Personalised Duck Advice

[Parvos]

I've recently become rather fond of ducks, especially feeding them, and I thought that it might be nice to look into it a little.

I have a small garden (30ft by 10ft) and neighbours each side - one with a dog who has no means of getting over the fence, and the other with a cat who only has three legs. Tell me to stop here if I have no hope!!

Buying a coop and a pool for the ducks is not a problem, but my family is very anti-clipping and so they would have to be unable to fly or a rescue. We would prefer them to be smaller, and easily tamed.

If the ducks were out in the garden, free roaming, one of us would either be watching from the kitchen, the dining table or the patio. The cats pose a problem, and we can't completely mesh over our garden due to a hedge that is a fundamental habitat for some of the smaller birds.

Do I have no hope of having ducks in my garden? If so, how much would running a small holding be?

 

[Alaskan]

are they against clipping the last wing joint? Or are they against trimming some feathers??

I am not sure why they would be against trimming a few feathers... just like a haircut.

The super fat breeds of ducks should be happy to never fly, and should still be an option. If you like any of those.

 

[Parvos]

They're against clipping the wing joint, they find it cruel. I'm not too sure of it myself, but as long as the animal is happy...

I would go with the bigger breeds, but I understand that you at least have to have a pair of ducks, and I'm not sure whether they'd fit in our garden.

 

[chickens really]

Get Ducks....Bigger breeds can not fly...Ducks are mess makers and love to drill holes..Water and mud are a Ducks best friend....

 

[gal5150]

I can see the dream and its beautiful! I want you to understand the reality....your yard will be drilled (mud holes), foraged, and pooped on....everywhere. No way around it. You can mitigate the damage but not avoid it entirely. A pea gravel area for the pool would work well. All bets are off for the rest of the yard. You will spray down the poop, creating a fun place to drill mud, lather, rinse, repeat. Cats, bad news. Be forewarned that some "flightless" ducks do fly. My Cayuga does. Are you allowed waterfowl in your zone and how friendly are you with your neighbors? Ducks can be quite loud, even a pair. I'm not saying it's a horrible idea. I love my ducks to bits. I just want you to have a realistic expectation.

 

[BantyChooks]

My ducks, all light or medium class, can't fly a whit. Too fat. Of course, this might be due to the fact they're just feeder hogs.

 

[BantyChooks]

Ducks can be quite loud, even a pair.

If the OP just wants pets, drakes only would be a viable option.

 

[Parront]

I had Pekings, could not ever fly. Never had a pond either. Delicious. But Messy.
Not Cute!
I can't discuss other breeds, but the messy, delicious ducks only lived ~15 weeks.

 

[BantyChooks]

I had Pekings, could not ever fly. Never had a pond either. Delicious. But Messy.
Not Cute!
I can't discuss other breeds, but the messy, delicious ducks only lived ~15 weeks.

Pekins are pretty much meat birds. They're in the heavy class.

 

[Parront]

Yes, for pets, Pekins would not be my first choice. What about runners? Cute, and I do not think they fly or care about water much.