Im wanting to buy ducks, but need some advice first!!

[Sweetly Silkies]

Well maybe not advice, but I would like some of my questions answered.

BTW I would be getting Call ducks and possibly wood/mandarin ducks ;-)

Q1- We bought our farm years ago and on it, it had three coops prebuilt.
These were two of them. (looking at the red one now)
Its a pretty decent coop, the inside is completely empty, and it has terribly thin walls. one small window in the back, other than that closed in. its about 6 feet tall from top to bottom, and 4 feet wide, 5 feet long.
If i were to add another window to this red coop, maybe add insulation, paint it, and fix it up with a nesting box or two, would it be an okay coop?



which brings us to Q2: I would be free ranging my ducks next to my house. we are having a pond built in so i wouldnt have to worry about them travelling far for water. I have heard that they like to fly, so i would clip their wings.
how far will a duck travel?

Q3- are ducks cold hardy? would i need to insulate a coop for them?

Q4- what do ducks lay in? nesting boxes, baskets, the ground, what?

Q5- do ducks roost?

Q6- are bantam duck eggs the size of a normal chicken egg?

Q5- they will be somewhat close to my chickens, we have a few that would go as far as the ducks would be. can they mix during the day?

Q6- whats the average flock number? how many hens per drakes?

Q7- how far do ducks travel?

Q8- what do ducks eat?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

you need to narrow the breed wanted for most of your questions. Many breeds DONT fly at all, but your questions are breed related in many cases.


Q3- are ducks cold hardy? would i need to insulate a coop for them?
Depends on the breed, some are better than others.

Q4- what do ducks lay in? nesting boxes, baskets, the ground, what?
a corner on the floor in the coop, building they slee in. Sometimes in their pools, sometimes in the yard. We use new simple cat litter pans on the ground of their stall and most lay there.

Q5- do ducks roost?
This breed oriented. Migratory ducks some perch(roost) and Muscovy roost

Q6- are bantam duck eggs the size of a normal chicken egg?
No they are smaller just like bantam chicken eggs are smaller

Q5- they will be somewhat close to my chickens, we have a few that would go as far as the ducks would be. can they mix during the day?
Drakes can sometimes try and breed chickens which can injur them or kill them. If the drake has enough ducks of his own, and enough space to spread out they can free range around each other.

Q6- whats the average flock number? how many hens per drakes?
Depends on the breed, some such as bantams pair well, where of domestics such as Khaki and the like do well 1:4 and 1:5

Q7- how far do ducks travel?
again breed oriented.....some are home bodies, some will travel inside all the space they are permitted to move about in (ie..what you fence in)

Q8- what do ducks eat?
We feed mazuti waterfowl feed and whole grains, many use an All Flock or Flock Raiser for their ducks along with free ranging them

 

[Sweetly Silkies]

Well maybe not advice, but I would like some of my questions answered.

BTW I would be getting Call ducks and possibly wood/mandarin ducks ;-)

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

mandarin and wood ducks can NOT be free ranged

(sorry missed the breeds)

Wood ducks require permits to keep them

both mandarin and woods have to be kept in an enclosed aviary at all times with a flight net roof over it.

 

[Sweetly Silkies]

mandarin and wood ducks can NOT be free ranged

(sorry missed the breeds)

Wood ducks require permits to keep them

both mandarin and woods have to be kept in an enclosed aviary at all times with a flight net roof over it.

Scratch that idea then, how about call ducks?

 

[Kevin565]

Scratch that idea then, how about call ducks?

I personally wouldn't free range Call Ducks.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

nope, never free ranged any of them when we owned call ducks either. They are hawk bait

 

[Sweetly Silkies]

I just remembered we had a bunch of chain link fence panels the previous owner of this farm left us, could i use that and something for over the top to make a pen?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

not for small ducks no, they can go right through the large openings.

 

[grawg]

Scratch that idea then, how about call ducks?

Any particular reason for call ducks?

For free ranging flightless ducks I would think indian runner, khaki campbell, anacona, or welsh harlequin would be better suited for the task. Another advantage is they all lay better than calls. Also, indian runner and campbells are active breeds that forage well.