Will ducks destroy the grass?

[Anna Ranieri]

If my 8 ducks don't destroy .15 acre, I can't see how your guys would destroy an acre. Yes, they may have a spot or two where they may eat back some, but it won't be bad. There is a pond near our house where there are like 8-10 ducks, mixed batch, large adults. The grass there remains green, and those guys are active.

If you had 20 ducks, maybe I would be worried. But I don't think you should be worried about your little group.

 

[meme mary carol]

My muscovies drill in their run when there is water or it rained, but other than I guess I haven't seen them doing so in the yard. The laziness might explain why my ducks only waddle to my back patio and meander there a bit and then back to their run.

Where are you located?

 

[Kiwibird]

Whether your ducks will destroy your grass depends on many things:
1. How many ducks, type of ducks and behaviour.
2. How much grass, and what type (annual grasses are more vulnerable than perennial grasses, shallower rooted grasses are more vulnerable than deep-rooted grasses).
3. How often and for how long the ducks have access to the grass.
4. What is under the grass that the ducks want (grit, earthworms, bugs, etc.).
5. What else your ducks have to eat, and when that additional food is available. This includes food you give your ducks and all of non-grass species in your lawn or pasture ecosystem.
6. Climate.
7. Soil type.
8. Whether your feeding, watering and bathing places concentrate your duck population or spread them out.
9. What else your ducks have to do besides interacting with your grass and the soil beneath it.
That is why there is such a variety of answers on this thread. There are many factors to consider. However, with all else being equal, my experience is that mallards damage my lawn almost as fast as chickens, while muscovies take longer to wreck lawn or to clear weeds.