Loads of duck questions!

[black_cat]

So I'm thinking that in the future, I"d like to get some ducks. And since everything must be planned about 117 years before it happens, I have some questions:
What ducks are good pets?
What ducks are good for eggs?
Can you mix the larger breeds of duck with the smaller ones?
How many ducks do I need to get consistent eggs?
Do I want a drake?
How many ducks (is there a better name for female ducks?) per drake?
Can ducks and chickens be allowed to free range together?
How much space do ducks need?
Do ducks need access to water for swimming? How much/how deep?
What are the housing requirements for ducks? (Like how chickens need nesting boxes and roosts in their coops, what do ducks need?)
Thanks for any help with any of these questions!

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Can’t answer all of these but from my experience- I’ve lost all my hens except for one (Waddles is not yet of laying age) and she is a golden layer hybrid. She gives me consistent eggs every day. The biggest issue I have is ducks like to hide their nests and will cover them up when they leave. For water, I have a kitty pool from the dollar store that they wade and play in. My flock is free ranged together. I have few issues save the cockerels I now have to get rid of. I know you have to have a lot of hens to one drake so I just wouldn’t get one unless you want to hatch eggs. Since my flock is free ranged, my duck has made a nest in the barn out of shavings and such in the corner of one stall. This nest is so nice that the chickens have started dropping eggs in there.

 

[black_cat]

Can’t answer all of these but from my experience- I’ve lost all my hens except for one (Waddles is not yet of laying age) and she is a golden layer hybrid. She gives me consistent eggs every day. The biggest issue I have is ducks like to hide their nests and will cover them up when they leave. For water, I have a kitty pool from the dollar store that they wade and play in. My flock is free ranged together. I have few issues save the cockerels I now have to get rid of. I know you have to have a lot of hens to one drake so I just wouldn’t get one unless you want to hatch eggs. Since my flock is free ranged, my duck has made a nest in the barn out of shavings and such in the corner of one stall. This nest is so nice that the chickens have started dropping eggs in there.

Thank you for the help!
I don't have any particular reason to hatch eggs, but if a duck went broody? Do they do that? (you can see I know almost nothing) and the eggs started developing I would most likely let the duck continue with them, give them to a broody chicken, or incubate them myself. I am glad that ducks and chickens free ranging will work out, that will save me a lot of hassle. I know for chickens it's 7-10+ hens per roo, is it a similar balance with ducks? Do ducks make their nests in the same place each time, or different? If you gave them a nesting box would they use it?

 

[3bird]

So I'm thinking that in the future, I"d like to get some ducks. And since everything must be planned about 117 years before it happens, I have some questions:
What ducks are good pets?
What ducks are good for eggs?
Can you mix the larger breeds of duck with the smaller ones?
How many ducks do I need to get consistent eggs?
Do I want a drake?
How many ducks (is there a better name for female ducks?) per drake?
Can ducks and chickens be allowed to free range together?
How much space do ducks need?
Do ducks need access to water for swimming? How much/how deep?
What are the housing requirements for ducks? (Like how chickens need nesting boxes and roosts in their coops, what do ducks need?)
Thanks for any help with any of these questions!

I'll take a crack at some of your questions based on our experience, and I'll let others chiume in based on their experiences.

We adore and highly recommend silver Appleyard ducks. They are a large breed and lay ~250 eggs per duck/year. They are also a heritage breed (often longer lived, which is a bonus if you are interested in "pet ducks") and they are an endangered heritage breed (so keeping them is good for ducks overall).

In our experience, they are personable and gregarious. They are also awesome foragers, which has been a win for our vegetable garden.

People are divided on the drake question. If you want to hatch ducklings, you obviously need a drake, but we appreciate having a drake around regardless. Behaviorally (and aesthetically) things are much more interesting with a drake, and drakes do seem to keep an eye on everyone. Having said that, a drake will likely need to be managed throughout breeding season (~April-August). We would not feel comfortable keeping more than one drake to three hens. Currently we keep one drake to five hens, and that requires management.

We keep our six ducks in a 4x8 elevated duckhouse with a 16x8 attached run. They are in there at night, and then they free range for about an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. If we're working outside, they often get to free range more. When they are not in their duckhouse/run or free ranging, we have two fenced pastures adjacent to the duckhouse/run for them.

Ducks need enough water to dunk their heads (unlike chickens). A 5-gallon bucket will suffice, but they sure like more. Having said that, bigger is not always better. Our guys have a couple of small ponds around the property that have water most of the year, and they love going there, but we stopped using a kiddie pool in their pasture because it gets fouled so quickly and then needs to be refilled. Instead, we use a couple little tubs that are large enough for one or two ducks at a time. These are easy to change and they seem to like them as much as the kiddie pool.

