Duck Eggs Daily. Lisa Steele
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thing to accommodate a few ducks (but see page 75 for some differences to be aware of).
Feed and Treats. Our chickens and ducks eat the same feed and I give them the same treats. (For their particular preferences, see page 61.)
Feeders and waterers. You may need to rethink your feeders and waterers. (For the why and how, see pages 34 and 35.)
Adding a pool. You will also want to set up a pool area in a far corner of your run. A kiddie pool works well since it’s deep enough for the ducks to enjoy, but not so deep that a chicken will drown if she falls in. My chickens learned early on to avoid the mud around the pool area, but I do occasionally find a hen perched on the side of the pool.
Besides that, your chicken flock will greatly benefit from the addition of a few ducks, with very few changes made to your existing set-up.
Single Duck – Not recommended, since they are social animals.
A Pair – Okay, but not optimal. If you lose one, the other will be inconsolable. Male/female pair can result in over-mating; two females is a better pair choice if two ducks is all you can have.
A Trio – One drake and 2 ducks can also lead to over-mating but is a good “starter” flock size and usually works well, as does 3 females.
Half Dozen – One drake and 4-5 ducks: my favorite flock size. Enough ducks to prevent over-mating; lots of eggs.
Larger flock – Multiple drakes with a minimum of 4-5 ducks per drake. If you keep multiple drakes, be sure you have enough ducks to give each his own mini-flock, although this can still lead to fighting or over-mating of a “favorite” female.
All Females (any number) – Can be noisy, but for egg production this is the optimal flock, although the eggs won’t be fertile.
All Drakes – Great if you want the ducks primarily as pets and don’t care about eggs. They are still great for bug control and hours of enjoyment. Also, since the drakes are very quiet, an “all boy” flock is good if you have close neighbors. Drakes generally won’t fight if there are no females present, and drakes are often easy to find for free at shelters, on Craigslist or at local farms.
ONE
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT DUCKS?
There is growing interest in raising backyard ducks, whether as an addition to a flock of chickens or on their own. I can vouch for the fact that ducks are a wonderful addition to any back yard, having raised both chickens and ducks for several years now side-by-side, co-mingling them by day in a large run and providing separate sleeping quarters. Although they are becoming more popular, backyard ducks still are running a distant second to backyard chickens. But more and more people seem to be considering adding ducks into their lives.
Ducks, like chickens, come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and colors. If you are thinking of starting a backyard flock, you might want to consider some of the outstanding breeds that are on the Livestock Conservancy Critical List (meaning that fewer than 500 ducks of breeding stock exist in the United States, with five or fewer breeding flocks of 50 ducks or more, and fewer than 1,000 ducks worldwide), including Saxonies, Anconas, Magpies and Silver Appleyards – all of which I raise. Every backyard flock that starts up and includes some of these endangered breeds helps to ensure that the breed will continue to flourish. Raising the awareness of many of these rare breeds has been one of my goals with my own flock and one of my reasons for writing this book.
Over the years, I have had ample opportunity to observe both our chickens and ducks, and I think there are some distinct advantages to raising ducks, especially for the small backyard enthusiast. Here are some reasons why I actually prefer raising ducks to raising chickens:
Ducks are quieter
One benefit of raising ducks is that they don’t feel the need to loudly proclaim to the world every time they lay an egg, like a chicken does; instead, they stealthily lay their eggs pre-dawn under cover of darkness, in complete silence. This is especially important for those who live in neighborhoods with other houses close by. Chickens cackle and carry on after they lay an egg, before they lay an egg, and for no apparent reason at all. Female ducks, on the other hand, although they will quack loudly when agitated or excited, normally just quietly chitter-chatter among themselves. And unlike roosters – who seem to feel compelled to communicate their presence, not just at dawn, but throughout the day – drakes (male ducks) don’t have a real quack. They make only a soft raspy noise.
Ducks are much quieter than chickens - even in their run.
Ducks are generally healthier overall
Ducks have hardier immune systems, tend to stay in better overall health and are less likely to contract diseases than chickens. Ducklings generally don’t contract either coccidiosis or Marek’s, two serious concerns for baby chicks, and adult ducks aren’t as susceptible to external parasites because they spend so much of their time in the water – so mites, lice and other external parasites that might be tempted to latch on will drown. Ducks run an extraordinarily high normal body temperature of around 107°F, which makes their body inhospitable to most pathogens and resistant to disease.
Ducks are more heat-tolerant
During the hot and humid summer months when I lived in Virginia, our chickens would stand around panting, trying to stay cool in the shade. Ducks handle the heat quite easily by merely taking a dip in their pool to cool off. They paddle about contentedly, hopping out only to enjoy some chilled watermelon or other summertime treats.
Ducks are more cold-hardy
Ducks have waterproofing on their feathers to protect against the elements, as well as a thick down undercoat designed to keep them warm and dry in the water and rain. This makes ducks far more cold-hardy than chickens. In fact, our ducks actually prefer to sleep outside, even in the snow and inclement weather. Ducks also have an added layer of fat that chickens don’t have.
Duck eggs are superior to chicken eggs
Ducks lay eggs that are larger, richer in flavor and excellent for baking, due to their higher fat and lower water content. And duck eggs are slightly more nutritious than chicken eggs. Pastry chefs prize duck eggs because the large amount of protein in their whites adds heft and loft to baked goods. With their thicker shells and membranes, they also stay fresh longer and are less likely to break.
Ducks don’t mind being out in the cold.
Ducks lay more regularly
Our ducks consistently outperform our chickens