why ducks?

[slackwater]

Why do people raise ducks? For the eggs? Or for the fun of it? I have chickens for the eggs and possibly for breeding; would I like to have ducks? Can ducks free-range like chickens? We had muscovies, but they didn't do so well with the dogs; the chickens have had a better track record. So, I'm hesitant to try again...thoughts?

 

[FenDruadin]

For a start, check out the 101+ reasons we love ducks thread here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=245376

But, yes, I keep ducks for eggs primarily, pets also, and they earn their keep by producing eggs & ducklings for sale (chefs will pay premium prices for duck eggs in my area).

But about the dogs--what is the situation with that? Ducks will not defend themselves, and since most domestic ducks can't fly they won't be able to escape. Domestic dogs are one of the top predators I work to protect mine from. If you have dogs who are chasing and killing poultry, then you definitely do not need to have ducks, unless you can provide them a completely dog-proof enclosure.

Hope that helps--

 

[slackwater]

My dogs are fenced in, but the muscovies were allowed to free-range and used to "visit" them...and that would be the end of them

The dogs are not free to roam & hunt; that being said, the chickens have learned to stay away from the dogs and we haven't had any problems. It was just the muscovies that insisted on being in WITH the dogs.

So...would a duck need to be penned, with a roof on the pen? Would they be able to free-range? Or am I expecting too much of an entirely different type of species (chicken vs. duck)?

 

[redhen]

I love ducks because of their personality.

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
Me too! Definitely because they are fun!

 

[FenDruadin]

Hmm--I don't really know if the ducks would learn to stay away or not. Our neighbors have dogs in a fenced back yard, and the ducks have never tried to go in with them. My ducks totally free range during the day, but they have a predator-proof enclosure at night. They range down on an adjacent lake, into the neighbor's yards, across the street, up and down the drainage ditches, etc. On the rare occasions that there are large dogs loose in our neighborhood, I've lost ducks to them, but it's always been in our yard, so I'm sure the ducks are not chasing the dogs!

Still, I just really don't know. If you've had bad experiences with the muscovies before, I would be hesitant to try again, but maybe you'll have better luck this time. It's a learning process, anyway--I had a lot of losses early on until I figured out how best to protect my birds.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

 

[slackwater]

Is there any particular breed that would be better to free-range in the yard w/my chickens?

And I do have a predator-proof enclosure for the chickens to roost in at night, but I tend to not close it b/c I have a very protective mule standing guard. Won't do much good if they wander into the dog yard during the day, though...