Considering raising ducks...

[theawesomechick]

Well, I do love naughtiness, in a way (guess it reminds me of myself), so I'll live with a messy backyard (I already am, anyways).

 

[Joshua G]

Are ducks somewhat less susceptible to hawks than chickens?

According to "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" they are MORE susceptible to hawks then chickens are, as chickens can run faster.

With all poultry, white feathered ones are easier for predators to see because they stand out more.

 

[buff goose guy]

 

I've picked up from a lot of sources that ducks are very messy (and I've witnessed actual ducks being awesomely messy), is this true for the most part?

You don't even know they'll try to swim in the water even if it's less than 5 centimeters



Try to swim in there food


Stuff is thrown out everywhere



Bad part is if you incubate them you need to keep then inside for a while and cleaning that up is heck . But it really all is looked over by beautiful patterns when they grow up and how cute they are when little

I agree, watching them play makes up for having to clean up their mess.

What kind do you have ?

 

[buff goose guy]

Are ducks somewhat less susceptible to hawks than chickens?

Yes and no , Muscovy ducks , I've never had a problem with hawks ,

Rouens , never had a problem

Flightless mallards hawks will MURDER in less than 2 seconds



Ducklings though , VERY MUCH SO . And turtles will eat ducklings so fast you can't even blink .





But really if you get some get Muscovys very easily tamed vey calm do not make any noise and can fly just enough to get away from predators .

 

[theawesomechick]

What about Mallards that will fly? I don't believe in forcing any creature into my possession if it doesn't want to be in my care. Which breeds lay eggs well?

 

[buff goose guy]

Any really but Muscovy lay a lot at one time

 

[foothillsco]

Ducks have a different messy than chickens in my experience.

Chickens will take a green grass yard and reduce it to dirt in no time. Chickens poop too but it's solid and smells like amonia. Chickens peck each other, you, wood fence posts, everything. They don't seem to be playful.

Ducks have the liquid poop much like geese. They don't ruin a green grass yard like chickens. My ducks are like little kids in how they play with each other. The trick is to keep the water where you want the poop to be. I move my waterer around the yard daily.

 

[Going Quackers]

The main mess with ducks is the mud and water consumption.. chickens dig, i swear equal to dogs.. they landscaped very well under my trees... it's a trade off, neither are "clean" creatures nor leave land untouched where they have been(then again what does lol)

Pred wise, ducks who can fly it would reduce the risk somewhat BUT like anything depends on where you live and what your up against. I mainly keep Muscovy but really only the ducks fly, the drakes fill out and become almost flightless.. a few of the boys manage to get up on a shelf and what not but overall.. ground birds.

 

[buff goose guy]

The good thing about the girl Muscovy that in winter and fall the dred on there gave is literally barely noticed


So that look like normal ducks but with elegant patterns


Sadly the boys keep the red but it seems to me them more masculine looking .

 

[theawesomechick]

Oh, all awful-looking things look better the longer you're around them. The Muscovy drakes don't actually look that bad, they just don't look like the typical Mallard most people associate with the term "duck".