Our ducks usually go up into the duckhouse early morning to lay in nests they make in the corners. Sometimes a duck will make a nest in the run. We use the deep litter method in our duckhouse.

I hope that helps. Feel free to follow-up, and good luck! Ducks are awesome!!!!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have a mix of ducks and chickens (see sig). They free range in the same pasture, no issues. The ducks tend to keep together. The chickens tend to keep together. A few chicks hang out with the ducks - who don't seem to mind at all.

I have a small pond dug in my run. The ducks enjoy it, particularly on hot days, but don't seem desperate for it when its dry. Its between 70 and 100 sq ft in surface area, and 3' deep in the deepest part - the ducks will play by "diving" under one another when its full. I should say that there are TONS of warnings about open water and chickens in a run, but my duck pond has a beach and shallows on all sides, and I've never had a problem, though I can see how it could be dangerous for the chicks.

My coop is raised almost 4' off the ground. The ducks sleep under it (it does have livestock fence and chicken wire to keep them safe from predators, and is inside the fenced run). They never go "upstairs".

I'm raising Pekins at the moment, and have too many males - the dinner table is calling, soon. You can see when I purchased them, below, they are all in the 11-12# range, last I checked. None are laying yet, first eggs aren't expected until the week of October 3, at the earliest, perhaps as late as the week of October 24 if the keep to the typical range - essentially, expect to have them half a year before they start providing you eggs. That's a lot of food they will eat, and a LOT of mess they will generate.

If you just want eggs, no future flock, there's no need for a Drake. Ducks will go for years and years and years laying eggs, unlike chickens - so if you don't have a Drake this year, its no big deal, you can always get one in year three or four and still reasonably expect to get a new generation. and if you accidentally get a drake among your ducks when purchased (I can only get straight runs, locally), well, there's always the dinner table....

My ducks get, effectively, about 10 sq ft per under the hen house, plus a little more "community" area. Around 50 per in the run, and they free range a potential 2.5 acres at present, but tend to keep themselves w/i about 100' of the hen house, which is more like 1 acres. I'm busy expanding the potential range at present, in hopes they will travel further foraging during the winter months, but for now they seem mostly content.

And I only have the one breed - no experience mixing them.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

What ducks are good pets?

any breed, it’s about how much time you spend with them and individual personalities. also, drakes! everyone says they aren’t nice, but my boys are super sweet and love cuddles!

What ducks are good for eggs

khaki campbell and white layers are pretty good!

Can you mix the larger breeds of duck with the smaller ones?

i would have a small breed drake and large breed females if possible!

How many ducks do I need to get consistent eggs?

maybe around 3, if you just want some for your family!

Do I want a drake?

yes! so many drakes get killed, even having just one is helping save a life!

How many ducks (is there a better name for female ducks?) per drake?

3+, but it depends on the individual drake!

Can ducks and chickens be allowed to free range together?

yes and no. if the drake is imprinted to the chickens he may try to mate with them. if not then it’s completely fine!

How much space do ducks need?

enough to forage, sleep, and swim!

Do ducks need access to water for swimming? How much/how deep?

just a kiddie pool!

What are the housing requirements for ducks? (Like how chickens need nesting boxes and roosts in their coops, what do ducks need?)

nesting boxes would be nice for the hens, but ducks (besides muscovy) dont roost

 

[black_cat]

I'll take a crack at some of your questions based on our experience, and I'll let others chiume in based on their experiences.

We adore and highly recommend silver Appleyard ducks. They are a large breed and lay ~250 eggs per duck/year. They are also a heritage breed (often longer lived, which is a bonus if you are interested in "pet ducks") and they are an endangered heritage breed (so keeping them is good for ducks overall).

In our experience, they are personable and gregarious. They are also awesome foragers, which has been a win for our vegetable garden.

People are divided on the drake question. If you want to hatch ducklings, you obviously need a drake, but we appreciate having a drake around regardless. Behaviorally (and aesthetically) things are much more interesting with a drake, and drakes do seem to keep an eye on everyone. Having said that, a drake will likely need to be managed throughout breeding season (~April-August). We would not feel comfortable keeping more than one drake to three hens. Currently we keep one drake to five hens, and that requires management.

We keep our six ducks in a 4x8 elevated duckhouse with a 16x8 attached run. They are in there at night, and then they free range for about an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. If we're working outside, they often get to free range more. When they are not in their duckhouse/run or free ranging, we have two fenced pastures adjacent to the duckhouse/run for them.

Ducks need enough water to dunk their heads (unlike chickens). A 5-gallon bucket will suffice, but they sure like more. Having said that, bigger is not always better. Our guys have a couple of small ponds around the property that have water most of the year, and they love going there, but we stopped using a kiddie pool in their pasture because it gets fouled so quickly and then needs to be refilled. Instead, we use a couple little tubs that are large enough for one or two ducks at a time. These are easy to change and they seem to like them as much as the kiddie pool.

