Wondering about ducks...

[chicklover56]

I've 5 KC and 5 WH, all from Metzers. they will all be a year old March 1st. I also have chickens, and just recently allowed the ducks and chickens to get together. They've lived in separate pens and coops that are adjacent. I've 5 chickens also, The Rooster leaves the ducks alone and the Drakes leave the hens alone. They now share a yard, and in the afternoon are allowed out of their yards. Our dogs are poultry friendly, which is great, because we make sure to leave a dog, or two, or three..... outside when the chickens and ducks are out, because we do have fox, and have seen coyote more frequently around here.
As for eggs, people around here are not too adventurous when it comes to duck eggs. I put out a notice at the mail boxes, "Duck eggs to TRADE, for home canned goods, baked goods, or whatever". I did not get ONE call

My family loves them, so I take a lot of duck eggs with me when I go visiting.

My KC are the bolder, one is more friendly because I had to handle her some, and have her in the house when she had an injury, she bounced right back though. She will eat out of my hand, none of the others will though. I had a knee injury the night before they were to arrive, so I wasn't here to socialize them, then had to leave again when they were a couple of months old, and my husband filled their pool and tossed them their food, and did not socialize with them, so when i got home, it was as if They'd never seen me

. So if you want them friendly, handle them everyday, and keep it up.

To me they are quiet, they get noisy in the morning, when they hear me coming to let them out of the coop, or when they see me and think ive got food for them. They are a lot of fun, but also a lot more work than chickens, with keeping their pool t its not too bad.

I would not let them into a chlorinated pool, I think that would be bad for them, yuck. Have a blast with your chickens and ducks.

Thank you very much! I will definitely be able to handle them everyday, as I do with my chickens!

 

[chicklover56]

Hello. If you want them for pets, the 3 most friendly are said to be Silver Appleyard, Purebred Cayuga and Pekin. If eggs are your highest priority, you want Khaki Campbell or Welsh Harlequin. No chlorine pools please. Ducks are messy. Buy one of those deep black rubber pans at your local farm store. Be prepared to change or replenish their water once or twice a day. You will need a submersible water de-icer for winter. Ducks and chickens get along well, however your chicken hens MUST have room to escape from the drakes, as drakes and chicken hens are not anatomically compatible. Drakes can severely injure a chicken as drakes have a corkscrew like male part and roosters do not. My ducks made a huge wet mess with my chickens water in their house, so they had to be separated for that reason. You need 3 or 4 duck hens for your drake. Ducks LOVE peas. Let them roam the yard as much as possible. Put a small amount of raw apple cider vinegar in their water. (Make your own, it is easy and almost free, but expensive to buy.) Try making your own sprouted fodder. Fowl love it and it really stretches your feed bill. Have fun.

Thank you very much for all of the information!