Help me with ducks for our homestead

[naturallykellie]

I have a ton of questions about ducks for our homestead! I'll start out with, I am allergic to chicken eggs - so much so that I can't even touch them or be near them. But I'm fine with duck eggs! So, I'd like layers. We've raised chickens before, so I know about them, and what types of care, feeding, coops, etc, they need. I know that ducks are similar, but that there are differences. But I at least have a basic understanding.

We have an urban homestead. It is almost 8.5 acres right in the middle of town. The majority of it is wooded. The area right around the house is not wooded, and is like your average suburban back yard. There is a creek that runs through the property, but it is in the woods. The woods are pretty much surrounded by suburbs, so there isn't a bunch of wildlife. I know there are deer and coons. I would assume there are opossums. I've not see any sign of skunks, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were. Other than that, I've not seen any stray dogs or cats, no sign of coyotes, no foxes, etc. It's hard to describe the layout, but with the way the property is situated, we will be able to free range the ducks, so they will be able to forage in addition to their feed.

So, these are my questions:

1. Will any bantam breeds lay enough eggs to be efficient enough? I'm really intrigued by the bantam breeds and I think they'd be easier to handle, and create less mess.

2. Will they go down to the creek, through the woods? The creek is probably about 200 yards from the house, or so. The majority of that being through the woods. And, if they do go to the creek, will they come back up to their house, or will I have to go get them every day?

3. And if they will go to the creek and come back, will that be sufficient for their water source, or will I still need to provide some other access for them closer to the house?

4. What else would you add? Beyond the basics, what should I be thinking about?

5. Will I still be able to buy ducks this summer, or will I need to wait until spring?

 

[GitaBooks]

Sounds like an awesome plan!

1: It depends on the bantam breed. Australian Spots are probably the best egg layers of bantams.

2: Once they find it they will probably go to it every day! Ducks love water, and they naturally like to sleep near it, so if they do find it they might just stay there. If this is a concern, you can provide a little pool for them in the backyard so they don't go searching for a water source.

3: They should always have water deep enough to dunk there heads into, and they love kiddie pools, but they don't need them.

4: They should have a secure coop to go into each night, and be trained with treats or through herding to return there, as even if you don't commonly see predators, there are probably foxes and coons around.

5: It depends on the breed. More ducks are available in spring, but the common breeds are available into late summer.


Storey's Guide to Ducks is an amazing book with tons of good information!


Best of luck!

 

[naturallykellie]

It seems like all of the bantam breeds are more expensive, and harder to find. I'm looking at some local breeders who have Magpies available. I think they look interesting too - light weight, quiet, good layers...

 

[GitaBooks]

I want to get a magpie when I get ducks!

 

[cayugaducklady]

I'm a big fan of cayugas. I'm new to the breed but they are quiet and really enjoy foraging and rustling up their own grub.

My girls are just teenagers now. They seem to display lots of duck sense when they're out foraging. Big raptor flies over head ? They freeze and scrunch low to the ground. Unusual noise from the road or forest ? Freeze & scrunch.

They' re described as being winter hardy which is why they made my shortlist as a New England resident. I haven't kept them through a winter yet so I can't comment on that aspect.

I grew up in Kentucky and I'd describe the winters as mild compared to the winters I've experienced here. They'll probably be happy as a clam if your area gets the rainy winter days that central KY gets.

I do remember very hot and humid summers so you may need to make a plan for keeping them comfortably cool in the 90 degree days with 90+% humidity.

You may also need a plan for preventing botulism. I've read it can form rapidly in shallow still water like a kiddie pools.

Even if cayugas aren't the right breed for you, I'd encourage you to get a heritage breed. They're listed on the livestock conservancy website along with their conservation status.

 

[quackingdom]

1. Bantams aren't super layers in general, especially as the eggs are small. According to Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, these are the approximate amount of eggs per year for bantams:
Australian Spotted: 50-125
Call: 25-75
East Indie: 25-75
Mallard: 25-100

2. I'm sure they'll probably go to the creek once they discover it. My ducks (Muscovies) play in our miniature creek (which dries up during some parts of the year) as long as it's available. If there is any creek whatsoever, they spend all day in it and are quite obstinate when I have to lock them up at night due to predators. When they hear me coming through the grass to get them, they crouch as low as they can so hopefully I won't find them. If I do, they give me a merry chase around the yard before they finally go into their pen – and they know better than to be tempted in with food. They are also smart enough to avoid dead ends. There are only 16 ducks, but sometimes it takes an hour to get them all in their pen when they don't want to go! However it does get quite comical at times.

