i think i have the chicken thing down. coop, locked up at night, etc. i don't get ducks though. someone told them they forage at night. does that mean they don't need to be locked up and protected from predators? can someone give me the duck care low down? can i have just 2?
Quote:They are active at nite, unlike chickens, but they need the "coop, locked up at night"........most predators do their business at nite. Your ducks will be fine without water inside their shed/coop for the nite, this will also keep the inside much cleaner for you. During the day you will want some type of fencing to keep them where you want them and keep the predators out. giffy -----------------
My ducks free range during the day, but we have a relatively safe backyard with lots of hiding places from hawks. The other predators usually come out at night (fox and raccoons). I have a largish pen with an electric fence they go into when it's starting to get dark or if I have to stay away till after dark, and a safe duck house they spend the night in. Two ducks can be happy. Best to get two of the same sex because if you have a male and just one female the drake could overbreed the female resulting in injuries or even death. Two drakes usually are fine together (and they have very quiet voices). Two hens make for a nice supply of yummy eggs, plus an occasional bit of noise!
My ducks get a little cranky when it is time to go in the pen. They would rather stay out and worm hunt But for their own safety they go in the pen at night.
I am only able to let my ducks out for a short time each morning. I would love to leave them out all day but the hawks here by the lake are just terrible and even worse are some of my neighbors dogs. But I do let them out for a short time when I can.
My chickens go into their coop on their own at dusk. Sometimes the 4 younger ducks will go in with them. I have to round the SA ducks up and herd them into their pen; they never go on their own. I never see them foraging in the dark; they just seem to like to lay in the grass.
I used to let my ducks have the choice to go in and out at night. Until one dissapeared without a trace. Now they all get locked up tight at night.
My girls eat the same food that my mom's chickens do. My ducks are free range, but we have a pen and house for them at night. Some days if we get home after dark, they will still be out and it will take us an hour to get them herded into thier house. But most days they will be in thier house at dusk and bedding down waiting to be locked up, whether they have had dinner or not.
