should I get ducks?

[Ispywith]

I really want to but have heard that they are very messy. Don't really mind as the will have their own run away from the main garden. The plan was to have them for eggs and for slug and snail control in the veg patch (at certain times!). I really love duck eggs and have always wanted a couple of Indian runner ducks. We already have two chickens and would mix them in together. We are going to have a baby bath for water. This is the part where I am not sure.....I have read loads about this and apparently they don't need a pond just access to clean water.

Someone come and convince me (nearly there) that I won't really get fed-up of changing the baby bath water every day!!! (there will be a hose right next to it)! Just love ducks and chooks!! Who has ducks and tell me all about them! Pretty please

The lady who we had our chickens from also had ducks in with her chickens and your right access to clean water as they don't need a pond! but they didn't seem to make anymore mess then the chickens. I'd just say have water for ducks on a solid floor as they splash and can create a little mud not great for keeping clean, but go for it! my dh wants ducks two but with seven chicks,one cat, three dogs a pond an aquarium three kids I can't be bothered lol oh and big pain dh lmao

We raised some duckings for friends who hatched them then moved house! They are quite endearing but they stink (I can't emphasise that enough ) and they create a total mud bath. We had ours over the winter too which meant that the mud bath turned into a skating rink & you have to break the ice on the water all the time. They don't put themselves to bed like chickens do (or ours didn't) so you end up chasing them around in the dark in the mud bath/skating rink trying to get the buggers to go in their house! You definitely don't need a pond, just a big container of water.

Sorry not to be more positive, but having had them for a few months (when they moved back in with our friends), I wouldn't do it again!

We had ducks with chickens,but in separate areas.
They are very messy.
You don't need a pond but I did as I didn't like the idea of not.
They need to be able to immerse their whole beak in water.
The whole water issue is hard work as they need quite a bit and it needs to be fresh and unfrozen.
If you do have a pond you need to make it with sloping sides so they can get in and out.
I seem to remember mine went to bed quite easily.
Ducks are brilliant.I loved them.

I love my ducks but they do really smell and poo a lot. everywhere they are turns into a mud bath really quickly. so if you want them then they need to have plenty of space in an area that you dont mind getting trashed and far enough away from the house that you cant smell them. they are also just as vulnerable to foxes as chickens plus you will need to clip one wing to stop them flying off.

Sorry to be thick but...

If you get some ducks, whats to stop them from deciding to just bugger off and fly away?

Ken you clip their flight feathers. it is really easy to do and not painful. lots of internet sites show you how to do it properly. you do then have to do it every year as the feathers grow back. the advantage is that they stay put the disadvantage that they cannot fly away from he who cannot be named so are literally sitting ducks.

I've always had Indian runners with the chickens - no need to clip wings as they are flightless and they are good layers - the original English laying fowl Pre modern chicken hybrids. Having said that do NOT have a male unless you can fence him off in the spring - male IRs are rapists who will harass your stupid chickens and mount them at every opportunity. Interesting sex education for small children !

On the plus side male ducks squeak not quack so if you can keep a male then it's easier re neighbours etc. We got some IR eggs on eBay and hatched them under a broody Muscovy duck - just our luck 3 males and 1 female, just got 2 elderly males left and a vey senior silver appleyard who must be at least 15 and has a grey head of feathers :)

All poultry now in a large fox proof enclosure due to too many day time losses.
Oh and "duck egg blue" is the colour of IR. duck eggs!