Considering ducks... looking for advice!

[CoopdeVillage]

Hello! I am considering adding a pair of ducks to our backyard farm. I started with chickens a year or so ago, and I'd love a pair of ducks! One of my main reasons for wanting ducks is mosquito control. I have been reading and researching but I'm interested in any feedback on a couple questions.

1) We have a natural, river-fed semi-stagnant pond, which fills and empties as the river rises and falls with rain, drought, etc. The pond is about 30 feet in diameter when it's full. There are turtles, frogs, not sure how many fish. It's a huge breeding ground for mosquitos. I know the ducks would love it but would they ruin the pond in any way (make it completely muddy, full of poop, ruin ecosystem by forcing turtles and frogs elsewhere)?

2) In winter, when the pond feeezes, would the ducks go use the river for bathing? Or would I need to supply them water? This would be tough as there is no outside water source and lugging from the house would not be feasible. Obviously drinking water is one things but a pool full of water wouldn't be doable!

3) Will ducks eat plants and flowers in a perennial garden? Wondering how much (if any) free-ranging time would be allowed!

Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[Loopeend]

Hello! I am considering adding a pair of ducks to our backyard farm. I started with chickens a year or so ago, and I'd love a pair of ducks! One of my main reasons for wanting ducks is mosquito control. I have been reading and researching but I'm interested in any feedback on a couple questions.

1) We have a natural, river-fed semi-stagnant pond, which fills and empties as the river rises and falls with rain, drought, etc. The pond is about 30 feet in diameter when it's full. There are turtles, frogs, not sure how many fish. It's a huge breeding ground for mosquitos. I know the ducks would love it but would they ruin the pond in any way (make it completely muddy, full of poop, ruin ecosystem by forcing turtles and frogs elsewhere)?

2) In winter, when the pond feeezes, would the ducks go use the river for bathing? Or would I need to supply them water? This would be tough as there is no outside water source and lugging from the house would not be feasible. Obviously drinking water is one things but a pool full of water wouldn't be doable!

3) Will ducks eat plants and flowers in a perennial garden? Wondering how much (if any) free-ranging time would be allowed!

Thanks for any and all advice! View attachment 1739038

First; I only know stuff about Indian runners! So my answers will be based on them.

1. Your pond looks big enough that a small flock will not ruin the eco-system of your pond. Runners tend to use water only to bathe and mate, and love to eat worms/snails/flies/musquitos/frogs on land. If this is the water level during frog-egg laying season I'm betting enough frogg-eggs and baby's will survive.
2. If they have acces to the river they probably will. If you provide some small bath (children-pool) for them and when you have a close bond with them (raising them from young near your home) they will prefer the small bath that is closer to you guys. They will prefer anything with your home/safety in sight. Not starting with teaching them that you=safety they are more likely to run off to the river and forever stay there. Bye ducks.
3. They are no big plant eaters. Mine mostly ruin plants (sproutlings) because they are stomping on it with their big feet, or when they try to get a fly/lice off the plant, or digging for worms under their roots. Every year they kill one plant, like 1 of the 50 sunflowers, or 1 of all the bellpepper plants... no clue why specifically that óne. But they are not major plant-eaters. Their diët is more animal-based then (a lot of) other duck species. But sheltering sproutlings is adviced.

I hope you have something from this runnerduck-only information

 

[Jpat]

You have an awesome place for ducks! Most people would be jelous

 

[Jpat]

Ooh and depending on what turtle you have ive heard of them bitting ducks and eating ducklings

 

[CoopdeVillage]

First; I only know stuff about Indian runners! So my answers will be based on them.

1. Your pond looks big enough that a small flock will not ruin the eco-system of your pond. Runners tend to use water only to bathe and mate, and love to eat worms/snails/flies/musquitos/frogs on land. If this is the water level during frog-egg laying season I'm betting enough frogg-eggs and baby's will survive.
2. If they have acces to the river they probably will. If you provide some small bath (children-pool) for them and when you have a close bond with them (raising them from young near your home) they will prefer the small bath that is closer to you guys. They will prefer anything with your home/safety in sight. Not starting with teaching them that you=safety they are more likely to run off to the river and forever stay there. Bye ducks.
3. They are no big plant eaters. Mine mostly ruin plants (sproutlings) because they are stomping on it with their big feet, or when they try to get a fly/lice off the plant, or digging for worms under their roots. Every year they kill one plant, like 1 of the 50 sunflowers, or 1 of all the bellpepper plants... no clue why specifically that óne. But they are not major plant-eaters. Their diët is more animal-based then (a lot of) other duck species. But sheltering sproutlings is adviced.

I hope you have something from this runnerduck-only information

Thank you so much. I feel encouraged!

 

[CoopdeVillage]

Ooh and depending on what turtle you have ive heard of them bitting ducks and eating ducklings

Thanks! I do feel lucky with our yard, just don't want to upset the naturally occurring ecosystem!

 

[chickens really]

If winter is an issue don't get Ducks and two won't keep down mosquito population either. Maybe Guinea Hens?

 

[happy duck]

In the winter they will usually have a tiny place in the ice that is thawed. Great place for ducks!

 

[Tannerpauldean]

According to Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, "To eliminate mosquito pupae and larvae from bodies of water, provide six to ten ducks for each acre of water surface. With observation and experience you will be able to determine the number of ducks needed for your specific situation." According to that figure, 2-3 ducks should be plenty to keep the mosquitos down. However, that seems like a lot of work for each duck. I would imagine they would go for the larger food first (tadpoles, minnows, snails...) first before working on the mosquitos.

As far as breed, I have to agree with @Loopeend. The Indian Runners are more likely to forage on land, or at the very least muddy puddles. However, I used to have some runner/harlequin hybrids that now very happily live on a friend's pond. They spend 50% of the day on the water and primarily forage there.

 

[The Dapper Duck]

I keep Muscovy ducks because they are really good foragers/grazers and can get a significant portion of their diet from your lawn (and they aren't noisy). It looks like there would be enough diverse plants to munch on in your yard. But that means they need to be excluded from any gardens you don't want nibbled to death. Our ducks love to sample all the plants, like they forget which ones they actually like to eat. However, they don't work as hard as chickens to get into things, so we just got a cheap wire folding fence from Ace for our seasonal garden and built some wattle fences (free!) for the flower gardens. 12" height keeps that breed out if their wings are clipped.

They don't relish the water like the mallard-types do, so we just have some tubs with a couple inches in them so the ducks can wash up, although I am sure any duck would enjoy that pond. I would be more worried about that "natural ecosystem" killing off your ducks than the other way around. You are going to have raccoons and mink galore around that place. So make sure you have a something akin to Ft. Knox for them to sleep in.

It looks like a sweet place for some ducks. Good luck!