To Duck or not to Duck - Nearby Neighbors

[Luv Ducks]

I have 14 Ducks, 5 drakes and 9 hens. They are loud especially when they see me. It wasn't so bad until we got one Khaki Campbell that is the loudest duck I have ever heard. She is the ring leader of the Choir. Once she starts the others join in. It is mostly when they see me as I am the care taker. You have to keep your ducks on ground that is not hard as they can get bumble foot. If it is too hard or uncomfortable for your bare feet it can damage their feet. I love mine and my neighbors are very close but love to hear them quack as they say they sound like they are all laughing. I am very fortunate. They have torn up a huge part of our yard that is now their pen, they have no pond but large containers of water that they can bathe in. Their pen is huge and covered in netting because we have hawks that could attack them. I got my two Mallards from Metzer Farms. I ordered females and the one has laid eggs almost all winter and is still laying. I wanted them pioned so that they could not fly but they forgot to do it so I clip one wing. Muscovy ducks are quiet and good for eating flies and other bugs. I have two Hens that do that for me. Good luck with your choices. I am getting 4 eggs a day now from my 9 Hens but not sure who all is laying except the one Mallard for sure as her eggs are a light green.

 

[3xhhheather]

I have some ducks I've never heard quack and then a few that love to RA RA RA so loud that I can hear them clear across the property. The quiet ones are Black Swedish, Anconas, and Silver Appleyard. With that though, it's nothing compared to the chickens' egg song which some days I feel like never stops, especially when it's contagious and alllllllll the ladies get going to celebrate the momentous occasion of laying an egg.

With property your size it'd be best to manage a pen for them (mulch, mulch, and more mulch to keep the mud away) and then let them free range supervised on none mud inducing days. I'm 100% team duck, while my husband is 100% team chicken, but they're all amazing so you can't really go wrong <3

 

[Luv Ducks]

I have some ducks I've never heard quack and then a few that love to RA RA RA so loud that I can hear them clear across the property. The quiet ones are Black Swedish, Anconas, and Silver Appleyard. With that though, it's nothing compared to the chickens' egg song which some days I feel like never stops, especially when it's contagious and alllllllll the ladies get going to celebrate the momentous occasion of laying an egg.

With property your size it'd be best to manage a pen for them (mulch, mulch, and more mulch to keep the mud away) and then let them free range supervised on none mud inducing days. I'm 100% team duck, while my husband is 100% team chicken, but they're all amazing so you can't really go wrong <3

Have you ever gotten Bumblefoot from the mulch? I use sand but have to keep adding it and I am up to about 6 ton and have two more to put in. I put a lot of water in the pen while filling up all of their buckets and emptying them but they love to splash in it and the pen is very big. I was just curious on how the mulch worked. I was concerned that something in it might poke their feet?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

What is your neighborhood like? It is like normal suburban style? More rural ish outskirts? Buttoned up community?

My experience is limited but I will tell you, birds are all different. My Welsummer chickens are considerably louder than my Australorps (which are pretty much The Perfect Chicken, j/s). Our Welsh Harlequin ducks are beautiful, but noticeably louder - when they want to be - which is not all the time, by any means. Mostly it's jusy cute little muted honks, unless they are displeased, in which case they Will let you know? Personally, I find their chatter to all be part of the appeal of having them around.

Moreso than noise, I would be concerned about logistics. Do you have perimeter fencing and a pond? That's ideal because ducks need their water to splash in, and they root around in the grass and make holes, and the mud spreads all over the pen and kills the grass. So you'd need to be constantly moving their enclosure and refilling water tubs which is all a big pain in the rumpus. I saw a cool pen design with a French drain and rock / gravel floor that could be hosed off, if you are interested in looking at a duck pen setup like that, might keep the mud and destruction down. I also saw a Carolina Coop design with a dug out drain for the duck dipper that you could drain like a bathtub and refill, but most people are probably not going that crazy with it. Ducks' needs are different than chickens, so that's something you would need to *seriously* consider, and set up ahead of their arrival, ideally.

I would ask why specifically you want ducks? I mean besides the obvious lol. As wonderful as they are, my experience has been that chickens are considerably easier to keep and maintain their living quarters, (depending how you do it.) There are lots of cute little coops that would accommodate 3 chickens that you could easily add a bump out for a run, or put a covered fence around it, and even potentially keep it all lightweight enough to move around your yard so it doesn't get too badly destroyed. Either way, you'll want to give some serious thought to what your setup will be.

