Aunty e Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 So our new house (if all goes well of course) has a pond, which I would say is about six feet across by ten feet long. It's currently drained, and I was thinking of turning it into a bog garden rather than have the bother of pond maintenance BUT then I thought, what about ducks! So, duck keepers of the world, a few questions if you don't mind How much do ducks smell? Are they any noisier than chickens? Would a normal garden pond be ok for them? Are cats and ducks ok (ours are obviously used to chickens)? How many would we need to keep and do we have to have a drake? Do they need different food to the chooks? Can we get them at POL if you know what I mean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 I have 2 ducklings in a brooder at the moment and boy they smell and make a lot of mess, but in a big environment like that I presume it would be less prominent. My girlfriend has ducks aswell and her lawn gets covered each day and we have to go round poop a scooping duck style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 Maybe not then - we're going to give the chooks their own area in the new garden, and we could maybe let the ducks share that, but I don't want them to stink out the neighbours or anything.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Hi E Ducks are the same as hens re needing a drake and POL etc. but they really do make more mess and are smelly! We have a small pond shell which we empty most days, it sits on a dug out sump filled with gravel which takes the water away but as soon as it is filled the ducks make it filthy - they poop as soon as their bottoms hit the water! I'm not sure what that would do to a natural pond - you may have to have a pump with a good filter etc. People do keep their ducks with hens - we keep ours in a separate run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 HI Ducks will pollute your pond most definitely, they make tarry poos. If your natural pond has any fish in it they will be polluted by the ducks. Ducks will be fine with the cats, they dont need a drake and will be happy without. However a drake wont be any bother if you do get one as they will keep an eye over their Harem. Drakes also dont cockadoodle doo so you dont have the noise that you have with chickens. Ducks do not put themselves in at night time like chickens they need to be urged to go in Definitely high maintenance ducks on your time if you are busy indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessandra Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Hi there My 3 babies - khaki campbells - have made it to 6 weeks old now and I'll tell you all what, I love 'em! They are beautiful creatures and so funny to watch. They follow me around, they sleep with their bills tucked into their wings and they waddle around together so happily. I'm sure I may be cursing them in the winter when the garden is already a bog but then, I have my chooks, so what difference does 3 ducks make But I will agree re. the poo, boy do they produce some! Think of the lawn I say...lush and green! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Hi there My 3 babies - khaki campbells - have made it to 6 weeks old now and I'll tell you all what, I love 'em! My first ducks were Khaki Campbells and they are a really nice sized easy duck to keep, hardy as they are mallard crossed. Nice duck as starter duck. Never had too much trouble with them at all good girls they were. indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
