Considering Ducks

[Jimtherunner]

I have 11 Welsummer chickens (two roos). I am wondering what kind of housing DUCKS require and whether they will solve my issue:

I have 35 acres with the buildings in the middle, woods surrounding. I have coyotes, but I shoot them when I can. I have lost no chickens to coyotes, but I did shoot a coyote with one in his mouth (the roo is fine). The chickens are housed in a coop and run but free range during the day.

I am hoping ducks would eat the duckweed on the ponds and free range for bugs, etc. I am concerned about keeping them safe, principally at night. Could I put a pen near one of the ponds for them? I have a 3' x 8' pen I built (3' high) that I could house a couple ducks.

1. What kind of ducks are good for free ranging/pond scum eating?
2. How many ducks should I have in a "flock" or does it not matter?
3. Do I need geese to keep the ducks safe?
4. Can the geese and ducks be housed together in above mentioned housing?
5. Do I train the ducks/geese to know where "home" is the same way chickens are trained?
6. How many birds can fit in the above mentioned 24 sq ft structure overnight?
7. Is t here a better idea?

THANKS!

 

[Megan Amber]

Hey there! I think it's a great idea and I will do my best in answering all your questions. I am by no means an expert but here goes!

#1 I highly recommend the Indian Runner Duck. They are one of the best free rangers, they don't fly, are highly trainable and lay a ton of eggs. In India they are trained to walk the rice fields in herds of hundreds and weed and eat the insects daily! Quite beautiful and funny to watch as well!

#2 It doesn't really matter. You should probably start out with at least three though. My first flock was of four, two females, two males.

#3 You don't need geese, I don't have any, but I hear they do a great job of protecting if raised with the ducks.

#4 They can be housed together and I think the building you mentioned would do just fine.

#5 You train them the exact same way. The Runners can actually be trained to follow you around if you carry a bucket. If you raise them they are more apt to do this.

#6 I probably break the rules here but I keep 12 Runners in a roughly 15 square feet overnight. It has worked just fine. I only keep them in there at night though.

#7 See above info

Hope I was helpful!

 

[ChristineR]

1. What kind of ducks are good for free ranging/pond scum eating?
Anconas and Welsh Harlequins are also good free ranging breeds.

2. How many ducks should I have in a "flock" or does it not matter?
That's up to you and your space limits. I would start out with a small number and see how they are doing at reducing the unwanted vegetation on your pond, then increase the number as needed.

3. Do I need geese to keep the ducks safe?
Nope. In fact, geese won't keep ducks safe. Geese are vulnerable to predators, too.

4. Can the geese and ducks be housed together in above mentioned housing?
My geese and Ancona ducks will get along OK if it's not breeding season. The geese do not get along with the Black Swedish and the Welsh Harlequin at any time of the year (the ducks pick on the geese). A lot of it depends on the breed and the individual birds. I think as long as they had their own separate housing at night, they would have enough room to stay out of each other's way on your property.

6. How many birds can fit in the above mentioned 24 sq ft structure overnight?
If they are only locked up in it overnight, I would say 3 or 4. You would definitely want the top covered, otherwise they will get eaten.



Ducks are very vulnerable to predators, probably even more so than chickens on land. They are very hardy birds, though, and they're a lot of fun to watch.

I think you have a great piece of property for ducks. I would worry about the coyotes, though.

 

[Jimtherunner]

Thank you for your thoughtful response! I am extremely worried about the coyotes. It is a real mental struggle to forge ahead with my notion of free ranging critters (daytime) because of this. I just do the best I can for them.

How do the ducks handle winter? Since my duck pen would not be fenced, would they even want to come out of their 24 sq ft pen in the winter? Would they be safe to stay in there? It is completely secure from predators with 3/4" welded wire construction and plywood on all sides, top, and bottom. I mean, there is not room for a swimming tub in there -- if the ponds were to freeze over, for example!

 

[Megan Amber]

Mine do great in the winter. You have to keep an eye on there feet though for frost bite. Only happened once to me though and that was 'cause the duck was to dum to tuck his feet up in his feathers. Mine still come out and walk around. They sleep a lot in the winter. They perk up a whole lot if you give them a bowl of warm water to drink!

 

[Flavum]

I have coyotes, but I shoot them when I can. I have lost no chickens to coyotes, but I did shoot a coyote with one in his mouth (the roo is fine).

You sir are awesome. Id be lying if I said I hadn't fantasized about a situation like the one you described. Not in a weird way but more in a self preservation outlaw josey wales way..

What did the rooster do after you shot it?

