This may be a crazy question, but..... If I want to get a duck or two, do they need a pond? Do they need a swimming pool? Will they live with the Chickens in the Chicken House / Yard? What breed would you suggest as the best breed to get a long with the Standard Chickens?
well I am no duck expert but I have 3 - and I think they are much happier with a kiddie pool - mine have been without their pool for a few weeks ( frozen soild ) and today was the first it was warm enough to fill it and they were so excitied they could not wait for it to fill. I did have mine living with the chickens and everything was great until one of my male ducks tried breeding the chickens and he got pretty rough with them so I moved them to another yard where they can still see the chickens built them their own little house and they are alot happier just hanging out in the kiddie pool all day. the breeds I have are a female Cuyaga (sp?), a male pekin, a male mallard/crested mix but I am sure someone who knows more about ducks will come along and help you out. Julie
No you do not need a pond, Ducks are also flock birds. When I sell ducklings I insist they buy at least 3 ducklings, That way if something unexpected happens to one they are not left with a lonley baby ""calling me to give them another one that I probablr do not have, or asking me to take the lonley crying baby back"" Ducks are messer than chickens I keep mine seperated bacause they like to play in the water and make a muddy mess of the pen. You can use any thing for water, even a small swiming pool. We have 2 of the small ponds you can buy at lowes. I cut out a hole and put drains in them, I ran a pipe to the ditch and when I want to drain them I just pull the plug.
They do not have to have a pond but, are happier with a little something to play in. A kiddie pool or just a large tub will work. They do make a mess so, I'd place the tub or kiddie pool on a frame made using 2x2's and 1/2" wire with gravels under this. This will keep the mess down! Most ducks get along with chickens pretty well. Muscovies sometimes are aggressive towards other ducks and chickens tho.
if they dont have a pond they need a water dish that is deep enough to dunk their beak all the way to their noistrils to clean them out every day.
I would recommend they at least have a kiddy pool to bath in. They are a very clean animal and love to wash alot during the day. I bought a Call Duck pair at the auction this weekend and the poor little things had never had any water to bath in. Their feathers were covered in crap and were not water proof. I gave them a big oil drain pan to wash in and they didin't know what to do at first. The female finally went up and dunked her head under, they rubbed it all over her back, then got excited and jumped in it and spend a good hour in there. I had to add another pan so her could wash. He still is not sure how to do it right, he tries to wash in the hay in their bed. They are starting to spread their oil now. They are much happier with some water to wash in. For a breed I would recommend Muscovys. They are very friendly if you get them as ducklings and not tend to fly too much, and are very quiet. They are not flightly like Runners or Khakis. My Call ducks are even flightly.
Yes, excellent advice from fluffnstuff , get three, 2 ducks and 1 drake if you wish to breed otherwise 3 ducks. The drakes can get aggressive toward your chickens so its best to fence the ducks off from the chooks. I use blow up kiddie pools which are emptied and refreshed every other day and 2 deep water dishes which are refreshed twice a day. Not sure which breeds that you have access to over there. I have mallards which are quite nice natured ducks.
My ponds are only seasonal here. The ducks love them when they're here. But, they also don't seem depressed in the summer when they don't have abundant water. I have some larger waterers for sheep and cows which the ducks (and geese) will climb into to bath themselves. It works out well.