To raise ducks or not to raise ducks...

[Lilbugvick]

... that is my dilemma. Currently we have no animals and have been considering ducks as my oldest daughter and I have chicken egg allergies and tried duck eggs about a month ago and can eat them... wahoo! Therefore the idea of raising our own ducks for eggs came about as our 3 girls are dying to have an animal... why not kill 2 birds with one stone right? Not to mention i can control what they're eating as opposed to buying them from someone else. We avoid GMO's and eat organic and there's so much feed out there that's not that... Well after doing a lot of research I have a lot of pros and a Some cons, the main one being how messy ducks are. We just moved to our house last September and since we own a landscape company we had it re landscaped and it's beautiful so the idea of ruining it with messy ducks and duck poo makes it hard... especially for my husband to swallow. So... In all honesty is there a way to not have ducks so messy? I wanted to get khaki campbells and our local Co-Op is getting some ducklings in tomorrow and I can't decide whether to go for it or not. I don't want to be in over my head but also don't want our yard smelling or covered in duck poo. A lot of me wants to go for it for all the pro reasons but again I'm hesitant with how much work they could possibly be because we also home school so I don't want to take on more than is possible. Any thoughts from those who have ducks? Input would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[The Phantom]

If you have a nice setup they are no problem. They do smell though if their brooder gets dirty. As long as they can bathe daily they really don't smell. Just depends on how you keep them and how many you have. Also keeping their pool clean. That would be the only thing that would maybe smell when they get older.

 

[Lilbugvick]

If I let them free range when we're outside does poop get everywhere in the hard? I just imagine what a beach looks like where ducks have been lol!

 

[The Phantom]

Free ranging would be the cleanest. I don't raise ducks but I do swans. I assume they are the same to raise.

 

[room onthebroom]

Ducks are great, but they are messy. They also can be considered loud if you live in a suburban neighborhood.

You don't have to let them have access to your whole yard. You can always set up a designated area for them & keep the mess contained to one spot. I find it easier to do smaller clean ups of poop everyday & clean the pools out every couple days rather than do bigger jobs less often, but that's just my situation. If you decide to go for it, you'll settle into a routine that works for you.

One last thing. Baby ducklings need extra niacin to help them grow right. Duckling Starter is a great way to start them off and I've heard a lot of people talk about adding brewers yeast to their food for added niacin.

Good luck & let us know what you decide.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Several things to consider;
1. Duck poop is generally very liquidy which comes as no surprise, as they drink and drink and drink... So make sure the bedding is as absorbent as possible.
2. Ducks make a mess when drinking. You will need to devise a plan to deal with that, otherwise everything will get muddy and smelly.
3. If you have a pond/wading pool it will get very smelly, very quickly. You will need to replace the water quite often (every other day or so).

 

[room onthebroom]

If I let them free range when we're outside does poop get everywhere in the hard? I just imagine what a beach looks like where ducks have been lol!

In my opinion the poop isn't as noticeable in the grass as it is on driveways & cement (& front porches )

 

[shawluvsbirds]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ducks-in-the-garden.68011/
Here is an article you may enjoy
With the proper set up I think you would find them very rewarding as pets as well as providing your family with yummy eggs
Ducks don't scratch and dig quite like chickens do, but they do noodle in everything and can make some pretty deep holes anywhere that is wet enough for them to bill down into the earth. They love the mud!
Making them their own space would probably be the way to go in you situation.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/successfully-managing-ducks-in-the-garden.69382/
Be sure to check this one out too.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ducks-in-the-garden.68011/
Here is an article you may enjoy
With the proper set up I think you would find them very rewarding as pets as well as providing your family with yummy eggs
Ducks don't scratch and dig quite like chickens do, but they do noodle in everything and can make some pretty deep holes anywhere that is wet enough for them to bill down into the earth. They love the mud!
Making them their own space would probably be the way to go in you situation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/successfully-managing-ducks-in-the-garden.69382/
Be sure to check this one out too.

My favorite duck garden. Now, if I could only convince my husband.