 

[jdywntr]

You need to think about exactly what your situation is. While many breeds of duck "forage" well, a true "free range" duck needs to be different. A free range duck in the middle of 35 acres will need to be able to evade predators and be much more self reliant, which rules out many domestic ducks. The ability to fly is the best predator evasion skill that ducks possess but most domestic ducks cannot fly. Mallards and Muscovy are excellent foragers and have the ability to evade predators. If you have anything that deters predators, dogs that range with the flock etc, your options are much bigger. Since you haven't yet had a chicken taken, ducks may be okay where you are. My ducks are MUCH more observant than my chickens.

1. What kind of ducks are good for free ranging/pond scum eating?
Most ducks like to swim and will forage in a pond. They will also add a LOT of organic matter to the pond so they will add to the algae load and may or may not be able to help control it.

2. How many ducks should I have in a "flock" or does it not matter?
With the amount of space you have you could have many. But, you need to decide how much you want to be involved with them. Feeding during drought or winter etc. A minimum of 3-4 would be good.

3. Do I need geese to keep the ducks safe?
No. Contrary to popular belief, geese are not protectors but more like sentries. Some goose breeds will sound an alarm but are not able to fight off a predator.

4. Can the geese and ducks be housed together in above mentioned housing?
Yes, most likely. I had geese with ducks and they attacked my ducklings.

5. Do I train the ducks/geese to know where "home" is the same way chickens are trained?
Yes.

6. How many birds can fit in the above mentioned 24 sq ft structure overnight?
If only EVER at night, about 6-9 adults.

7. Is there a better idea?
If you are meaning to control pond algae, fish would be much easier, if your pond is literally your own and not connected in any way to the local waterways. You wouldn't need to house or feed them. Just research what is legal and good in your area.

 

[Going Quackers]

You need to think about exactly what your situation is. While many breeds of duck "forage" well, a true "free range" duck needs to be different. A free range duck in the middle of 35 acres will need to be able to evade predators and be much more self reliant, which rules out many domestic ducks. The ability to fly is the best predator evasion skill that ducks possess but most domestic ducks cannot fly. Mallards and Muscovy are excellent foragers and have the ability to evade predators. If you have anything that deters predators, dogs that range with the flock etc, your options are much bigger. Since you haven't yet had a chicken taken, ducks may be okay where you are. My ducks are MUCH more observant than my chickens.

1. What kind of ducks are good for free ranging/pond scum eating?
Most ducks like to swim and will forage in a pond. They will also add a LOT of organic matter to the pond so they will add to the algae load and may or may not be able to help control it.

2. How many ducks should I have in a "flock" or does it not matter?
With the amount of space you have you could have many. But, you need to decide how much you want to be involved with them. Feeding during drought or winter etc. A minimum of 3-4 would be good.

3. Do I need geese to keep the ducks safe?
No. Contrary to popular belief, geese are not protectors but more like sentries. Some goose breeds will sound an alarm but are not able to fight off a predator.

4. Can the geese and ducks be housed together in above mentioned housing?
Yes, most likely. I had geese with ducks and they attacked my ducklings.

5. Do I train the ducks/geese to know where "home" is the same way chickens are trained?
Yes.

6. How many birds can fit in the above mentioned 24 sq ft structure overnight?
If only EVER at night, about 6-9 adults.

7. Is there a better idea?
If you are meaning to control pond algae, fish would be much easier, if your pond is literally your own and not connected in any way to the local waterways. You wouldn't need to house or feed them. Just research what is legal and good in your area.

I agree. If you have a bad coyote problem, i wouldn't have a duck that cannot fly, even then... i am hesitant, we have some around here that live where what us locals dub 'the coyote trail' and they loose birds all the time, thankfully, they generally do not come into the openess of the properties where i am.

 

[Jimtherunner]

Thanks for the great responses. Actually, after reading Flavum's response, I am a little embarrassed....I did not actually hit the coyote...I did not have a clear shot at him...I shot to scare him, and it worked! The roo was missing half his feathers and came walking back to me half dazed. I scooped him up and took him into the house to examine his wounds. He had no punctures. I took him for an antibiotic shot the next day, and he stayed in the house for a few days. Since that time, I have had shots at coyote twice. Both times I had the wrong rifle for the job... A .22.lr sited in at 100 yards when the coyotes were easily 200 yards away. NOW I have a .223 Ruger Mini Rancher sited in at 200 yards. I'm not the cowboy I made myself sound like, I'm afraid.

I have put grass carp fish in the ponds, and they help tremendously with algae. The fish guy told me ducks are best at duckweed and the carp don't really like it.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I am not an expert, either, but based on what you have written, and the replies you have gotten and what I have read elsewhere, I would advise you to get a few Muscovies. I think they could better evade any predators you might have around. They are very tasty, too, if your duck population gets too big!