Duckie fever!

[Hennyhandler]

I am feeling the duckie fever come on and I don't know if I should resist or go for it. I want to make sure first though that I have enough room. I think I have a 12 by 12 pen so this would mean that I have 144 sq ft, yes? and since my ducks spend the majority of the time in the run I was thinking of roughly 1 sq ft per duck. Would this mean that I could have theoretically speaking 9 ducks in there?
I don't know but it just doesn't sound right. I am not the best at math so maybe I am just way off but what do y'all think?

And while I am at it, what breed would you recommend? I want a super friendly duck and I will only want them for eggs. I have heard of the welsh harlequins and I love the look of them but the runners are growing on me. Right now I have a male Pekin and a Ancona-like female. I was really interested in the call ducks but I don't think with a Pekin being so heavy that mating would go over to well. Opinions, Please!

(Can you see the millions

of ideas and thoughts swirling around my head?)

 

[gofasterstripe]

I say go for the Runners, they are none stop comical little things that will entertain you no end.

 

[TLWR]

Yep, runners are a quacking comedy show lol

Yes, you have 144sq ft. I'd say you need more than 1 sqft per duck though or you'd be able to put 144 in a 12x12 pen and that's just way way way way too many.

Depending on where the run is in location to the house, I'd cut down on the number so you don't have the stink close to the house from so many ducks. I have 3 that free range and spend some time in the dog/duck yard next to the house. Bigger than 12x12 and I couldn't imagine 10 of them in there. It would stink big time. I already hose down their yard daily to wash the poop in/away and wash away any escaped food bits from food dish to water dish.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a cute picture "GO"

 

[Amiga]

Storey's Guide recommends a minimum of 25 sf per duck if they don't have pasture to roam, 10 sf if they get out daily into pasture.

I have about 20 sf per duck plus their 60 sf house, and they are allowed out in the yard and garden when I am there to mind them. I have ten runners.

So, 144 sf divided by 25 per duck is between five and six. So, five or six ducks.

 

[Hennyhandler]

Oh, I definitley wouldn't want that many in my duck pen. I don't think that would be right to do and I couldn't handle the work on top of THAT'S JUST WAY TOOO MANY!!

I was kinda thinking theoretically.
I thank you soo much, Amiga, that was really helpful. I still don't think I will be doing that many. I was thinking along the lines of one or two.

Does water play a part in this decision? Like if you have only so much water available for them to use then there shouldn't be that many ducks as they would be crowded and there wouldn't be space? I have two areas of water but they tend to want to use the same one. Does it still count that there is two available anyway?

I know, I know. Questions on top of questions. Thank ya'll for the help though.