3. The creek is probably sufficient for the day's water, but during the night they will need water if they are locked up.

4. Yes, they will probably need a coop or pen of some sort during the night. For one thing, they will hide their eggs where you may never find them. Also, there may be predators that you only see during the night. The “coop” doesn't need to be much, just enough to keep them contained for the night and enough to keep predators out. Maybe something like this will work:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/my-chicken-tractor-1

5. I don't know.

~Hannah

 

[Amiga]

So, these are my questions:

1. Will any bantam breeds lay enough eggs to be efficient enough? I'm really intrigued by the bantam breeds and I think they'd be easier to handle, and create less mess.

2. Will they go down to the creek, through the woods? The creek is probably about 200 yards from the house, or so. The majority of that being through the woods. And, if they do go to the creek, will they come back up to their house, or will I have to go get them every day?

3. And if they will go to the creek and come back, will that be sufficient for their water source, or will I still need to provide some other access for them closer to the house?

4. What else would you add? Beyond the basics, what should I be thinking about?

5. Will I still be able to buy ducks this summer, or will I need to wait until spring?

Runners are not bantams, but they are smallish, and prolific egg layers and good foragers.
Ducks may wander all over the place. I have read too many posts about ducks going down to the creek and not coming back. Some will, some won't.
I would not want an urban creek to be the water source for my ducks. Even though they "enrich" water quite a bit - they need fresh water daily for drinking.

I love having my Runners and Buffs (another smaller breed for you to consider). It seems like every predator comes out of the woodwork when ducks arrive. Ducks are funny, brighter than many folks realize, full of personality, and steal your heart. And they are defenseless. Most domestic breeds cannot get away from a predator, they have nothing to fight back with. Please seriously consider how you are going to protect them.

Water features like streams attract predators, too.

Looking for smaller ducks, then raptors can be a serious problem. Hawks have taken Runner ducks during the daytime. A fox took a neighbor's duck in the afternoon, within 30 feet of the neighbor standing outside.

 

[Darkwing4]

My ducks love our marshy pond in the back of our house but prefer it if I'm with them. They come running back if something spooks them. So you'll probably take a lot of strolls until they feel comfortable.

I'm really enjoying my Anconas- very sturdy breed, easy going. My research showed they were good all round ducks for pets, laying or meat.

For herding, I have long, thin bamboo poles from the garden.

 

[naturallykellie]

I am loving all of the input and information! Thank you all so much! The creek is definitely more than just a trickle - it is fresh flowing water all the time, and my husband actually looked it up on county records today - it is only 150 yards from the house. It is definitely still far enough that I cannot protect them from predators down there. I'm sure I could build shelters to duck under in case of hawks, if that is something ducks would utilize. I am definitely planning to have drinking water closer to the house. We would also make sure that they would stay in the yard until they reach full size, to help protect them more. And the hubs and I have been talking about duck housing all day! LOL! I think that we are thinking an enclosed box with a door that will lock for the night, and some type of access to check for eggs. We are thinking that we should keep it small and light enough to pick up and move if needed, and clean it easily.

 

[mominoz]

l raise Silkie mini-ducks, Dutch Hookbills, Runners , and Saxony. Bantam's probably would get eaten quickly...;0) (sitting ducks)... I let my other ducks free range in 3 pastures daily, and lock them in a fenced yard and pens,, with hotwire top and bottom. (Never lost a bird to this set up. My property has a 48' fieldfence around it. I live in a National Forest. You can train your ducks to come in at night for feed (if live in pens for a while, then release in daytime and use a 'dinner call' of some kind and feed. you may have to herd them in a few times...)but you can train them. I 'd suggest the Dutch Hookbills, smallish duck , but lay as well as Runners.Their Dusky type coloring blends in well and they are smart (for ducks) and they love to forage and eat bugs... They probably lay 200-250 eggs a year. Runners are rather flighty... the Saxony are beautiful , but big, but they forage well and lay very well, 225+ eggs a year...Silkies , the whites can lay 250+ a year, but are rather sensitive to cold and damp...(feathers don't zip)... dogs, coons would be your biggest predators, and coyotes, which you may never "see".