they bring with them when they come into town.. Neighbors in back had know idea I had ducks until I told them.. and they don't care any way..
Neighbors across the street enjoy extra duck eggs when I send them over..

Stanley and Daisy ( my Welsh harlequins ) are also great entertainment. I don't stay cooped up in the house all the time.. I love to go out side and walk around with them and work in the garden.

Oh when we first got them he was afraid they would destroy his Saint Augustine grass.. They haven't.. We do the damage ourselves walking on it too much in the same spot.. So we have walk ways..