are ducks a practical alternative to chooks?

[mybabyweightiseightyearsold]

I have serious chicken envy. Had it for years, it just won't go away. Much to my DH's disgust - he was reared with chickens and refuses to consider having some in the garden on account of the garden-ripping-rampant-pooing-constant-clucking.

So, had a genius idea - indian runner ducks? They lay lots of eggs, are entertaining, don't need lots of water (we have space for a small pond and I see they like a kids' paddling pool which can be moved around) and are happy to be contained so they can graze on the grass in a pen which can also be moved around...bit of quacking and no scratching?

Anyone had them as pets for the kids with a handy sideline in eggs? Would 3 be an ok number to keep?

Big, enclosed garden. The usual fox problem, occaisional badger, in a city.

Waiting with baited breath - I really want an egg-laying pet!

I love my ducks! But I have very understanding neighbours.
They can be very messy but 3 in a large garden should be fine.
Some of mine are Indian Runners, very funny and not quite as loud as the others.

No. They are very, very, very messy and will turn your lawn into a mud pit. I had ducks as a child, and loved them, but my mum (otherwise very laid back) banned them from the family ever again due to this.

We had some for a while last year. OH MY LORD the mess.

Yes they are sweet as anything and absolutely hilarious but they turned our lawn into Glastonbury. Inside the pen, anyway.

The water goes EVERYWHERE, you have to give them a clean bucket full every morning, they need it to keep their heads clean or they get poorly eyes etc.

They will toss it all over the place and it'll be muddy within minutes.

Same goes for the paddling pool which will want cleaning out every couple of days, or same thing, they get ill.

Basically ducks need a supply of clean, fresh water or you have to really work hard to keep them healthy and happy.

If you fancy getting soaking wet every day, have some means of changing the water in the paddling pool without tipping it out on the lawn, (think - hard to move when full!) and don't mind your lawn becoming just a sort of pit, then go for it.

I adore ducks but we had to give them away after a few months, it was SO much work. I'd only have them again if I had a massive natural pond or stream.

Btw I prefer them in personality to chickens, but we still have the chickens - we built a run for them, covered so it doesn't get muddy, they're happy I think. We did have them free range for a few months but then the fox ate most of them so it was a boring run or nothing...

the run is about the size of a small garage. They do look a bit bored. It's a shame.

I second what others say and really would not keep ducks in a garden. They make far too much mess. You need a pond and a field.

Sigh.

Thanks for these points, I really appreciate it. Will stop googling the ducks, and start googling small holdings...clearly, we need to move to the country.

That way, I can have ducks, hens and a polytunnel.

Am not bovvered whether DH wants to come along too - he's no clucking fun.

You could try your DH with this arguement.

Hens will rip up a garden if you let them but keeping them in a pen and coop they won't and they are rather good at weeding if you keep their minds focussed with a fence around where you want them to work.

Oh and fresh eggs, etc.

Dear God! Don't get ducks! As others have said, the mess is awful. Any water you give them is black and rancid in hours! Some nice little Peking bantams are a MUCH better idea!