Thinking of getting ducks...

[AQuailNamedFrancis]

Howdy everyone,

I had some questions about ducks because I might be getting some.
1) Are they loud / noisy?
2) How much space would you recommend?
3) Could I just get one or two females for eggs / pets? (Thats kinda why i want them for eggs / pets)
4) Can they do well with the winter? I currently live in outside of Denver, Colorado and it gets snowy and cold here... Could they do well with this??
5) Can they fly well? Would I need to clip their wings?
6) I have 3 female coturnix quails, could they do well with ducks or would the ducks just murder them lol

Anyways thats all my questions...
Thanks for reading and helping.

 

[lomine]

Hello from Peyton fellow Coloradoan!

1 Depends on the breed. My Welsh Harlequin are pretty quiet but the Cayuga females aren't. Call ducks are supposedly very noisy.
2. The standard answer is 4 sq ft of coop space and 10 sq ft of run space per bird minimum. That's just a guideline. I would if you can give more space, do it.
3. You want to get at least 2. Ducks are flock animals and don't do well on their own. You can definitely get just females. Some breeds lay more than others. Metzer Farms has a good comparison chart on their site that shows egg laying numbers. I think is also includes information on temperament.
4. Mine do just fine in the CO winter. You'll need to provide a place where they can get out of the wind and figure out how to provide unfrozen water. I used heated buckets that I got at Big R.
5. Again, it depends on breed. If you get a heavier breed they can't generally get more than a few inches off the ground. Mallards are good flyers.
6. You'll need to house them separately. I also have Cots and while my ducks have never shown aggression I wouldn't trust them together.

 

[AQuailNamedFrancis]

Thank you

 

[Krazyquilts]

1. I'd say ducks are on the same Noise Level as "Annoying Yappy Dog," of which I have two, so I might not be a good judge of what is obnoxious.

2. Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks (which you should absolutely read before getting ducks) recommends minimums of 4-6 sq feet per duck for coop (sleeping) space and 10-25 sq feet per duck for pen/run (daytime) space. Always build for a larger number ducks than you plan to have because: A. Ducks are messy, and B. Ducks are addicting! Don't be surprised if you end with more than you planned! ;-)

3. I recommend getting a minimum of three ducks because, like chickens and other poultry, ducks are flock creatures and need to be with other ducks. If you have three ducks and something happens, you have time to get a replacement, but if you have only two and something happens, you are left with one sad and lonely duck.
Duck eggs are fantastic! Lots of people keep ducks just for eggs and there's lots of hatcheries that sell sexed ducklings, meaning you can order only the sex you want. Male ducks, called drakes, are absolutely darling though with their quiet. raspy, froggy quacks and curly tail feathers, so you could always get two girls and a boy. Lots of people tell me that if they get ducks whose main purpose is pets, that they would get males because they are significantly quieter than female ducks and because you don't have to deal with any egg-laying/reproductive problems.

4. Mine don't mind winter at all. Remember, ducks don't need insulation - ducks are insulation! Ever wore a down jacket? Well, ducks grow their own down jackets and they are prettier than anything humans can make.

5. From what I understand, except for Mallards, most standard size ducks can't fly. They can jump-fly onto short tables or into planters though.

6. Definitely don't keep Ducks and quail together. There's too much of a size difference.

Congratulations on wanting to get ducks! You'll just love them!!!

 

[Bridger Davis]

I had some questions about ducks because I might be getting some.
1) Are they loud / noisy?
This depends on breed.
2) How much space would you recommend?
3 ft. per bird of outdoor access. 1 ft. indoor space. Halve this for call ducks.
3) Could I just get one or two females for eggs / pets? (Thats kinda why i want them for eggs / pets)
Yes but 3 is usually recommended because they like the company of one another and it insures that if one dies, the others will not get lonely.
4) Can they do well with the winter? I currently live in outside of Denver, Colorado and it gets snowy and cold here... Could they do well with this??
They'll do fine. I actually live in Greeley so it's about the same.
5) Can they fly well? Would I need to clip their wings?
Depends on breeds. Most breeds cannot fly.
6) I have 3 female coturnix quails, could they do well with ducks or would the ducks just murder them lol
Hmmm. I don't know....

 

[Krazyquilts]

I had some questions about ducks because I might be getting some.
1) Are they loud / noisy?
This depends on breed.
2) How much space would you recommend?
3 ft. per bird of outdoor access. 1 ft. indoor space. Halve this for call ducks.
3) Could I just get one or two females for eggs / pets? (Thats kinda why i want them for eggs / pets)
Yes but 3 is usually recommended because they like the company of one another and it insures that if one dies, the others will not get lonely.
4) Can they do well with the winter? I currently live in outside of Denver, Colorado and it gets snowy and cold here... Could they do well with this??
They'll do fine. I actually live in Greeley so it's about the same.
5) Can they fly well? Would I need to clip their wings?
Depends on breeds. Most breeds cannot fly.
6) I have 3 female coturnix quails, could they do well with ducks or would the ducks just murder them lol
Hmmm. I don't know....

Where are you getting your data on spacing??? That's way smaller than anything I've ever read!

 

[Bridger Davis]

Where are you getting your data on spacing??? That's way smaller than anything I've ever read!

MMmm. Now that I am looking at what I said, I agree. My fingers just typed that... I think I read that somewhere... Well anyways, just ignore what I said everyone!! Sorry..

 

[Krazyquilts]

MMmm. Now that I am looking at what I said, I agree. My fingers just typed that... I think I read that somewhere... Well anyways, just ignore what I said everyone!! Sorry..

I just can't imagine the racket my ducks would make if I told them that's what their new housing would be! They already complain that they only get two pools instead of three now that it's winter.

 

[Duckstruck]

1) Are they loud / noisy?
Both my Pekin and Buff ducks quack some, but it hasn't disturbed my neighbors for 2+ years, even when I had six ducks.
2) How much space would you recommend?
I'm no expert to the exact numbers, but mine are enclosed in a large run. For starters, they'll need enough space for a pool.
3) Could I just get one or two females for eggs / pets? (Thats kinda why i want them for eggs / pets)
It's better to get two ducks rather than one. I get quite a few eggs each week with four, though breeds will dictate how friendly/productive they are. I personality recommend Buff Orpington ducks as a good utility and tame breed.
4) Can they do well with the winter? I currently live in outside of Denver, Colorado and it gets snowy and cold here... Could they do well with this??
As a rule of thumb, heavier breeds can tolerate cold better. My ducks have done well in Tennessee winter weather (though milder than Colorado), but it's important to have a good coop for them, incase the weather is bad. Though ducks are more hardy than chickens in cold environments, there will be times where, before damaging storms, I put my ducks up for their own safety.
5) Can they fly well? Would I need to clip their wings?
As most people have said, most don't fly. It shouldn't be a big concern.
6) I have 3 female coturnix quails, could they do well with ducks or would the ducks just murder them lol
I haven't had quail before with my ducks, but just with interaction with my rabbits and chickens with my ducks, ducks tend to ward off smaller/less aggressive animals. I've watched my ducks chase a chick before. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Krazyquilts]

3) Could I just get one or two females for eggs / pets? (Thats kinda why i want them for eggs / pets)
It's better to get two ducks rather than one. I get quite a few eggs each week with four, though breeds will dictate how friendly/productive they are. I personality recommend Buff Orpington ducks as a good utility and tame breed.

I love my Buffs! I want to get more some day, especially if I can find some non-hatchery stock. My two lay almost as well as my Welsh Harlequin.

Cayugas are pretty, too, but they don't lay as well as Buffs. (In my limited experience.) But I'll always have at least a few.