Duck Care Requirements?

[AmyJane725]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to get a quick overview on duck care. I'm personally not big into ducks, but my mom really loves them, and I'd like to get her some little Call ducks if it wouldn't be too much of a big deal. Probably 2 or 3 at the most. Hens only.

1. What sort of housing/protection do they require? If I let them in my chicken run are they gonna mess it up? I hear ducks are really dirty. Do they carry diseases that would hurt my chickens?

2. We don't have a natural water source here, so I'd have to do a kiddy pool for them. How often would the water need to be changed?

3. They eat all flock feed, right? Or should they have game bird for optimal nutrition?

4. Anything else you think it's important that I should know?

I'm pretty much figuring it's gonna be too much of a thing, but I just figured I'd ask. Mom loves duckies and it would be nice to make her happy.

 

[sylviethecochin]

1. What sort of housing/protection do they require? If I let them in my chicken run are they gonna mess it up? I hear ducks are really dirty. Do they carry diseases that would hurt my chickens?

They'll need a house with at least four feet per duck, just like chickens. They won't usually fight, but they make a large mess. They'll need as large a run as you can manage, especially if you have wet weather. Since you're in Washington, I expect you do. Ducks'll stick their beaks in damp ground and loosen it so that it's more vulnerable to being washed away. They don't need nest boxes. Unless they're broody, they lay where they sit, so a lot of people keep their ducks locked up until 9:00. They're not really vulnerable to damp, cold weather the same way chickens are. I've never had a duck get frostbite. They don't carry many diseases that affect chickens. Diseases that cross species are pretty rare.

2. We don't have a natural water source here, so I'd have to do a kiddy pool for them. How often would the water need to be changed?

Ducks are little pigs and they will poop all through your pool. The more often you change it, the better. I'd do at least every three days, assuming three ducks and a small pool. Every day would be better.

3. They eat all flock feed, right? Or should they have game bird for optimal nutrition?

If your tags match the Metzer farms list, you're golden. Allflock works. Gamebird's got a much higher protein than they need.

 

[Daisy Minotaur]

Got 8 ducks no chickens though. I’ve got a small pool for 4 of them. I change water every 4 ish days it is their only source of water though. For a stationary pen, I would recommend only giving them access to a pool for bathing about once a week, as they splash around in the water a lot! And have a waterer for their daily drinking water. Ducks aren’t that messy in my experience. Just got to be careful with too much water access.

 

[AmyJane725]

They'll need a house with at least four feet per duck, just like chickens. They won't usually fight, but they make a large mess. They'll need as large a run as you can manage, especially if you have wet weather. Since you're in Washington, I expect you do. Ducks'll stick their beaks in damp ground and loosen it so that it's more vulnerable to being washed away. They don't need nest boxes. Unless they're broody, they lay where they sit, so a lot of people keep their ducks locked up until 9:00. They're not really vulnerable to damp, cold weather the same way chickens are. I've never had a duck get frostbite. They don't carry many diseases that affect chickens. Diseases that cross species are pretty rare.


Ducks are little pigs and they will poop all through your pool. The more often you change it, the better. I'd do at least every three days, assuming three ducks and a small pool. Every day would be better.


If your tags match the Metzer farms list, you're golden. Allflock works. Gamebird's got a much higher protein than they need.

Hm, ok, so if I got a big dog crate, like 12 sqft and covered it in a tarp so it's weather proof and stuck it in a corner of the chicken run would that suffice as a house? Would they try to go inside my chicken coop? Would it be difficult to teach them that the crate is their home? I don't know if that would be warm enough....thoughts?

My run is 320 sqft, so hopefully that would be big enough for 2 - 3 ducks and 10 chickens (a lot of which are bantams or pretty small LF)? Would just 1 duck be lonely by itself? Would it like a duck friend, or are chickens company enough?

I do get a lot of rain here. More than half of my run is covered. Not sure if that'll make a big difference with ducks messing around in there though.

 

[AmyJane725]

Got 8 ducks no chickens though. I’ve got a small pool for 4 of them. I change water every 4 ish days it is their only source of water though. For a stationary pen, I would recommend only giving them access to a pool for bathing about once a week, as they splash around in the water a lot! And have a waterer for their daily drinking water. Ducks aren’t that messy in my experience. Just got to be careful with too much water access.

How many hours do you let them bathe in the pool? Will they be depressed if they can't go in there whenever they want?
They can't use a nipple waterer, can they? They need to dunk their bills to drink, right? I've also heard they need water to eat their food. Is that true? Like they need to get the food wet to eat it?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Hm, ok, so if I got a big dog crate, like 12 sqft and covered it in a tarp so it's weather proof and stuck it in a corner of the chicken run would that suffice as a house? Would they try to go inside my chicken coop? Would it be difficult to teach them that the crate is their home? I don't know if that would be warm enough....thoughts?

