My DH says I can have them if they don't destroy our yard - Will They?

[Lady_Cluck]

Quote:
LOL. That's for sure!!!

I have a lovely medium-sized koi pond. Last spring, I bought all new plants for it -- beautiful water clover, lilies, lettuce, iris....

One of my Pekin ducks, yes just one, escaped the fenced barnyard, plopped herself right in the pond, and ATE EVERY SINGLE ONE. There wasn't even dirt left in the planters.

That was the most expensive and gourmet dinner she's ever had! She was quite pleased with herself. I think she still wants me to feed her water lillies for breakfast!!!

 

[ChickaChickaBoomBoom]

My two muscovies free range, and so far haven't done too, too much damage. However, the poop - well, I don't know what to say about it. It's just a constant battle, and that's just two ducks (albeit large ones). I've just gone to leaving the powerwasher out in their area so that I can spray everything down. Today I went out to do it, and the powerwasher was covered in poop. Sigh.

Just to have one day's sanity, I locked them in with my two hens in their run/coop tonight. Ugh.

I love my ducks, and I actually am thinking of selling my two chickens to make life easier for me. But they definitely make their mark on your property.

-Dave

 

[Mahonri]

I've yet to see a yard ducks haven't completely destroyed.

 

[DuckLady]

My DH says I can have them if they don't destroy our yard - Will They?

Depends. What answer do you want. I will tell you whatever answer you want that will get you those ducks.​

 

[Birdcrazy]

ducks are great but your pond will be permantently messy (unless willing to clean it all the time or let ducks in at certain times?). they also poo a lot

also about your fish, my ducks actually will eat the yabbies out of the dam but I have no idea about fish. they will probably be ok. maybe if u have an encloser and let the duckies out for a treat for an hour or so everyday
good luck =]

 

[nzpouter]

hmmmm.. to be honest I haven't seen mine done a lot of damage in their yard..... maybe because the soil is solid clay and stone... and their pond is live fed with fresh water...

 

[CityChicker]

As most everyone has said, they will completely destroy your yard (unless of course your yard is a hundred acres, LOL). Please do not even think about letting them anywhere near your Koi pond! You will so regret it. They will destroy a pond that size in a matter of *hours*. If your Koi are decent size, they probably won't eat them, but that is the least of your worries really. It is all the ancillary mess they will make. Seriously, it has to be seen to be believed if you've never had ducks before. The people here that are saying not to do it are not exaggerating about what will happen.

I love ducks. I have kept them continuously since I was a child and can't imagine ever being without them, but they are not at all the type of animal that can be integrated into any sort of manicured yard/water feature/Koi pond. You will see destruction beyond what you can even comprehend. They simply must have their own space that is easily cleanable and if you want to give them swimming water, most often you will want to do something that can be dumped and refilled once *daily* at a minimum. The only time that ducks are minimal maintenance is when they are kept in small numbers in very large areas. Even then, under the best of circumstances, they can wreak havoc on a pond.

 

[Pampered Chicken]

Ok, I'm not to OP but I think you've talked me out of ducks.

 

[Slywoody]

From the setting you describe, your best bet may be to shy away from ducks.

 

[Preservation Acres]

So what I'm understanding from everyone here is that ducks are a low maintenance, and very tidy animal that are cautious not to damage small ponds and back yards?

How about 5 runner ducks, a 25' x 30' pond in the middle of a 25 acre farm? That's the set up I'm planning to have this summer.