Gardening w/Ducks - How do you keep a garden with ducks!?

[PouleNoire]

Last year I decided to add some plants to my chicken yard because of all the benefits and beauty they gave the yard! The chickens did GREAT with them, they didn't really peck, sit on, or eat much of them at all! The same can't be said for the ducks however...they would sit on the grasses, eat the flowers and DEMOLISH the daisies!!!

How does everyone else keep a garden with ducks around? Or even, is it possible!? I would like to know if you have found any flowers or plants that can withstand the ducks without being toxic and maybe some pics? Thank you everyone!!

 

[QuackSpeak]

X2.
Good post! I'd love to answer it, but I have the same question...
I've been thinking about putting plants in the duck pen for a while now, in time for the newcomers, but they would eat almost everything, right? Would it be possible to plant grass?

 

[Louise Waffles]

My chickens and ducks have a nice big run. They have killed of the growing things, and any bushes/weeds/whatever that grew through the fence were killed. I can't keep anything in that yard.

If grass can be established without ducks, I would think that would work, and plan on trying that this spring in their old paddock. In the fall, I'll move them back.
@FeatherMtnFarms, what did you plant that survived your chickens?

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

I rotate my ducks in elctronet fence. Its cool, when you move em, the first couple days their feed consumption is practically nothing
I think rotational foraging is a good thing for the grass and the ducks, as long as you dont let them overgraze

@FeatherMtnFarms , what did you plant that survived your chickens?

X2!! I cant think of anything that would survive the scratching lol

 

[chickens really]

I keep plants in pots out front of my Chicken coop and my Duck Run....In front of the Chickens I had tomato plants and Petunias in one pot....Artificial Grass and Bachelor Buttons in another pot and a pot with a geranium ....

In front of the Ducks I had a pot with Marigolds and Geraniums.....The Ducks did like to eat my Marigolds.......

The chickens never bothered with anything.....The Ducks knew better than to touch the flowers, although they would steal the occasional flower off......I plan to raise that pot up higher in the spring so long necks cant reach anymore....lol....


Cheers!

 

[Louise Waffles]

I see pictures of chicken runs with all sorts of LIVE PLANTS! GROWING! and I am stunned.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I look at gardening magazines and think to myself I use to have this and that but not anymore My chickens have gotten rid of just about all my flowers so I now plant flowering bushes. And put heavy rocks around the base to keep my chickens from digging them up. No way could chickens be in a garden especially with young plants.

Hanging baskets work kind of I caught one of my game hens in one of my hanging baskets too.

 

[Louise Waffles]

I had some hanging baskets last year. Chickens loved them, esp the younger ones. I asked for it, hanging them low because I am so short. The baskets turned into dustbath-swing-buffet things. My whole garden was their amusement park. They had fun, were very happy, but me? Not really so much.

 

[chickens really]

I had some hanging baskets last year. Chickens loved them, esp the younger ones. I asked for it, hanging them low because I am so short. The baskets turned into dustbath-swing-buffet things. My whole garden was their amusement park. They had fun, were very happy, but me? Not really so much.

lol!
That's Funny......


Cheers!

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

I had some hanging baskets last year. Chickens loved them, esp the younger ones. I asked for it, hanging them low because I am so short. The baskets turned into dustbath-swing-buffet things. My whole garden was their amusement park. They had fun, were very happy, but me? Not really so much.