Some very basic duck questions.

[Chicky Joy]

I've been chewing on the idea of getting a few ducks to have around the yard. The problem is I don't know the first thing about keeping ducks. I'm always up for an adventure though, which is why we have 38 chickens.

Anyway I was just wondering what the very basic requirements are for a couple of ducks, of any variety.

Feed?

Shelter?

Water (for drinking and frolicing)?

Just looking for a little information. I know we will be getting a few turkeys from the feed store this spring, and I'm sure I'll be tempted to get some itty bitty ducks.

 

[tonini3059]

Very basics would be to start them the same as the chickens and turkeys, then when they are old enough put them in with the chikens you already have. That is what we did with all of ours and they are fine. A kiddie pool would be nice for them to play in. Just be forewarned however, ducks are one of the messiest creatures ever to exist.
A search should turn up greater detail of info, but this is what we did and it has worked for us.

 

[J3172]

Good choice ducks are a ton of fun. First things first do you plan on putting them in the chicken coop or building a new pen? You should be able to find duck food at your local feed store or TSC and just remember that ducks cannot have medicated feed. Third as for water goes all the ducks need enough to be able to sick there whole head under water to stay healthy, but if you want to give them playing water a kiddy pool will work. I live on a lake and my ducks hate the lake and only use their private pool. I find my ducks to be very smart about being out during the day and going in their cage when it gets dark, so you will only have to herd them in the first couple times. I'll tell you this now if you have hens and drake odds are you'll get at least one broody hen and if you mess with her eggs she will not be a happy mama, and if you keep taking them away, my ducks say fine and go off and nest in the bushes were I cannot find or stop them. What breed of ducks were you looking for?

 

[bufforp89]

I feed my ducks the same thing that I feed my chickens, some of them live in a shelter very much like my chicken coop without the roost. Others live in a 3 sided shelter with a predator proof fence. I use kiddie pools to provide water for drinking and playing in, 3 for my 9 ducks and 2 geese. I just keep them all full and filp, clean and one a day. Ducks are all and all very easy to take care of.

 

[J3172]

yea I would have to say ducks are one of the easiest birds to take care of and one of the hardiest.