Homesteading and Hobby Farm/Ranch

Sludig

Sludig

Potato del Grande
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BrutulTM said:
Domesticated ducks don't leave. They just cruise around the yard and eat bugs. They like to have some water to stomp around in but be advised they will make whatever water you provide for them absolutely filthy so you want it to be something small enough to dump out and refill regularly. I've always thought it would be cool to turn a few loose in a garden because they will eat grasshoppers etc but won't wreak havoc on the plants the way chickens will.

They don't sleep on a roost so once we had a couple living in the chicken house and some critter got in and didn't touch the chickens up on the roosts but they chewed both ducks heads off and took them with them. Came down the next morning to find all the chickens waiting to go out and two headless ducks in the middle of the floor.
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Depends on the garden plants. They certainly eat greens and would trample more delicate young plants.


But now yall make me want to try and find some free/cheap ducks to experiment trying to keep some kinda wild.

Only issue is my frog/crawfish infested pond is just muddy at all times pretty much from run off upslope and no fish or whatever it takes to get it to settle out and be at least someone see thru. Been very low on my list trying to figure out how to address. (Bad summers it will dry out, so didnt seem worth investment because of that, though I dug it out some last fall)
 
lurkingdirk

lurkingdirk

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BrutulTM said:
Domesticated ducks don't leave. They just cruise around the yard and eat bugs. They like to have some water to stomp around in but be advised they will make whatever water you provide for them absolutely filthy so you want it to be something small enough to dump out and refill regularly. I've always thought it would be cool to turn a few loose in a garden because they will eat grasshoppers etc but won't wreak havoc on the plants the way chickens will.

They don't sleep on a roost so once we had a couple living in the chicken house and some critter got in and didn't touch the chickens up on the roosts but they chewed both ducks heads off and took them with them. Came down the next morning to find all the chickens waiting to go out and two headless ducks in the middle of the floor.
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How about a 2 acre pond? Lotsa fish. I'm going to build an enclosed run, feed them in the run, and hope they come back in every night so I can close it up.
 
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Foler

Asshat Foler

Log Wizard
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lurkingdirk said:
Anyone here keep ducks? I have a chance to get a dozen, and I love duck eggs. I have a pond and there's shelter there. How hard are they to keep around? I'm guessing clipping the wings for at least a while, but do they develop a loyalty to home?
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Maybe look into runner breeds? I think they’re easier to keep around. Also check out wetland filter ponds. Super cool and you’re the kind of guy who’s probably up to doing one as a diy hobby project. Ben at urban rescue ranch has a few.
 
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