considering ducks

[Turkeyrun]

Hi,

we have a nice 1/2 - 3/4 acre pond and it would be so fun to have ducks on it. We see a few mallards, wood and other wild ducks in the spring. We had two Egyptian Geese for a while. They spent very little time in the water, their favorite thing to do (when not grazing in the yard) was to stand on the dock and poo.

I am wondering if we will run in to the same poo problem with ducks. Are there ducks that will spend most of their time in the water? If we let them free range in the summer will they fly away in the fall? If they do stick around in the winter cam I keep them with the chickens?

Thanks you

 

[MysticalMom]

Quote:
Get yourself some Rouens (AKA the giant mallard) or some Swedish. They're way to heavy bodied to fly and mine spend all day floating around the creek or pool. Even tuck their heads in their wings and nap floating around, the lazy birds.

I know plenty of people who keep their ducks with their chickens. And yeah...Ducks poo. There's no way to avoid it.

 

[Turkeyrun]

Thanks, I'll read up on Rouens and Swedish. Are your ducks free range? If yes, have you lost many to local predators? We have lots and lots of raccoons and fox, seems to me spending lots of time on the water would provide some protection once ducks are big enough to avoid the bass and snapping turtles.

Yea, will always have poultry poo - nice to have for compost pile but not so nice for dock decor.

 

[HottentotTeal]

I have seen that a lot of people that let their ducks free range, call them in at night into a safe pen.

 

[hearthnsoul]

Ours are mutts rouen/pekin/khaki They free range all day, love piles of branches back and forth to water all day. Too big to fly off,..they head for the covered run where the pond is when the sun drops down for the night, lately they prefer being in the run as opposed to the coop to sleep,... Easy to care for,..but we still call them here comes trouble,..because they just make a mess with all the water everywhere, as soon as we fill a waterer they come and muddy it up. I wouldn't trade em for the world,..too funny to watch. As for pooping...they do it here,...they do it there,..hmmm they do it just about anywhere