Our ducks usually go up into the duckhouse early morning to lay in nests they make in the corners. Sometimes a duck will make a nest in the run. We use the deep litter method in our duckhouse.

I hope that helps. Feel free to follow-up, and good luck! Ducks are awesome!!!!

Thank you, this is super helpful! The situation where I would be getting more than 2-6 ducks involves me having a farm, so looking for a lot of eggs for selling and not just eating. By 'enough water to dunk their heads' do you mean swimming water or drinking water? I know that chickens scratch around and stir up and mix the bedding in their coop and run. Do ducks do the same, or would I want to rake things around every once in a while? I think that if I had my large scale farm operation, I'd make some sort of man-made pond for them because of the regular cleaning for kiddie pools. Thanks for all of your helpful advice!

 

[Weeg]

What ducks are good pets?
ducks can be skittish, but I have never raised my duck inside, or really as a pet. So I don't know for sure, but I bet any duck breed will be your friend if you raise it right. My white crested ducks are the friendliest.

What ducks are good for eggs?
I love mallard duck for eggs, they lay blue eggs and they are super cute. White crested, pekin, and buff ducks are also very good, but honestly I think peking are a particularly boring breed, on offense.

Can you mix the larger breeds of duck with the smaller ones?
Yes! I have mallards, Buffs, white crested, and swedish blue all mixed to getter!

How many ducks do I need to get consistent eggs?
I have five ducks and get five eggs a day. I you want eggs to sell, you will need to get some where around five ducks. Because no one can eat five eggs a day, and you will have them stacked up in a few days time!

Do I want a drake?
Depends, on what you want. I you would be interested in a broody, which is super fun, then you want a drake. I you don't want a broody, then you don't really have any reason for a drake. For if you have a drake you hav fertile eggs and you may see spots in them, but not a big deal.

How many ducks (is there a better name for female ducks?) per drake?
You should have, in my opinion, 3 ladies per drake. This will help agains one mating.

Can ducks and chickens be allowed to free range together?
My ducks and chickens live together in the same run with no issues. I only down side is th chickens will go and scratch up the duck house, and if you have a broody duck, make sure to separate her, or the chickens will case her off her nest and scratch it up.

How much space do ducks need?
About the same as chickens. Be aware though, if you ge mallards, try to make the night time space big enough fo them to fly, because depending on when you let them out in the morning, the mallards may fly around the coop.

Do ducks need access to water for swimming? How much/how deep?
Yes, I give ducks enough water to "dive" in, or at least does ether body underneath, so at the VERY least, a foot of water, but its much better have more water.

What are the housing requirements for ducks? (Like how chickens need nesting boxes and
roosts in their coops, what do ducks need?)
They just need some nesting boxes, that are sitting on the ground. They won't dump up on a roost or on a shelf to nest, They prefer to lay the eggs on the ground. I use milk crates fro my ducks boxes. And my mallard will even nest in the silencer of a metal feeder. Like the silence rhea you can take of the the hanging dispenser. I turned it side ways with shavings in it, and she lays an egg in it every day!

 

[3bird]

Thank you, this is super helpful! The situation where I would be getting more than 2-6 ducks involves me having a farm, so looking for a lot of eggs for selling and not just eating.

With our five girls, we have enough eggs for us and enough to sell/barter/share on a small scale. We average 3-4 eggs per day with our ducks averaged out across the year.

By 'enough water to dunk their heads' do you mean swimming water or drinking water?

Ducks don't *need* swimming water, but they do need dunking water. We provide this with a 5-gallon bucket in their run (a heated one for the winter). We do not provide any additional water in the run/duckhouse. When they free range, they have access to several small pools/ponds on the property like this one:

These are seasonal and usually dry up late August and into September, but they love them. In their pastures, we provide them with small tubs instead of a kiddie pool. The tubs are like this one that came from TSC:

I know that chickens scratch around and stir up and mix the bedding in their coop and run. Do ducks do the same, or would I want to rake things around every once in a while?

We use the deep litter method in the duckhouse starting with several bags of shavings and then we add straw daily and spot clean. They do not scratch like chickens, but they do root around in it with their bills. We spot clean the obvious poop and then put down a new thin layer of straw and just let it build up. We clean out completely once or twice a year.

I think that if I had my large scale farm operation, I'd make some sort of man-made pond for them because of the regular cleaning for kiddie pools.

We did that, and they won't use it...lol.

But they'll play in this all day:

 

[Weeg]

Yes, ducks don't NEED to swim, but you can tell how happy they are when they can! We have a spring running to our duck pond, so they have a pond with a little stream, and if you are gonna get ducks I highly suggest some thing for them to swim in, they will thank you for it!