RAISING DUCKS By: Mama Gozzard

 

Raising a small flock of ducks in areas where poultry raising is allowed and space is available, can be done with very low cost to the household. All you need is a brooder for the first few weeks, basic equipment, and a simple enclosed shed or structure to keep them safe.

For later in their development you can use inexpensive fencing, a feed hopper, or trough which can be made out of water heaters which have been cut in half and fixed up and a simple watering system. The shelter, if possible, should be on higher ground with a sandy-like soil so it will drain better.

Low fencing, 4ft fencing, is just fine for Pekin ducks since they do not fly.  This might not work as well with breeds such as Muscovies, since they can get off the ground. If predators are a problem at night, the open areas of the shed and pen may have to be covered with an inexpensive netting or wire mesh.

Some folks raise ducks for display on ponds. They do well on them as long as you provide them with a nighttime shelter off the water to keep them out of harm's way. Nighttime visitors come by water, land, and from the air. From land, ducks become extremely vulnerable since they sleep with their heads tucked under their wings at night.

Owls will swoop down on them, minks sneak up on them, and big logger-head turtles will snatch them under the water.. So it's very important to provide them with some sort of housing at night.

Ducks may be kept successfully on open ponds provided a nearby dry sheltered area is available. Ducks kept on ponds will get part of their diet from plant and animal life in and around the pond, but supplemental feeding will probably be necessary. Ducks, like chickens, love to free range for little tidbits. 
 
In warm regions of the country where farming of fish is a mainstay part of farming, it has become common practice to combine duck raising on ponds where fish are being farmed. The droppings from the ducks provide nutrients that aid in the growth of animal and plant life which the fish consume. The number of ducks kept on ponds must be limited to prevent an over-supply of nutrients and overgrowth of plant life which will cause depletion of oxygen in the water and kill the fish. Usually both the ducks and fish are given supplemental feeds.

If you use a pond and have a extra lot or two, it would be advisable to move them from one lot to the other, during the day or night. Learning to herd ducks is quite a bit of fun. Ducks don't really enjoy herding, but once they get the hang of it, will go right along to their intended spot.

Having more than one area for them to live is also much better for the land itself.  Leaving them on one field or area can have it stripped bare in a matter of weeks.

Ducks drink and excrete more water than chickens or turkeys. Their droppings contain over 90% moisture which leaves you with a very slippery sort of icky mess.

If your ground does get in a bit of a bad way from your ducks it would be wise to move them to a new spot, lime the area well, then fertilize and re-seed it. Keep the ducks off until you are able to get new growth started. It's always best to keep them off till you can get a first mowing on that spot so you know that the grass is
seeded well.

You can also remove the first few inches of the top layer of soil and replace it with new soil, sandy soil if possible before reseeding. Again I would add lime to the soil before adding the new soil.

 

Some people think that you can only raise ducks on a body of water for them to be healthy and happy.  By experience, we can assure you that we have raised many healthy ducks by simply providing them with plastic poly pools in which they bath, drink and mate with great joy. Cleaning these pools 2 times weekly and adding a small amount of clorox to them makes this a very simple and inexpensive way to make your flock very happy.

Allowing ducks to free range is always best for them. They can be kept confined in smaller pens sized by the amount of ducks that you have. Ducks, like chickens, love to free range and chase bugs, and drill and dig for all sorts of tasty morsels that nature provides to them for free. Keeping ducks is one of the easiest fowl to have, along with being some of the most entertaining, loveable fowl out there.