Have chickens...want ducks....Questions!!!

[lindsay297]

Hi there...I am looking for information on duck breeds and "typical" personality. I am looking for 2-4 ducks and do not want big ones. I would like something the size of a mallard but, can't have mallards!! I understand that the drakes are bigger but, are they able to live with say two drakes and no females.

I have heard people discuss the "noise" and wonder how noisy ducks are compared to the average hen! More on the continuous level. No one really cares if they quack sometimes. I am not looking at Muscovy's and understand that the drakes of most breeds are "quieter". I am not really interested in eggs as I have layers and dint need to breed.

I have children.....they are very good with the hens and am getting the ducks for them. I therefore need a duck that is not bad with kids. My kids are respectful towards all the animals we have but want ducks that are okay with kids.

Do ducks need water for swimming? I have a small pond that my DH used to have fish in. They could have that for the summer but, in winter have no way to get them swimming water. What is the standard for this and are there breeds that are better without??

Am I better off getting ducklings or ducks?? I have a small brooder and could care for the ducklings that way but, which would be better. I don't need the experience and am wondering which would make more sense??

How much space do they need?? If they were in an enclosed run and had a "coop" how much space per duck is recommended? I can not free range due to predators!!

Thanks and am looking for any information we can find.

 

[Amiga]

Hi!

My first thoughts are that you might do well to patiently look around here for people who have adorable sweet drakes but need to adjust their male to female ratio and must rehome the drakes.

I love runners! Weigh about the same as mallards (there are always exceptions due to breeding), and my runner girls are the SWEETEST.

It mostly has to do with how they were raised. There are bad apples here and there, but generally, a well-treated duck is a joy to include in the household, indoors or out. Runners are particularly good at eating slugs, they enjoy many weeds, and mine have eaten grubs, Japanese, squash and potato beetles. They make superb fertilizer!

 

[DuckLover3]

I would recommend a Cayuga. They have a very docile personality and are great with kids, plus it's always fun to find black/grey eggs in the coop. Plus, they are all black with a green beetle sheen; very pretty. They actually are a bit bigger than mallards, but it's more in their breast than anything because they were bred for meat. This ensures that they can't fly, though, so you wouldn't have to clip their flight feathers to keep them contained.

My cayuga wasn't loud that I remember....A predator got her last year, so I can't tell you for sure if I remember correctly, but I believe she was pretty quiet. Also, Cayugas are generally great with kids and have an easy-going temperament.

Ducks don't need a pond to swim in, although it does help them to stay cleaner and they love to swim. Are you able to clean your pond? If not, it probably wouldn't be the best duck pond because they are extremely messy and the water in a small pond (assuming it's not more than 4 or 5 feet wide) with turn black in just a couple days of use. No, they don't need water to swim in during the winter.

I always prefer getting ducklings over ducks as they will bond easier if you have them from an early age. They can also be quite fun for the kids and it's a really great learning experience. Also, it can be hard to tame a duck if it has not been exposed to much human attention, making them not as great a pet for kids. If you spend enough time with ducklings, when they grow up they may let you pick them up, pet them, and will most likely follow you around the yard.

Ducks need about 4 to 6 sq. feet of space per duck.

The cayuga definitely isn't the only great duck, but it is my favorite, so just know that if you don't want to go with a Cayuga, there are other great breeds out there.

 

[ChristineR]

That is an excellent idea. A lot of people have a hard time finding homes for "extra" drakes. If you go with ducklings, though, I would look for a breeder that pays attention to their ducks' temperaments (i.e. does not use aggressive drakes in their breeding program).

My first thoughts are that you might do well to patiently look around here for people who have adorable sweet drakes but need to adjust their male to female ratio and must rehome the drakes.

 

[Amiga]

There are also duck rescue groups. My buffs are rescues.

 

[lindsay297]

There are also duck rescue groups. My buffs are rescues.

Do you know of any in Ontario?? That is my only issue.....in both rescues and seeing if anyone on BYC has any. Most are in the states and lots wont ship! I have tried my local OSPCA and they don't deal in poultry/waterfowl. Most of the rescues they sent me to were for wildlife and we cant have them. Appreciate all your references. Will definitely consider what everyone has said. There are some breeders about 2 hours from where I live and hatchery's as well.

Anyone else with ideas??

 

[Amiga]

Do you know of any in Ontario?? That is my only issue.....in both rescues and seeing if anyone on BYC has any. Most are in the states and lots wont ship! I have tried my local OSPCA and they don't deal in poultry/waterfowl. Most of the rescues they sent me to were for wildlife and we cant have them. Appreciate all your references. Will definitely consider what everyone has said. There are some breeders about 2 hours from where I live and hatchery's as well.

Anyone else with ideas??

This may not go anywhere, but

http://www.duckrescuenetwork.org/DRNBoard/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=10717