4pekinducks Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Hello. I was wondering if anyone kept ducks in a small urban garden. My garden is 9 meters by 10 meters and I have 4 pekin ducks. They have a green frog duck house and only go in there at night, there free range all day. I have a little pool for them. I was wondering if anyone else kept ducks in an urban area an what your set up was like? How do you deal with the flies and smell if any? I have any had them a week and getting completely paranoid that they might smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilly+co Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Hi, I am new to this site and just read your post, I keep three female runner ducks in my urban garden which is approximately 30 x10 metres. The ducks have an enclosure that is approximately 6 x 5 metres with a secure house in it for nightimes, they also have a small splashpool in the enclosure. They are let out into the main garden everyday where they have a bigger pond, they love to run about the garden, splash in the pool, rummage amongst my plants, dig my lawn up, eat bugs, insects and the odd frog etc etc. I only put them back in the pen when I am not around as I worry about daytime foxes (all though I have never seen any) I have had them for about two months and I am just starting to relax with them, I think there is always something to worry about when keeping pets as we all get so attached. There bedding inside their hut is sawdust with a thick layer of straw on top,each day I remove the worst of the poo and once or twice a week give the house a full clean out and lay new bedding. I havent really noticed a smell problem with them and they are large ducks and can ceratinly produce a lot of poo. Their pen is half grass and half paving which I hose down each night, we did have a problem with rats attracted to the food a couple of weeks ago but I trapped one and havent seen any since so fingers crossed. Try to relax and enjoy them, mine give me so much pleasure and have just started to eat out of my hand, they come running when I go into the garden too as they are really greedy and hope for some tasty treats. Good luck with your ducks Kath x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soots Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 It was lovely to read your posting on ducks. We have had four chickens for a while, but have just acquired two white Campbell crosses. After a period of quarantine we aim to let the ducks 'free-range' with the chickens. However, the ducks are quite timid at present so it was good to hear that after a month or so they will, hopefully, become friendly enough to eat from the hand. What 'treats' do you tempt them with? Soots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilly+co Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Hi Soots, My ducks were quite timid at first but are really getting used to people being around, one of my ducks Tiger Lilly is getting really friendly, I think its cause she is a gready girl and cant resist food, I tend to give her meal worms as tasty treats she loves them. Mariella and Ottie dont take out of my hand yet but will come very close, as soon as I hold any food out Lilly grabs it so its not that easy to get the other two to do it. I also occasionally give them a little bit of brown bread, I know I probably shouldnt but its only a small amount and they absolutely love it, the bread was how I first managed to get Lilly to take from my hand. Good luck with your ducks, I wouldnt be without mine they give me so much pleasure KATHX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
