Contemplating Ducks

[DallasChickyMomma]

Hi All, Like the title says, I am contemplating acquiring a few ducks. I have 2 acres, a shared 1 acre stock pond they would have free access to. I would most likely build a coop for them down by the pond away from my hens, with a fence separating them. What are the pros and cons of this set up? Thinking a couple runners and a couple muscovies.

 

[Ratchnick]

Not sure what a stock pond is but unless its made of something hard they will likely destroy the shoreline. Also you wont be able to get them off the pod at night.

 

[3bird]

Hi All, Like the title says, I am contemplating acquiring a few ducks. I have 2 acres, a shared 1 acre stock pond they would have free access to. I would most likely build a coop for them down by the pond away from my hens, with a fence separating them. What are the pros and cons of this set up? Thinking a couple runners and a couple muscovies.

Go for it! We have silver Appleyards (a large, endangered heritage breed). They are personable, prolific egg layers, great foragers, and just all around fantastic ducks.

We have a duckhouse for ours with an attached covered (predator proofed) run. There is then a fenced pasture around the duckhouse and another adjacent fenced pasture. When we are away (rare, as we both work from home), they stay in the run, but when we are home (most of the time), they are divided into the two pastures when our drake Angus is being a turd (April through August..lol).

Our guys get to free range when we are out, and they also have supervised free range time 2x/day. We have a small pond, which they have never used (silly ducks), but they do use two intermittent drainages (one of which has a nice deep pool most of the year) daily. We also have a wetlands area where they love to play. We have two small pools/tubs for them in their pastures too for when they are in there.

I'm not saying this would work with your stock pond, but we established a routine early in their outdoor lives where they get "soup for ducks" (peas, greens and a mealworm crumble) when they come in from free-ranging in the morning and then again in the evening. We have about four acres, and pretty much no matter where they are when we make the call, they come running! You'll hear the call at about 0:07:

 

[sierraforest]

I'm definitely still an amateur duck owner but we dream and plan about a future pond. For your stock pond, look into planting grasses and the types of plants that normally would surround water in your area. Our ducks love snoozing in tall grasses, probably because they feel protected. Fish and frogs will help to filter and clean the water so consider stocking with those.

 

[DallasChickyMomma]

Here's my pond. Stock pond is a pond that supposed to water your livestock, but this pond actually has fish and such in it.

Which is another concern... I am afraid of the ducks decimating the fish population on this pond by their excrement. Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this?

 

[Ratchnick]

Yes you need to be carefull with that, i dont remember what the recommended stocking density is for lakes but its pretty low, like 8 per acre or something like that.