How did you end up with ducks?

[Tretinker]

Our ducks make my heart sing. I love my chickens, they are so sassy but the ducks kill me with their little personalities.

The ducks are actually our daughters. I had no plans to get any and was really against the idea. They are messy, they smell and it'll be my job to feed them and keep them clean.

Well right now I am sat in my garden in the rain just watching everyone. Lotus and Dodger keep coming over to check if a treat has appeared yet and I'm watching them dip in and out of the pool. They are just a joy.

We started with 4, they ended up being two of each and so we quickly added two girls of a similar age hoping they were all young and the integration would be easier. At first it didn't go great and we were so worried we'd made a mistake but within days they were inseparable, the boys would let the new girls snuggle up to them and they soon won the older girls over and followed their lead.

So I'm sat here soaked through not wanting to get an umbrella and loss a minute with them so wet it is

Some old and new pictures for fun.

So how did you end up with ducks, what have you got and I'd love to see pictures?

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are beautiful.

I first started with ducks by meeting 2 Muscovy drakes in our mt. river down below us.

I would go down daily to visit them and take them feed. Well next there were 3 drakes and I was smitten I even fell so in love I had to go get some of my own so I went and bought 3 Muscovy females. Soon after one drake killed one of the 3 so that left 2 and the killer was going after The drake I named Ernie. So I brought him home. The girls and him were my first ducks. That was in 2004 since then I have Ernies son [11]and still have his mama who is 15. Then in 2016 I bought Runner and Buff eggs from a fellow member and my Muscovy hatched them. And she has been with them ever since. They all mix together during the day but Dolly the Muscovy has never gone back to the Muscovy family.
They are such a blessing yes messy and always making a mess but so worth it. I cannot imagine life without them.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Beautiful duck family you have
Ours started out with my son being depressed from all the Covid lockdowns and and had been watching videos of ducks following their owners
We finally agreed to a few (2) Perkins
My husband said they are boring just plane white so we added our khaki Campbell
We lost out one pekin girl to eating a penny and after autopsy she had some spots near her heart so the combo of the two took her life
Since then we have hatched some offspring and added some blue / silver Swedish ducks as well
I’m now at 16
I love my ducks

 

[Luv Ducks]

I got my Ducks after the last of my rabbits had died and covid hit. I was without work because I drive a school bus and needed a hobby to keep my sanity. I started out with two baby Mallards, then two Rouens, now I have two Muscovy, 4 little drake call ducks, 2 Khaki Campbell, a Mule duck and a Rouen/Mallard Drake. How I ended up with 14 ducks I have no idea!!! LOL I love my Ducks and I eat their eggs daily. They are the only pet that I have ever had that I feed them and they feed me.

 

[DukesDucks]

My Muscovy ducks were a surprise house-warming present when I bought my country home. Without my knowing the coop, food, waterer, etc. was all ready for them. I started with Jack and Diane and the 11 eggs they came with. 9 of those hatched so within a couple of months I had gone from 0 ducks to 11. Over the years there have been additions and removals and now I am happy with my 10.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy ducks were a surprise house-warming present when I bought my country home. Without my knowing the coop, food, waterer, etc. was all ready for them. I started with Jack and Diane and the 11 eggs they came with. 9 of those hatched so within a couple of months I had gone from 0 ducks to 11. Over the years there have been additions and removals and now I am happy with my 10.

How do they do in winter in Canada?

 

[Luv Ducks]

How do they do in winter in Canada?

It got down to 14 below zero here in Ohio where I am last winter and all was just fine with my flock. I know though that Canada can get a lot colder. The coldest I have seen it here was 20 below but not since I have had my ducks. Mine are all doing well and I hope that yours are too. Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Same to you @Luv Ducks

 

[Canadian Wind]

How do they do in winter in Canada?

They do JUST DUCKY! 8D

 

[DukesDucks]

They do JUST DUCKY!

Absolutely. Average snow fall here is 175cm/70in but lots of years we get more. It has been -40C/F but winter temperatures are around -25C/-13F for months.
My Muscovy's have a large run with a tarped roof, and one end and side tarped to protect from wind and snow drifting. Other end is attached to the coop with an open door so during the day they can always choose where to be. They almost always choose to be outside especially if the sun is shining.
I use deep litter method. Every couple of days I remove poop and wet shavings but toss them into the run so the ducks aren't usually actually walking on much snow. I have never had a problem with frost bite
Biggest issue is water since I have no electricity in the coop. I use deep gravity-fed dog bowls filled with warm water in the morning. On those really cold days, it can be frozen by early afternoon so need to be refilled.
When friends question the set up, I remind them about what cozy down winter jackets are filled with.