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

[Carcajou]

Hi Anna. Since you are from MN I thought I would send along a photo of my Khaki drake patrolling the spring run last February. They are winter hardy and though we had a mild winter in central NY my ducks preferred to be out in it rather than inside their coop. The more blustery it was the better they seemed to like it.

Here is a photo of that same drake and the lone female I had at the time last January when they had a nice straw and shavings lined coop to be in.

 

[spud1035]

I have had ducks for about 5 or 6 years and chickens abit longer. The thing I like about ducks is that they don't care if it's cold or snowy, they are extremely winter hardy but need to preen themselves about three times a week. I don't know if you would keep ducks if I didn't have a pond for them to swim in the summer. And the only type of pond I would have would be one with a good biofilter (skippy filter/wifezilla fame) and tons of pond plants. I don't notice the mess cause mine free range and like that they don't strach. I prefer call ducks but they are too easy of a meal for sparrow hawks. Sparrow hawks don't bother my silver appleyards though and my girl lays like crazy. They are nosey when I'm outside and are begging for food (the heathens). One thing about ducks is that don't do well with scraps like chickens can.

 

[new2ducks]

My husband woke me up this morning to tell me it was snowing...it's 34 and snowing and where are our ducks? In their pool swimming! Then they get out and walk around and were just loving it! I just think it's the neatest thing how they just love the snow! I made sure that their igloo dog house was filled with fresh straw and they have a dry area to go to but they were just loving the snow. Now my little" pigs with feathers" are also my "snow babies"

 

[clbarley]

" pigs with feathers"

I call mine little pigs in feathers lol