To raise ducks or not to raise ducks...

[Soon2BChixMom]

I guess I should have stated fresh poo stinks. I have been pooed on too. So, up close and personal with it.
When I have been pooed on by the chickens, it wasn't as bad.

 

[CrystaBub]

Ha! I recently adopted a duck that came with a bag of mealworms. I had never fed them before but gave them all some yesterday because the new duck loves them. I dread going in the coop this morning for eggs. She came with a 5 pound bag......

HAHAHAH! I'm sorry for you

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I have only gotten shoe poo. But chicken poo. Yuck yuck yuck. I am clearly prejudiced. Ducks rule!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I love them both. I have no prejudice.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I wrapped my drake for angel wing and poo flew. It was so disgusting.
I can still smell it and want to vomit.
Which btw, ducks can have projectile poo - so something for the OP to consider.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

So true on projectile. I swear I have seen it land two feet behind the duck. A little tail wag of satisfaction afterward. I love my girls.

 

[room onthebroom]

My duck house is incorporated into my landscape. It’s also about 25 feet from my back door so keeping it clean is a must do! Heavy mulch and plants around it help to absorb all the water and mess. View attachment 1449058

That's so beautiful!!!!

 

[Michael P]

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?

As a landscape architect and owner of both chickens and ducks, I can assure you that ducks do much less damage to a landscape than chickens do. There are three important things to remember to minimize duck damage to planting.

1. Don't keep too many ducks in a small space.
2. Control water-related messes. There are many examples of how to do this in the forum.
3. Be quick with the temporary fences. Most duck breeds can be kept in or out of an area with a simple two or three foot wire fence. It doesn't even need posts if it will stand up on its own. I keep several lengths of 30" garden fence around, and if the ducks start to damage plants (rare!) I just put a circle of fence around the area that needs protection.

I never worry about duck feces in the garden--I never see them or smell them. The night pen is another story, but the solution is simple hygiene.

 

[CrystaBub]

That's so beautiful!!!!

Thanks - it's a never-ending project LOL!

 

[jennybvcr]

always. get. ducks.

Right? That's definitely the answer.