Thinking About Ducks for eggs

[joshuaf15]

hi, we have 20 hens (australorps, ameraucanas, buff orps, new hampshire reds, barred rocks) cooped, and 10 guineas (along with a new hampshire red rooster and australorp pullet we hatched from our flock) who roam.

I was thinking about getting some blue Swedish ducks, for eggs to sell, and for meat.

I know NOTHING about ducks and have been trying to read up some on them, but get a lot of contradictions between books.

will they free range? should/can they be cooped for better egg production? do they need a "pond" (big water trough) to play in?
do they need more space than chickens?


thanks to all for any info you can pass along....


josh

 

[Miss Lydia]

hi, we have 20 hens (australorps, ameraucanas, buff orps, new hampshire reds, barred rocks) cooped, and 10 guineas (along with a new hampshire red rooster and australorp pullet we hatched from our flock) who roam.

I was thinking about getting some blue Swedish ducks, for eggs to sell, and for meat.

I know NOTHING about ducks and have been trying to read up some on them, but get a lot of contradictions between books.

will they free range? should/can they be cooped for better egg production? do they need a "pond" (big water trough) to play in?
do they need more space than chickens?


thanks to all for any info you can pass along....


josh

I have to recommend "Storey's Guide to raising Ducks" by Dave Holdrread who in my opinion is the foremost authority in domestic duck raising, he cover ever aspect of it and all breeds.