1 year ago3 points(+0/-0/+3Score on mirror)2 children
I'm actually pretty impressed with ducks. They grow faster than chickens for me and require less food.
The only issue is that a lot of people don't like dark fatty meat which is what ducks are. You have to really know how to cook it right.
They go through tons of water though. And make a huge mess. They integrate with our chickens fine because everybody's free range but you need a creek or a small pond to satisfy their water needs and they make a mess and lay their eggs wherever the heck they want.
The entertainment factor is through the roof with ducks. They are like a little gang that follows each other and you rarely see them by themselves. And they constantly laugh all the time... Way more entertaining than chickens.
They really remind me a lot like goats in the character and personality that they have.
Can confirm everything you said about ducks. I hand-dug ours a little 6' x 4' x 3' (LxWxD) pond, and I've got plans to dig a much larger one this summer because they use that little thing to the max. Frustrating to watch them try to swim it, but they seem to appreciate it all the same.
The "laugh all the time" part kills me - I've pointed out to my daughter it's like they're sitting around telling jokes all day. You hear "wackwackwack... wack wack... wackwackwack QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK!" It's like sitting outside a comedy club where you can here to comedian/audience but can't make out the words.
I'm excited to expand the flock. I like the eggs too, but like you said, a little tougher to collect.
I got one of those automatic doors and most nights I have to shepherd the ducks in after the door closed. Unless the weather is really snowy and cold, then they put themselves to bed. They are late night partiers, hanging in the creek til late those ducks.
Since the automatic door doesn't let them out until daybreak I can get them to mostly lay in the chicken shack, in the floor. Sadly you have to wash duck eggs, they are nasty creatures like I said.
The video is misleading. Ducks don't like rice plants, whether they are GMO or non GMO. Using ducks to get rid off weeds in rice fields has been a technique used for thousands of years
The only issue is that a lot of people don't like dark fatty meat which is what ducks are. You have to really know how to cook it right.
They go through tons of water though. And make a huge mess. They integrate with our chickens fine because everybody's free range but you need a creek or a small pond to satisfy their water needs and they make a mess and lay their eggs wherever the heck they want.
The entertainment factor is through the roof with ducks. They are like a little gang that follows each other and you rarely see them by themselves. And they constantly laugh all the time... Way more entertaining than chickens.
They really remind me a lot like goats in the character and personality that they have.
The "laugh all the time" part kills me - I've pointed out to my daughter it's like they're sitting around telling jokes all day. You hear "wackwackwack... wack wack... wackwackwack QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK!" It's like sitting outside a comedy club where you can here to comedian/audience but can't make out the words.
I'm excited to expand the flock. I like the eggs too, but like you said, a little tougher to collect.
Since the automatic door doesn't let them out until daybreak I can get them to mostly lay in the chicken shack, in the floor. Sadly you have to wash duck eggs, they are nasty creatures like I said.