IMHO, three is an annoying number - I don't know where someone starting out is just getting three chickens, unless you get started pullets, or buy from a local neighbor. As in, tractor supply has a four chick minimum, and almost anywhere that ships will require you to buy more, so If it were me, I would do a cute little chicken set up, and grab (four) little cuties from TSC once the chick days start up again, and leave it at that. I guess you could get six to split with a friend if you really want to follow the rules! Lol

But if you really have your heart set on ducks, I'm sure it can be done. I do recommend the Welsh Harlequin ducks, they are just gorgeous and lay a creamy white egg, or Magpies are supposed to be excellent layers of more colorful eggs, although Indian runners are supposed to be good layers, too. I think it all comes down to personal preference. There is no duck that is going to be quiet 100% of the time, and unfortunately, I think potentially tearing up the yard could present more of a problem with neighbors than noise.

Ha my welshie can wake the undead. Her name is Frank because that's what she screams. And screams

 

[Launchpad]

Good morning, everyone!

I live on a small lot (1/2 acre) and just checked and legally am allowed up to three POULTRY - which is "any domesticated fowl...etc etc." But it pretty clearly would allow for ducks, which I didn't realize until today. BUT there is a provision against roosters (if one keeps chickens) and a general noise/nuisance provision.

SO.

I would be interested in female ducks for eggs. In reading up a bit, it sounds like the females are the louder sex. Are they louder than hens? If so, is it a large difference? And are there quieter breeds (besides muscovy - wanting an egg-laying breed).

I am initially liking the idea of cayugas or runners. Pros/Cons/differences?

TIA for any and all help and education!!

My Cayuga female is my most quiet female. The silver appleyard female is also pretty quiet but a troublemaker. And the pekin female is the loudest of all, always quaking at something

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I have 2 Welshis. One makes no noise. The other can wake the undead. It just depends on the duck.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Have you ever gotten Bumblefoot from the mulch? I use sand but have to keep adding it and I am up to about 6 ton and have two more to put in. I put a lot of water in the pen while filling up all of their buckets and emptying them but they love to splash in it and the pen is very big. I was just curious on how the mulch worked. I was concerned that something in it might poke their feet?

I used to have problems with bumblefoot. I thought it was the mulch and forest floor materials. Turns out it was rocks underneath the beddIng. Mulch is fine. It keeps everything drier, which prevents bacterial grossness. I now have no issues with bumblefoot.

Noise, I have lots of.

 

[austroberta]

Good morning, everyone!

I live on a small lot (1/2 acre) and just checked and legally am allowed up to three POULTRY - which is "any domesticated fowl...etc etc." But it pretty clearly would allow for ducks, which I didn't realize until today. BUT there is a provision against roosters (if one keeps chickens) and a general noise/nuisance provision.

SO.

I would be interested in female ducks for eggs. In reading up a bit, it sounds like the females are the louder sex. Are they louder than hens? If so, is it a large difference? And are there quieter breeds (besides muscovy - wanting an egg-laying breed).

I am initially liking the idea of cayugas or runners. Pros/Cons/differences?

TIA for any and all help and education!!

My Welsh Harlequins hens rarely quack and when they do, it tends to be a more quiet quack. My Runners are all drama queens and will express themselves all day about this or that. They are also much louder than my Welshies. My neighbors all love the ducks. They were a hit during the pandemic and still are. Folks, especially those with children, will stop by to see what the ducks are up to, and when they don't hear any quacking they express concern that I might have gotten rid of them. I've never gotten noise complaints, as my ducks are quiet as mice when they go to sleep at night, which is the time when most people want peace and quiet.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I used to have problems with bumblefoot. I thought it was the mulch and forest floor materials. Turns out it was rocks underneath the beddIng. Mulch is fine. It keeps everything drier, which prevents bacterial grossness. I now have no issues with bumblefoot.

Noise, I have lots of.

Thank you so much for the info. I have sand but they still manage to turn it into mud and every spring I am putting 2 more ton of sand in the pen. I love how it is easy on the feet though and have never had bumblefoot on any of my ducks. I appreciate your answer.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you so much for the info. I have sand but they still manage to turn it into mud and every spring I am putting 2 more ton of sand in the pen. I love how it is easy on the feet though and have never had bumblefoot on any of my ducks. I appreciate your answer.

I think I'd like sand, but no way I would want to pay to have that hauled in. My substrate is free! I just rake it up from the woods and bring it in.