Thinking about getting some ducks...would like some opinions.

[Anna-MN]

So for those of you duck owners that get cold winters, what do you do about these water loving birds? Do they need to have a pool in the winter? How would you keep it ice-free?

 

[Kevin565]

They like having access to water in winter but it's not a requirement. Many people down here do not give them swimming water in the colder months. They are so messy that it still requires so much dumping which is a problem for people in the cold. I've seen people use stock tank heaters, pond deicers, aquarium heaters (I would never advise this one though).

 

[clbarley]

We live in a cold climate and provide a pool in the morning they normally get there cleaning and preening done and then I dump it and they have heated water to drink.

I LOVE the pros and cons on here and all of them are true.

My only $.02 I have to add is either raise them with your chickens or keep them separate because I have a very aggressive rooster that tries to kill my girls! Also I would keep the ducks separate if you are raising geese or any type of big poultry we just had one of our girls killed last Wednesday from one of our hormonal geese. It was a very sad day.

But ducks are amazing to have, they are silly, funny, and cute. They only time I ever get annoyed with them is at 2 am when our new spokes duck decides she is going to talk to the world for an hour! Other than that I wish I could have 100 more!

 

[Wynette]

I'd also strongly encourage you to use the search feature on BYC to find more specifics about your questions, as there is TONS of really good info. on here! This is my first year with them, but I adore them. I'm not planning on providing water for swimming in the winter, as here in Michigan, temps get quite chilly, and I wouldn't have a place to dump all that dirty water each day without making their run an ice rink. I'm planning on using a heated 5-gallon bucket, and am going to cover half of it so they can't spill as much out. DH is going to build a covered porch of sorts just outside their coop so they dont' splash water onto their bedding and create a frozen mess "indoors."

 

[Mike Winters]

ducks love water more then anything.

males can be very obnoxious during the mating season. they are not aggressive just very very amorous like Pepe Le Pew or Hugh Hefner.

also they love water and like to wear it as much as they can. they have the amazing ability to look cute even when they play in their own crap

if you have a bunch of females they will be loud but you will have one that wants the world to know shes coming and quack at the top of their lungs.

 

[Wokawidget]

Oh yeah if you love ducks you have to love mud! I refer to them as my littlepigs with feathers! I wouldn't trade them for anything though!

My house pig cannot stand any form of water or mud! Runs away squealing with her tail between her legs
I refer to mine as pond-dogs.

I got into ducks 3 years back and now have 3, all hand reared.

Pros:

Trainable...slow but worth it...my campbell does proper dog like tricks.
Funny
Playful
Intelligent
Bug Control
Don't scrat your grass or dig big holes in the dry mud for dust bathing like chickens do. Better for plant roots and bulbs.
They will help dig hole with you

Cons:

Poo...mine are free range on 200 sq meters so the poo never really builds up in any one place, apart from their coup, and for inside they can wear a harness.
Can be loud depending on the breed...My runner: QUACK QUACK....bird of prey...QUACK QUACK QUACK...where are you...QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK...this puddle is mint!
Bug Control...while this is also a pro it's also a HUGE con. If you like wildlife and have a lot in your garden, newts, frogs, toads, dragonflies, slowworms, butterflies etc then they all become a target. Literally everything gets gobbled without exception.
Veg patch...don't let them in the veg patch! You can spend 6 months keeping them out, then one day you leave the gate open a touch then before you can say "naughty lettuce eating duck" you have no lettuce or veg or blueberries!!!
Pool Water needs cleaning...although this can be reduced by a small deep pond with a decent pond filter. My pond is 12 feet by 6 feet, is layered up to 4 feet deep in the middle, and is normally crystal clear and only needs cleaning once or twice a year.

woka

 

[Tivona]

I have had both chickens and ducks but not at the same time. Here is my take on the differences between them.

Chickens are way meaner in the pecking order then ducks.
Ducks are messier then chickens.
Certain duck breeds and some specific hybrids lay better then chickens. Like my Golden 300 hybrids from Metzer Farms, one of my ducks has laid just about nonstop for almost 2 years continuously (She was/is my best layer. She just molted and is currently not laying but wow! What a long run of eggs before this molt)
Duck eggs are usually bigger, more nutritious by weight and better in baking. (and I think better tasting)
Ducks naturally love to eat slugs. Some chickens will eat them but others must be trained to eat slugs. (I used to have slugs...a lot of them. Can't find them any where near my garden even in spring now.)
Chickens scratch/dig for bugs, worms and seeds. Ducks will do lots of little dibble holes looking for bugs, slugs and worms.
If your thinking of them as meat birds ducks are much, much harder to pluck.
Some males of both species can be problematic. Drakes should probably be kept away from chickens (the drakes may try to mate with the chickens and the anatomy is not compatible)
Ducks are party animals. Chickens will give you looks that could kill after the sun goes down and they want to be asleep. (middle of the night a duck will still be happy to see you)
Ducks like the rain and mud and sun and clouds. Chickens prefer nice sunny dry weather. Neither like hail/ lightening/ thunder.
Ducks I have heard do better in cold weather then chickens. (I have a moderate climate so I can't really say one way or the other)

For me ducks are much better. I like their personalities better. I have a lot of rain. I used to have slugs. I have a garden and they do less damage to it then chickens did (easier to fence). Plus I swear ducks smile. I had chickens but no more. If I ever moved to a desert I would go back to chickens but I would always miss my ducks.

 

[Wokawidget]

Plus I swear ducks smile.

Haha...and I thought it was just me...their scowl can be just as funny.

 

[Stumpy]

..... Once when I was cleaning out their house, there was a huntsman under the paper.....

I have to ask; what is a huntsman?

 

[cluckcluckluke]

The Pros:

Slug Control

Great Tasting Eggs

Personality. You can't stay sad when you're in the company of ducks

.

They are vary hardy fowl

Plenty more than just aren't coming to mind at the moment

The Cons:

They are messy, Whatever mess you are imagining you will probably have to multiple times 2.

The females can be very loud depending on the breed. If you live in town that can be a problem.

The Drakes have to be separated if they try to breed your chickens.

I would never do this because i can't get/have ducks, but could you breed a duck a chicken together and make a sort of "DUCKEN" or "CHUCK".

(this could possibly turn out to be a very stupid question

)