We live on a lake- Bad or Good idea for ducks?

[cluckcluck42]

We want to get some ducks but I'm not sure if it's a good idea on a lake. Would they come home at night? I would need to clip their wings enough that they can't completely fly away, what issues will that cause? Also that we have neighbours, how loud are ducks?

We also have an old hot tub that we can turn into a duck pond, but since we literally live right on the water, it seems a shame not to let them swim on the lake.

Just wondering what everyone thinks about this... We already have chickens and we have a large chain link wire coop that we are either going to use for ducks or more chickens, maybe broilers.



Also, are we better off getting a breeding pair or a small flock?

 

[Bleenie]

I would be worried they would come back to land on someone elses yard... or go off nesting somewhere.

ETA: Ask your neighbors if they're okay with you having ducks, just in case they wander into a neighboring yard.

 

[houndit]

Most ducks I have raised will come home every night except Muscovies. They would rather stay on the pond. Do you have a boat you could buzz out there in incase they decided not to one night? That should teach them.

 

[goosedragon]

When I used to raise several breeds of colorfull ducks I used to have "pond duck specials" you come and pick your own, $3 each, 2 for $5. The special pen were my culls and were mostly pretty young DRAKES. I would tell people when they got there what was what and why it was a pond duck. The advantages of a all drake flock are !. most pretty birds 2 usually no fighting. 3 not as noisy as females 4 no nests to watch out for when mowing and no baby ducklings to fall in love with. Most thought they were a great idea and ended up with 4-8 drakes. I would throw in 5 pounds of feed and told them where they could get supplies and Stories Guide Some of course wanted pairs and I would try to help them make up pairs from the few special females if they seemed unhappy I would offer some of my lesser breeders (at much higher prices of course) I moved a lot of ducks, and a lot of culls. If they had a preditor problem they would often buy replacements. If they got serious about raising ducks they knew where they could buy decent stock and my feed dealer loved me for sending business his way. Advise was free just like here.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Well, I still really want some ducks. Pekins are so pretty! If I had some ducks I would like to let them free range along with the chickens. We live on about an acre.

How alike are ducks to chickens? My chickens don't stray too far from the house because they know where their home is and stay on our property (so far lol!) Will ducks do the same or are they more prone to taking off??? If we raise them from chicks, does this help them stay home? We will clip their wings so they cannot fly too far.

I would reallllllly like some Pekins!! Do ducks lay in nest boxes or mostly wherever they want?

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
Yep, i would be able to wrangle them in.

How loud are ducks?? Much worse than chickens? I would really like some Pekins.

 

[texascowboy1979]

Quote:
I agree... if its a shared lake... ask your neighborhs... if its a HUGE lake... then just ask those around you...

I say go for it... but just ask...

 

[greyhorsewoman]

We have a small pond. Our flock of 20+ pekin/rouen/mixes are pretty settled now. We feed our ducks by our barn every morning and evening. Generally, they 'drift' toward the barn close to feeding times. In the winter, they stay closer to the barn, (sleep and nest in there). During the warmer months they roam farther up into the pastures and often chose to sleep on the pond. The pond is close to our barnyard, so our ducks tend to stay close to home. As to egg layings, some of our ducks like the nesting spots in the barn, some like the sides of the pond and some, who knows where.

I don't know how well it would work with a community lake. Ducks go where they want to go unless confined. We've had issues with a couple of them deciding to cross the road (for no apparent reason). Most of them are dead now, the remainder seem happy to stay on the pond side of the road. As to noise, they are noisy when they want fed ! Females are MUCH noisier than males. If your neighbors don't like/want ducks, it could be deal breaker. And wrangling ducks off a pond or lake ... believe me, easier said than done!

 

[Wifezilla]

If you get Pekin ducks, you don't have to worry about wing clipping because they CAN'T FLY.

As for them coming in at night, etc...

If you train them right they will.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
Ohhhhhhh geez!! Now that I think about it, I knew that!! lol