2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Nikkisian89]

Hi my name is Nikki.

I've registered on this forum as i'm wanting to get a few ducks and thought i could do with some advice!

I have not yet bought any ducks, i am actually wanting ducklings but i'm finding them hard to come across in my area (merseyside) .

But maybe thats a good thing as i haven't got a duck house, run etc. I'd like to attempt to build something myself but i'd probably be useless at it lol.

Anyway, i've chosen ducks as "apparently" they are easier to look after than hens and are cleaner!? I've had hens before but only when i was a kid! I have quite a large back garden but it is a rented bungalow & garden, would that matter? I've also read ducks are like lawn mowers which would also be good for our garden as it seems to non-stop grow!! And, obviously, the females give us eggs! Lol.

I'm not after any particular breed, but i do like Indian Runners!

Should i consider getting the duck house, run, paddling pool etc before i get the ducklings or would it be a good idea to keep them inside first?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks - Nikki

[Lewis]

Welcome to the forum

 

I wouldn't say ducks are cleaner - maybe the opposite They're louder than hens too.

 

I'd get the set-up ready for them before you get them, incase when you look you can only get ducks and not ducklings.

It depends what age you get them - if really young you'll need to get a brooder and keep them inside under a heat lamp etc.

[Chucky1]

Hi Nikki

 

I agree with Lewis about Ducks being muckier than chickens.

 

About 9 months ago we were put in the position of being presented with ducks and having no housing or anything else ready for them - I wouldn't choose to go through that again.

 

Ducklings don't stay small and pocket sized for very long

. I'd like to attempt to build something myself but i'd probably be useless at it lol.

I built our current duck house - It's no great palace but it does the job. It's basically a plywood box (12mm WBP) with 2x2 battons where the ply joins, a hinged front panel that drops down as a ramp and a sloping corrugated tin roof. Oh yes and sat on a concrete base.

 

Anyway, i've chosen ducks as "apparently" they are easier to look after than hens and are cleaner!?

 

Not sure about that, do you know anyone with ducks that you could go and see?

 

I have quite a large back garden but it is a rented bungalow & garden, would that matter?

 

I'm not sure, it might matter to the land lord, but I'm sure the ducks won't care

 

Best of luck, let us know how you get on

[Lesley]

Definitely not cleaner than hens - I hope whoever told you that wasn't trying to find a home for ducks!!

 

Our ducks aren't very good lawnmowers - we often have to go in and strim their run.

[miller30]

I agree with everyone else i wouldnt be with out my ducks but no way are they easier to keep than chickens they have to be put to bed chickens take their self i have females which are gobby sometimes and as for lawn mowers mine like to get their beaks under the grass and lift it instead of nicely mowing it and when it rains they love nothing more than to make a good mud pie im not a very good advert for ducks am i sorry leanne.

[jayjay]

I don't suppose it's helpful when everyone is saying the same but I agree with all that's gone before.

 

Ducks are far from easy, they need looking after. They also like their home comforts and make a lot of mess . My ducks also like to 'lift' the grass, they certainly don't trim it at all! They make nice holes in it when it rains and then turn the ground to mud - I'm sure they think it's a fun game! My 2 also like to speak to me and anyone else who will listen, luckily we are not very close to neighbours but they can be noisy esp if there is a strange cat about or a pigeon in the trees or a deer passing by ...........

 

JJ

[ajayb]

Agree with all that's gone before - ducks are great fun to watch & really comical but they are WAY messier than chickens! We have both and I wouldn't recommend ducks for a garden that doesn't belong to you. They lift up the lawn, sit on all the softest plants and pooh everywhere (and it isn't as easy to pick up as chicken pooh, though eminently 'hose-able'!). Plus, they need a lot of clean water, as they seem to only have to look at water to turn it mucky.

 

They are very easy to feed, though (ours would be happy with layers' pellets alone), and they do learn quickly when bedtime is and where they ought to go but - unlike chickens - they won't go there without being reminded. We have khaki campbells, who are prolific layers, but I have to admit I even prefer the taste of hens' eggs...

 

Is there a good reason for not just getting a few chickens? They eat more grass than ducks and are pretty low maintenance.

[HENthusiastic]

Hi can I just ask about them not putting themselves to bed. Does it matter? I'm considering getting 3 ducks. They will be living inside electric netting, so it would be okay if they felt like sleeping out under the sun, so to speak.

[Chucky1]

Hi can I just ask about them not putting themselves to bed. Does it matter? I'm considering getting 3 ducks. They will be living inside electric netting, so it would be okay if they felt like sleeping out under the sun, so to speak.

 

I don't see that being a problem. They'd be safe behind the fence and would sleep where they want to.

 

Will they have some sort of pool / pond / bucket within the fence?

 

Good Luck

[Lewis]

Hi can I just ask about them not putting themselves to bed. Does it matter? I'm considering getting 3 ducks. They will be living inside electric netting, so it would be okay if they felt like sleeping out under the sun, so to speak.

Ours just sleep in the WIR at night - don't bother going in the Go anymore but no doesn't matter really.

 

Its fine as long as they're safe, which they should be relatively in the electric netting, you'll just have to be there if you let them FR

[HENthusiastic]

Thanks for your answers.

I'm going to start a new thread because I don't want to hijack this one. Chuckyone and Lewis; I'd really appreciate it if you can pop to my new thread and give me some more advice please?