It might work. I'd put it up on blocks, give it a solid bottom and a solid skirt to create a dead air space underneath. I'd also use a lot of bedding and leave the front open for air and light. Face away from the wind. Just a few thoughts, though.

I have no idea whether they'd try and go inside your chicken coop. I don't know how aggressive your chickens are, or what you keep in the coop, or how steep the ramp into the coop is. Would it be a problem if they did go into it?

My run is 320 sqft, so hopefully that would be big enough for 2 - 3 ducks and 10 chickens (a lot of which are bantams or pretty small LF)? Would just 1 duck be lonely by itself? Would it like a duck friend, or are chickens company enough?

That should definitely be a large enough run. Ducks should have other ducks. They're tremendously social creatures.

I do get a lot of rain here. More than half of my run is covered. Not sure if that'll make a big difference with ducks messing around in there though.

If it's only three ducks and that large a run, I think you're good. My ducks have taken the drainage to the pond (which used to be grassy) and turned it into a small, bare-bottom stream. But I have twenty medium-large ducks.

 

[Knighstar679]

Hm, ok, so if I got a big dog crate, like 12 sqft and covered it in a tarp so it's weather proof and stuck it in a corner of the chicken run would that suffice as a house? Would they try to go inside my chicken coop? Would it be difficult to teach them that the crate is their home? I don't know if that would be warm enough....thoughts?

My run is 320 sqft, so hopefully that would be big enough for 2 - 3 ducks and 10 chickens (a lot of which are bantams or pretty small LF)? Would just 1 duck be lonely by itself? Would it like a duck friend, or are chickens company enough?

I do get a lot of rain here. More than half of my run is covered. Not sure if that'll make a big difference with ducks messing around in there though.

Yes ducks need water that they can dunk their whole head in. They need to be able to clean thei nares and eyes to stay healthy. They also need water to wash down their food so they don’t choke.

 

[AmyJane725]

It might work. I'd put it up on blocks, give it a solid bottom and a solid skirt to create a dead air space underneath. I'd also use a lot of bedding and leave the front open for air and light. Face away from the wind. Just a few thoughts, though.

I have no idea whether they'd try and go inside your chicken coop. I don't know how aggressive your chickens are, or what you keep in the coop, or how steep the ramp into the coop is. Would it be a problem if they did go into it?


That should definitely be a large enough run. Ducks should have other ducks. They're tremendously social creatures.


If it's only three ducks and that large a run, I think you're good. My ducks have taken the drainage to the pond (which used to be grassy) and turned it into a small, bare-bottom stream. But I have twenty medium-large ducks.

Inside the coop would be a feeder and nipple waterer. That's about it. The ramp is pretty steep. I'm planning on adding some little bars to the ramp to make it easier to climb. I guess it wouldn't be a problem if they wanted to be in there (assuming the chickens don't mind sharing). They wouldn't do anything bad to it I'm sure. I just have never had ducks and I don't know what they do, lol. Could the chicken coop just be their home too and I wouldn't need to buy a separate house? They would just sleep on the floor I assume? No roost needed.

Ok, so 2 ducks minimum. Got it.

And what are your thoughts on pool access? I don't really want them splashing water all over my run, and it would take up a lot of floor space. Would taking them out for supervised swim time be ok? Will they be depressed if they don't have 24/7 access? What else do ducks do for fun besides swimming? Chickens love scratching and pecking around and looking at stuff. Do ducks like that too?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Inside the coop would be a feeder and nipple waterer. That's about it. The ramp is pretty steep. I'm planning on adding some little bars to the ramp to make it easier to climb. I guess it wouldn't be a problem if they wanted to be in there (assuming the chickens don't mind sharing). They wouldn't do anything bad to it I'm sure. I just have never had ducks and I don't know what they do, lol. Could the chicken coop just be their home too and I wouldn't need to buy a separate house? They would just sleep on the floor I assume? No roost needed.

Ok, so 2 ducks minimum. Got it.

Ducks generally avoid a steep ramp, so they'll probably stay out. I use the floor of my coop as a duck coop in winter. They usually stay out by the pond when it's not frozen.

 

[AmyJane725]

Ducks generally avoid a steep ramp, so they'll probably stay out. I use the floor of my coop as a duck coop in winter. They usually stay out by the pond when it's not frozen.

Do you have any problems with predators picking them off, or not so much?