what's great and not so great about ducks?

[loriamarosa]

We have two chickens who we love. We are considering raising ducks, as my hubby just found out he is allergic to chicken eggs. We hear ducks make very nutritious eggs, and that they are very good at eating slugs. We also hear that they don't scratch like chickens do; instead, they nibble. Then someone else who has also not raised ducks said that they make giant messes of yards. We have 3 acres so a mess from a few ducks may not be so bad...or could it be? But we just don't know much about raising them or keeping them. How do they compare with chickens? Can they free range but be in some sort of protected enclosure at night? Would they make our chickens sick? What are their behaviors?
Thanks!

 

[cosbackyard]

Ducks don't scratch. They do occasionally dig holes with their beaks.

I wouldn't say they make a giant mess of yards. Three of them don't ruin my 2500 sqft backyard. They will poop all over your porch, though, which is kind of nasty.

Mine free range during the day. They will not put themselves in at night, but rather have to be herded.

I don't have experience keeping chickens, so I can't comment on how they are together. From what I gather ducks mess up their bedding much quicker than chickens.

 

[rubberduckies]

I'm not expert but... I have 5 6-week-old ducks and they are MESSY. But if you have 3 acres and just a few free-ranging ducks that would probably be fine. (Mine are in a very small pen while we are building them a bigger one so it gets yucky fast).

You're right that they nibble on things. They're like toddlers and check out everything by putting it in their mouths. They peck a little but it's nothing like chickens.

A lot of people have free-ranging ducks and then just lock them up in the duck house at night (when most predators come out).

Ducks can be housed with chicken but some people house them separate. Ducks don't roost. They live, sleep, and nest in the ground. And ducks make a mess when they drink water (chickens don't seem to like that).

Ducks are naturally disease free. So there's probably no need to worry about diseases or mites and things like that. You should check their feet periodically though (as you probably do with your chickens).

Ducks need a lot more niacin than chickens so you'll need to supplement their water with niacin (regular. Not flush-free or time release). Or you can sprinkle brewers yeast on their food. (I put niacin in the water). Also, ducks need to eat UNmedicated feed. I use Perina Flock Raiser crumbles and its great. They can eat it as ducklings and adults. They can also eat it when they are laying but you should provide oyster shell grit (as calcium) when they start to lay.

I recommend reading Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks by Dave Holderread.

Hope this helps.

 

[EggsnQuackers]

We keep ducks and chickens. The ducks are my favorite, the chickens are his favorite...
To answer your questions... Duck eggs are very nutritious. They have a higher protien content than chicken eggs and they're great for baking. Otherwise they taste pretty much the same and chicken eggs and can be used the same way. We raise Silver Appleyards and my hens laid reliably every day all winter long.
We don't have much of a slug problem so I can't comment on that.
They don't scratch like chickens. And I wouldn't say they so much dig holes as they drill them. They aren't usually very wide but they can be deep. I find them mostly in areas of the yard where there is wet soggy mud like the areas around their pool or water pan. I've never seen them make a hole in firm dry soil or grass.
Their poo is what makes them so messy. There's a lot of it and it's very wet. Also, they can be very loud.
Yes they can free range as long as they have a secure place to sleep. Our ducks don't reliably put themselves in the coop at night but, they're very easy to herd (much more so than the chickens). Most of the time when they see me coming they start heading for the shed.

Personally, I think ducks are far easier to keep than chickens. Their housing requirements are simpler, they don't roost, they tolerate cold temperatures well. For us, the biggest challenge was figuring out the best way to provide water. Ducks like it wet, chickens like it dry...

Ducks are wonderful to watch. They always seem so joyful. They troop around the yard looking for things to eat, or they all lay down in the sun together softly quacking to each other. Sometimes they all decided to just QUAAAAACK and run across the yard. When I get the hose out they come running so I can "water" them (like you'd do with flowers). They're really wonderful birds.

 

[Going Quackers]

well, the simple fact is ducks are messier.period. They adore mud, will use just about anything with water in it as a means to bathe lol

They truffle, they don't dig, chickens dig! they drill with their beaks to basically sieve through the mud to gain grit and bugs. They will nip at grasses, but i don't find them destructive with it.

Concentrated areas where water areas are will become mud and grass will cease to exist. Otherwise, mine travel over quite a distance and don't ruin much.

My breed does roost lol a rather unusual trait of the 'scovie... the ducks also fly and well, drakes not so much as they mature due to the heavy nature, they are not loud either, the drakes don't quack, and the ducks mostly use trills, coos, etc...

As for mixing both, people do but the water concerns of the duck need to be considered they need water to clean their nares... and do need something to bathe in, think like the chickens dust bath for comparison.

As well drakes must be watched with hens, some will try mating them which can result in death. I don't mix mine. I think ducks are good foragers and many breeds are most self reliant in compared to chickens. Mine usually come back to the barn by dusk BUT i am usually herding them back before this, as duck dinner is highly prized by predators.

 

[RubberDuckee]

I am an "accidental" duck owner. Yet, to spite my resistance, I have simply fallen in love with ducks.

Yes, ducks can "free range." HOWEVER, please take other duck owners' recommendations to enclose ducks while free ranging. I have, very very very sadly learned that the hard way. Ducks will be fine in wooded areas, but once the leaves fall off of the trees they are completely exposed to predators. I lost my "Heart" and my "Patita" this fall due to this. I still have my sweet "Jailbird" who now lives inside. She lays around 3 eggs each week, and they are very good to eat! In fact, she left us a little EASTER EGG this Sunday.

I had chickens as a child and my ducks behaved very differently. Ducks are sort of like "feathered dogs." They miss you, they love you, they greet you with loud quacks ("Waaks") when you come home. And mine have all been very healthy.

As for the yard.... they can do some damage. So, if you had a mobile caged area that could be moved around your 3 acre property then that would be an excellent prospect! My 3 were malllards that were at least a "part" domestic duck. They have been very well behaved girls!

****MAKE SURE that the ducks are SECCURELY enclosed at night! That is when the raccoons can get them.

 

[flockman]

I have ducks and chickens. Each has benefits and down falls. I like the ducks as they are very comical, and their eggs are enormous. We get about the same number eggs from 5 ducks as we do from 7 hens. Ducks are messy with water but are worth it if you ask me. Mine are able to free range during the day and put themselves to bed. Hope you join the duck wagon!