They grow fast!
Same turkey in each pic. They went from this:
![]()
To this in lime 10 minutes!!!!
![]()

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
They grow fast!
Same turkey in each pic. They went from this:
![]()
To this in lime 10 minutes!!!!
![]()
I think this is good advice but I've got to disagree about the chain link fence for their coop. By "coop" I am referring to the place where you'd lock them up each night. There are nocturnal predators that will be able to get into a chain link fence and kill the ducks. Weasels come to mind.
- If I were to get three would you recommend 2 females and 1 male? 2 hens (females) and 1 drake (male) would be fine. You could also go with all hens or all drakes if you get them sexed. If you have a flock larger than 3, there is a general rule of 1 drake to every 3 or 4 hens.
- I am also unsure of what breed to get. Runners! They lay 200-300 eggs a year! They can't fly! They are goofy!
- How do you keep them in your yard? It is good to keep the ducks in the coop at home for a little while at first so they can establish where home is. This is a great time for treats and creating a feeding schedule to encourage them to naturally come at feeding time everyday. It is good practice to lock the ducks in the coop at night because that is when a lot predators hunt. Get them familiar with a certain sound like shaking of a treats jar. This will help to recall the flock. Make a certain call to go along with the sound that they are learning. Consider using chicken wire to make a perimeter around their free ranging area.
- I also have a 6x6x6 chain link outdoor dog pen that my dogs don't use and I was thinking of using that for their coop area (is it called a coop for ducks? lol), Yes
- Is that enough room for 3 ducks? If they are free ranging this should be enough space for them to sleep.
Good luck picking out ducklings!!!
- If I were to get three would you recommend 2 females and 1 male? 2 hens (females) and 1 drake (male) would be fine. You could also go with all hens or all drakes if you get them sexed. If you have a flock larger than 3, there is a general rule of 1 drake to every 3 or 4 hens.
- I am also unsure of what breed to get. Runners! They lay 200-300 eggs a year! They can't fly! They are goofy!
- How do you keep them in your yard? It is good to keep the ducks in the coop at home for a little while at first so they can establish where home is. This is a great time for treats and creating a feeding schedule to encourage them to naturally come at feeding time everyday. It is good practice to lock the ducks in the coop at night because that is when a lot predators hunt. Get them familiar with a certain sound like shaking of a treats jar. This will help to recall the flock. Make a certain call to go along with the sound that they are learning. Consider using chicken wire to make a perimeter around their free ranging area.
- I also have a 6x6x6 chain link outdoor dog pen that my dogs don't use and I was thinking of using that for their coop area (is it called a coop for ducks? lol), Yes
- Is that enough room for 3 ducks? If they are free ranging this should be enough space for them to sleep.
Good luck picking out ducklings!!!
I think this is good advice but I've got to disagree about the chain link fence for their coop. By "coop" I am referring to the place where you'd lock them up each night. There are nocturnal predators that will be able to get into a chain link fence and kill the ducks. Weasels come to mind.
You really need a secure shelter with 1/2" hardware cloth covering every single place that something could get through for their nighttime sleeping house or cover the chain link fence with hardware cloth but that would be really expensive. So, maybe build a house outside the chain link fence that you can secure them in at night with the door opening right into the chain link area where they'd be safe all day?
I think this is good advice but I've got to disagree about the chain link fence for their coop. By "coop" I am referring to the place where you'd lock them up each night. There are nocturnal predators that will be able to get into a chain link fence and kill the ducks. Weasels come to mind.
You really need a secure shelter with 1/2" hardware cloth covering every single place that something could get through for their nighttime sleeping house or cover the chain link fence with hardware cloth but that would be really expensive. So, maybe build a house outside the chain link fence that you can secure them in at night with the door opening right into the chain link area where they'd be safe all day?
I think it would be fine to put them in that area during the day especially since it's got a roof on it too right? Just at night they have to be locked up tight! You don't even want to deal with the heartbreak of a predator attack.I didn’t think of that! Yes maybe it’s not the best idea now. Hmmmm I’ll have to think of another idea
I lost a 4-week old duckling to a huge king snake last year. What age would the ducks be so snakes won't bother them? I would imagine they are mostly after eggs?Depends on where you are. I am the queen of predator attacks during the day, but a dog run would probably be safe for me because raccoon is the smallest predator I have to worry about. Snakes for the lings but not adults. @AAcres where are you?