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Does anyone have ducks?

8 replies

Bramshott · 06/05/2009 09:22

Does anyone here keep ducks? DH is very keen (I think partly because so many people now have chickens and he likes to be different ) but I'm not sure.

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meltedmarsbars · 06/05/2009 14:22

Ducks do taste good, though!

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Bramshott · 06/05/2009 14:09

Thanks, this is all useful.

We don't have a pond currently, but we could definitely put in something, I'm just not sure it would be big enough for any concerted swimming efforts they might want to do . . . .!

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geekgirl · 06/05/2009 14:05

mega-messy. and yes you do have to give them a pond (in my experience, which was admittedly limited to trying to cope with ducks for about 6 weeks) because they're forever washing themselves in whatever water they can find - if they've only got a drinker they'll end up washing their beaks in that and you need to refill it several times a day.

Also, they don't lay most of the year like hens do, and they're generally much more skittish than chickens. With chickens you've got a good chance of them being quite tame and happy to be held by children etc. - ducks just seem to run. Hens are much more fun and useful.

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paisleyleaf · 06/05/2009 14:05

I didn't mean poo - but now you mention it, yes that is pretty messy with ducks.
I'd meant water off them...if they got access to a pool, pond or anything, then they trample around.
I feel its a bit unfair for them not to have some sort of access to water.....we're by a river, but they also had a tin bath in the garden which they loved

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Bramshott · 06/05/2009 13:59

So when you say messy - we're talking duck poo on the grass aren't we?! A friend had ducks when I was growing up, and this is my main memory of them.

Can you give them a (big) run like chickens, or do they have to be totally free range? Do you absolutely HAVE to have a pond?

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clumsymum · 06/05/2009 13:54

Duck eggs are FANTASTIC for baking. My mum used to make the most wonderful Sachertorte when we had ducks...

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paisleyleaf · 06/05/2009 13:52

Used to. They are messy....you need an area you'd be happy end up a quagmire.
They were such fun to have around....but I've got used to having a nice garden now.
I never particularly liked duck eggs either.