Duck water & veggies

[Wildandfreemamma]

It’s maybe a daft question but could I use the water from the ducks pool to water my veggies or is that a potential cross contamination risk for parasites etc??? I’m trying to think of the most efficient way to run the allotment too! Any advice would be much appreciated, we’re undecided about ducks but want to go in with our eyes open We’ve been keeping quail for a while now so we do have some working poultry knowledge and we’ve just got a large allotment. We’re wondering about getting a few ducks to help with slug and snail patrol. We live in Cumbria UK so it’s pretty wet already…hence I think ducks may be a good option
TIA

 

[Miss Lydia]

From what I have read duck/goose poo water etc is much easier on crops than chicken because the nitrogen isn't near as high. I use it all the time and never had any problems with it. And it is nice to be able to reuse the water. Ducks are awesome creatures. Please let us know what you decide. There is alot of great info here on BYC so if you have any question just let us know and well steer you in the right direction.

 

[Callender Girl]

Iowa has been -- until this week -- enduring a very long drought, so I have been using the duck pool water for my garden. So far, no problems.

Ducks are, as @Miss Lydia said, "awesome creatures," and she is one of several folks at BYC who know a LOT about ducks. As she said, keep us posted on what you decide.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Wildandfreemamma]

From what I have read duck/goose poo water etc is much easier on crops than chicken because the nitrogen isn't near as high. I use it all the time and never had any problems with it. And it is nice to be able to reuse the water. Ducks are awesome creatures. Please let us know what you decide. There is alot of great info here on BYC so if you have any question just let us know and well steer you in the right direction.

That’s fantastic! Thanks so much, I will keep you posted. Do you have a preference for solely ducks or drakes? I’m wondering about a small group of solely drakes as I’m not bothered about the eggs

 

[Miss Lydia]

Many here have drake flocks so why not start a new thread and put that at the top so you get expert opinions right from them.
In the meantime some info
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

 

[Quatie]

It’s maybe a daft question but could I use the water from the ducks pool to water my veggies or is that a potential cross contamination risk for parasites etc??? I’m trying to think of the most efficient way to run the allotment too! Any advice would be much appreciated, we’re undecided about ducks but want to go in with our eyes open We’ve been keeping quail for a while now so we do have some working poultry knowledge and we’ve just got a large allotment. We’re wondering about getting a few ducks to help with slug and snail patrol. We live in Cumbria UK so it’s pretty wet already…hence I think ducks may be a good option
TIA

I could see this being a problem. Since backyard poltry could potentially have salmonella. Salmonella has no real effect on the poultry, so it would be hard to tell if they have it. So it is a potential risk. If you are able to water without getting any of it on the veggies, it should pose no risk.

In the US, there has been a raise of salmonella poisoning because of more people having backyard poultry and cuddling and kissing them. So you may have no issue, but definitely a potential risk.

 

[Callender Girl]

I'm aware of the rise in salmonella, and that could be a valid concern, I guess. I don't pour the water directly on the veggies, but have been trying to conserve whatever I could, including my tomato and peppers plants.

When I was a kid, my sister and I used to drink water straight from the backyard pump. As it turns out, testing proved that water was "unfit for human consumption." I figure I must have a pretty strong constitution -- or I'm really lucky! I'll take either one.

 

[KaleIAm]

There are zoonotic diseases that we can get from duck poop, saliva, ect that would be in their swimming water. You can get duck poop easily tested for some, and viral testing for others is more complicated and expensive. I have done some of these tests on my ducks. Humans getting parasites from birds is unlikely as they are typically species specific.

To be absolutely safe you could compost the duck bedding, and put the water in the compost, too.

However, wild birds who fly over your garden are just as likely (more likely?) to have these infections. They'll poop right on your plants.

Personally, I happily allow my ducks to wander around fertilizing my garden at will. I put some of their used bedding in my garden as mulch, and the rest makes amazing compost. I sometimes use their swimming water - but I have to haul it with a bucket. I never worry about contracting diseases.

And, yes, the slug patrol is amazing!!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If you do your research you will find expert's agree that the risk of Salmonella increases with poor poultry management and care. The chances of salmonella in a well maintained, clean and closed flock are relatively small. Honestly, I agree with the above comment that you would be more likely to contract salmonella or a disease from the poo of passing wild birds.

Edit: I also just wanted to add how many times have we seen over recent years of store bought products being contaminated with salmonella vs. people from their own flocks. Normally when people put duck waste water on their garden they don't turn around and pick produce dripping in it instead we let the rain and time sink it into the soil.

 

[Miss Lydia]

There are zoonotic diseases that we can get from duck poop, saliva, ect that would be in their swimming water. You can get duck poop easily tested for some, and viral testing for others is more complicated and expensive. I have done some of these tests on my ducks. Humans getting parasites from birds is unlikely as they are typically species specific.

To be absolutely safe you could compost the duck bedding, and put the water in the compost, too.

However, wild birds who fly over your garden are just as likely (more likely?) to have these infections. They'll poop right on your plants.

Personally, I happily allow my ducks to wander around fertilizing my garden at will. I put some of their used bedding in my garden as mulch, and the rest makes amazing compost. I sometimes use their swimming water - but I have to haul it with a bucket. I never worry about contracting diseases.

And, yes, the slug patrol is amazing!!

Builds up ones immune system Kind of like when I was a kid playing in the dirt was the best ever.