Comparing ducks to chickens... like apples to oranges?

[pinusresinosa]

We started with ducks, and now are working with chickens this year too. Apples to oranges for sure! My husband loves the chickens because of how easy they are to pluck, how they lay year round, and all of the breast meat the meat birds have. They're also cleaner in a way- not cleaner themselves, but they don't create sloppy messes out of their environment like ducks do. But- ducks are a lot less nervous, have more individual personality, their poop might be more ample and wet but it doesn't stink as bad as chicken poop, the eggs are big and delicious, the meat is a real treat although you really don't get a ton off of a bird compared to a large broiler in the short amount of time, they keep themselves impeccably clean and aren't fussy about housing and are healthy... so, it's really a toss.

I'm loving my chickens but I still really love my ducks. I'm now wondering how I'll take to geese....

 

[TLWR]

as far as duck vs chicken poop.... mine free range. Duck poop washes in/away much better than chicken poop.

My Buff Orpington chicken, I swear she poops bigger (and way more often) than a 10 pound dog! And most often, right in front of me as I'm either going back into the house or turning around from cleaning theirs! Honking pile of chicken poop!

Duck poop is splat - no giant piles!

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

as far as duck vs chicken poop.... mine free range. Duck poop washes in/away much better than chicken poop.

My Buff Orpington chicken, I swear she poops bigger (and way more often) than a 10 pound dog! And most often, right in front of me as I'm either going back into the house or turning around from cleaning theirs! Honking pile of chicken poop!

Duck poop is splat - no giant piles!

That's amazing! Who knew a chicken could produce such a poop!

 

[laughingdog]

I love my muscovy ducks (a tree duck unrelated to barnyard breeds of mallard ducks and at least half goose like), and Americana bantam chickens, best out of all breeds I've had of chickens, and mallard ducks I've seen. I'm trying out khaki campbell ducklings now, and if they're entertaining and not as bad soon as have just gotten at four weeks, id like to try Australian spotted ducks, cayugas, and indian runners, along with Chinese geese. for chickens these i have found to be best as they don't destroy my yard at all, layed daily med colorful eggs through horrible winter this year even (seeming happily foraging in rain wind and snow), roosters small meaty and can't do much damage attacking before decided had enough and butchered mean ones, great free rangers and haven't lost one to wild animals, haven't had to feed them when not locked up, unless count cat food they steal, and they always come home to roost with full crops. my scovy mostly eat the grass moss algea mosquitoes gnats flies ants slugs snails spiders. scopions snakes rodents (shrews voles mice med rats ect). so both really are no work when free ranged except scovy don't like too much sun n heat (sunburn on fleshy faces i suppose), or below 40°F. i have dogs that patrol unfenced country property and dispatch or horribly thrash anything the three of them can get their teeth into and each pull and/or shake in different directions. extra male scovy keep my hilly lawn so short clean and green, that i don't want to butcher them. they are as great of gardners as can hope for and even eat poision ivy/oak (their oils stop poision oak/ivy rash ect for some reason on my hands). only bad thing about scovy ducks is that they love eating poop and are probly loaded with parasites (i haven't had any dead ones to necropsy yet).

 

[pinusresinosa]

Was thinking about this today. I decided that brooding chicks is just as messy as ducks, just in a different way. The DUST from brooding chicks is incredible! Their poop smells a lot worse than duck poop too.

 

[foothillsco]

I love my muscovy ducks (a tree duck unrelated to barnyard breeds of mallard ducks and at least half goose like), and Americana bantam chickens, best out of all breeds I've had of chickens, and mallard ducks I've seen. I'm trying out khaki campbell ducklings now, and if they're entertaining and not as bad soon as have just gotten at four weeks, id like to try Australian spotted ducks, cayugas, and indian runners, along with Chinese geese. for chickens these i have found to be best as they don't destroy my yard at all, layed daily med colorful eggs through horrible winter this year even (seeming happily foraging in rain wind and snow), roosters small meaty and can't do much damage attacking before decided had enough and butchered mean ones, great free rangers and haven't lost one to wild animals, haven't had to feed them when not locked up, unless count cat food they steal, and they always come home to roost with full crops. my scovy mostly eat the grass moss algea mosquitoes gnats flies ants slugs snails spiders. scopions snakes rodents (shrews voles mice med rats ect). so both really are no work when free ranged except scovy don't like too much sun n heat (sunburn on fleshy faces i suppose), or below 40°F. i have dogs that patrol unfenced country property and dispatch or horribly thrash anything the three of them can get their teeth into and each pull and/or shake in different directions. extra male scovy keep my hilly lawn so short clean and green, that i don't want to butcher them. they are as great of gardners as can hope for and even eat poision ivy/oak (their oils stop poision oak/ivy rash ect for some reason on my hands). only bad thing about scovy ducks is that they love eating poop and are probly loaded with parasites (i haven't had any dead ones to necropsy yet).

This is not meant to be critical but rather helpful. Your text is hard to read because it's difficult to see the beginning and end of your sentences. If you put two spaces after each period, used capitalized letters, your posts would be easier on the eyes. You do have good info to contribute. No offense meant.

 

[charlindabob]

I love my muscovy ducks (a tree duck unrelated to barnyard breeds of mallard ducks and at least half goose like), and Americana bantam chickens, best out of all breeds I've had of chickens, and mallard ducks I've seen. I'm trying out khaki campbell ducklings now, and if they're entertaining and not as bad soon as have just gotten at four weeks, id like to try Australian spotted ducks, cayugas, and indian runners, along with Chinese geese. for chickens these i have found to be best as they don't destroy my yard at all, layed daily med colorful eggs through horrible winter this year even (seeming happily foraging in rain wind and snow), roosters small meaty and can't do much damage attacking before decided had enough and butchered mean ones, great free rangers and haven't lost one to wild animals, haven't had to feed them when not locked up, unless count cat food they steal, and they always come home to roost with full crops. my scovy mostly eat the grass moss algea mosquitoes gnats flies ants slugs snails spiders. scopions snakes rodents (shrews voles mice med rats ect). so both really are no work when free ranged except scovy don't like too much sun n heat (sunburn on fleshy faces i suppose), or below 40°F. i have dogs that patrol unfenced country property and dispatch or horribly thrash anything the three of them can get their teeth into and each pull and/or shake in different directions. extra male scovy keep my hilly lawn so short clean and green, that i don't want to butcher them. they are as great of gardners as can hope for and even eat poision ivy/oak (their oils stop poision oak/ivy rash ect for some reason on my hands). only bad thing about scovy ducks is that they love eating poop and are probly loaded with parasites (i haven't had any dead ones to necropsy yet).
What poop you talking about? Their poop, chicken poop, dog poop, your poop, cat poop, what poop you noticing them eating?.....

 

[nayeli]

This is not meant to be critical but rather helpful. Your text is hard to read because it's difficult to see the beginning and end of your sentences. If you put two spaces after each period, used capitalized letters, your posts would be easier on the eyes. You do have good info to contribute. No offense meant.

I agree. I didn't even read it because it would strain my eyes to much.

 

[nayeli]

I currently have ducks and they are messy creatures! As soon as I cleaned out their pool my female duck took a huge poo in it... then bathed herself =/

I am looking at getting silkie chickens. I like them because they are a broody breed, I want meat, and I can sell any extra chicks or eggs! They are also supposed to be a friendlier chicken breed (we will see).

I want both because ducks don't really eat weeds or as many bugs. Not to mention ducks are harder to clean and process. I like duck eggs better than chicken eggs though... I am also afraid of chickens (with that sharp beak)! I'll let you know what I think about their personality once I have them in addition to my welsh harleys!