Should I buy a few ducks?

[8littleblackduck8]

Hi, I am interested in buying 2-3 ducks as pets, mainly to help out with my garden (fertilizer and pest control) with the bonus of egg laying. I have a few questions though: I have a 1300square meter property in Australia that is fully fenced, however I back out onto bush land that is full of predators (constantly have possums, foxes, snakes etc). Because I am worried about predators & of the possibility the ducks could escape, I don't think I would feel comfortable letting ducks roam free while I am at work or during the night. I only work 3 days a week but on those 3 days I plan on keeping the ducks in a pen during the day (approx. from 6am - 4pm). Will ducks be ok being penned in for that amount of time? It is only 3 days a week but I am worried about it. Also what would be the best breed of duck for me to get? I want the duck to be unable to fly, quiet but a good layer... any suggestions?

 

[8littleblackduck8]

Also I should clarify, on the work days I would plan to let them out for about an hour in the morning while I clean their house, collect eggs, top up water, eat breakfast myself.

So the work day routine would be :

• Bedtime Put into enclosure at 7pm
• Let out of the enclosure 5am
• Back into the enclosure 6am
• Let out of the enclosure 4pm (or earlier depending on when hubby gets home)
• Repeat

Non work-day routine would be:

• Bedtime - Put into the enclosure at 7pm
• Let out of the enclosure 5am
• Back into the enclosure only when i leave the house for errands or when it is bedtime
• Repeat

What do you think? Will the duckies be ok with this routine? or is it too much enclosure time?

 

[chickens really]

Mine are only out a couple of hours a day...Sounds fine as long as they have enough room..

 

[8littleblackduck8]

Mine are only out a couple of hours a day...Sounds fine as long as they have enough room..

Phew! Thank you

 

[snow5164]

Sounds good , as far as breed what is your goal ? Eggs?

 

[8littleblackduck8]

Sounds good , as far as breed what is your goal ? Eggs?

Here is my wish list in order of preference

1/Garden helpers:
I want ducks mainly for the benefits it will bring to my garden - pond water is meant to be liquid gold to use on plants. I also want to use their coop bedding for compost and also feed them as many table scraps as I can (so compost is priority one). For this reason I plan on building a mobile tractor coop that I can move around my property so they can 'fertiliser' everything. Plus i have also read they are great for pest control and I don't use chemicals in my garden.

2/Pets:
I would like the breed to be friendly in nature towards humans - I am an animal lover through-and-through and would need a connection to any animal on my property. I plan on hand-raising for this reason

3/Non-flying breed:
I am slightly paranoid they will accidentally escape into neighbouring bushland and be lost forever, so for my own sanity I think i should get a breed that can't fly so it is one less thing for me to worry about.

4/Quiet:
I need to be considerate of my neighbours, so would prefer a quieter breed. But I only plan on having 2 and we all have large 1400 square meter properties so I am not super concerned ... just as long as I don't have the loudest breed.

5/Eggs:
Honestly I think eggs is just a bonus ... I have never tried duck eggs so not sure if I will love them or not, either way I don't think I could handle eating eggs every single day so I am happy for the eggs but won't be devastated if the duck breed is not an amazing layer (there is only 2 of us at home so there is not a large family to feed).

So that is my goals in order of preference - what do you suggest is the breed/s I should look into?

 

[snow5164]

I don’t know honestly,
My list was :
Eggs
Eggs
Eggs

We got the khaki Campbell ducks and they are so sweet , nice and quiet they say “ peep,peep !” Like chicks do. They are friendly and smallish , not sure about flying ...they are#2 for egg production for ducks

Now my pekins should not be on your list, they could wake the dead with their honking I love them because they’re the #1 egg layers for ducks and my customers want eggs


Just do your research , there are so many kinds I know my friend @Miss Lydia has runner ducks .....

Have fun .... peep peep or HONK HONK

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have Runner, Buffs and Muscovy the Muscovy are the quite ones but they will fly so wing clipping is a must. My Buffs are my loudest but do lay nice large eggs and can't fly. My Runners aren't as loud as my Buffs but neither my Buffs or my Runners are loud all the time usually it's just when they get separated from their little flock, Runners are great egg layers too. Muscovy's are seasonal layers laying from early spring till into fall then they take the rest of their year off.

 

[8littleblackduck8]

I don’t know honestly,
My list was :
Eggs
Eggs
Eggs

We got the khaki Campbell ducks and they are so sweet , nice and quiet they say “ peep,peep !” Like chicks do. They are friendly and smallish , not sure about flying ...they are#2 for egg production for ducks

Now my pekins should not be on your list, they could wake the dead with their honking I love them because they’re the #1 egg layers for ducks and my customers want eggs


Just do your research , there are so many kinds I know my friend @Miss Lydia has runner ducks .....

Have fun .... peep peep or HONK HONK View attachment 1530816 View attachment 1530817 View attachment 1530818

OMG i love your pictures - ADORABLE!!!! I cannot wait to get my own ducks now!!!

 

[Michael P]

There are many wonderful breeds, but I chose Welsh Harlequins and have been very happy with them. They don't fly, are not very noisy, and lay LOTS of eggs. To me, they are also very beautiful.

One caution, the great majority of ducks are not very friendly or tame. My Welsh Harlequins are fairly calm and will come to me for treats, but are not nearly as friendly as the chickens. I did not expect them to be cuddly pets, so this didn't bother me. But many people post here asking, "How do I make my ducks love me?" The answer is they probably never will.