Dumb Duck Question

[Happy Chooks]

Will ducks tear up your garden like chickens do? I was thinking it might be nice to have a couple ducks in my garden to eat some weeds and bugs. (roly poly's) But I'm not sure if they will ruin my veggies in the process. (some raised beds, some not) They don't scratch like a chicken, right?

Oh and I'd be only looking at females. Not a fan of duck meat. Eggs would be nice although I've never had a duck egg.

 

[hendrix25]

you're right, they don't scratch but they do dig holes while they are rooting around for bugs. they will also eat your vegs. if you don't protect them with some type of wire.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Bummer. Looks like I'll have to find a different spot if I decide to get ducks. It can never be easy, can it?

 

[hendrix25]

nope...lol. it can be easy but you have to create barriers to keep the ducks away from your plants. ducks are messy but they're not that hard.

 

[Wifezilla]

You turn the ducks loose in the garden AFTER you harvest

 

[newchickmom09]

Exactly what Wifezilla said.

After you harvest. I have a three foot fence around everything...not like my swedish can fly that high

but that is how high the chicken wire comes. They can root up your plants, eat all of the leaves, basicaly eat anything they can get in there mouths.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
But that's when I plant my winter garden. Broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc.

 

[Wifezilla]

You can place poultry wire hoops over the plants and just let them clean up between the rows.