Basic Duck Questions

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I didn't see answers to these questions in the archives:

1. If you "free-range" ducks in a fenced-in area (we keep our chickens in a fenced-in orchard surrounded by 5 foot small-mesh fence), do you need to clip one wing (like we have to with our chickens) so they don't fly out?

2. Our orchard area has a small seasonal stream flowing through it, and I am unsure how much water ducks really need. I can dig out an area of the stream and make a small area for stamping around and pooping that I can easily hose out (or lift out if I use a rigid plastic dish) and keep full in dry months. What if the only water they had when the stream was dry was a waterer of more conventional style like the 12" high 30-gallon one we use for our chickens)with a log against one side so they can reach the water)?

3. Has anyone ever used ducks in a "tractor" type device like some use for chickens? Again the water question, though? I know they love to swim, but I have also seen the rather short lifespan of our wild ducks who aren't penned in.

4. Our alternative site for some of our ducks will be to experiment with letting them on our tiny (1/8 acre) pond, with a small portable coop nearby, which we can shut at night, but they won't be fenced in. Any guess as to the odds they will migrate to neighbor's ponds or the nearby river? Will clipping those ducks wings be of use to prevent that, or will they simply walk away anyway, and/or be more vulnerable to predators?

Thanks in advance for any help or answers.

Andrew Indiana

-- Andrew Johnstone (AJMD@KeepAndBearArms.com), March 31, 2002

Answers

Well Andrew, firstly whether you need wing clipping or not depends on the breed(s)of duck that you have. There are four major classes of ducks, Bantams, Light Breeds, Med Breeds and Heavy Breeds. All bantams can fly(and the Mallard is a bantam), some of the light breeds can, a couple of the medium breeds can fly and just about none of the heavy breeds can get themselves off the ground(All Muscovies can fly, they are not true ducks or decended from the mallard like our other domestic ducks). Re the stream, if it is flowing you don't need to rinse it out, right? The ducks would just love it if you deepened a spot for them. Ducks are raised without any swimming water all the time but it seems a shame, they love it so. As long as they have water deep enough to get all the way over their eyes and the water is kept fresh, they will be fine. Ducks need to wash out their nostrils and clean their eyes during and after eating. About the wading pool(rigid plastic dish?) Many ducks do just fine with these. I use them for the ducks that are kept separated during breeding season(now)and I just siphon them out and put in fresh water every day or leave water flowing in them 24/7. If you have flying breeds of ducks, absolutely clip their wings! It is criminal to let them go feral and cross back with the true wild mallard. Keep them home. Once your ducks are accustomed to their home and you feed them in a duckhouse, secure pen, somewhere safe from predators, they will happily follow you in from the pond and in there every evening for dinner. You can then lock them in for the night so they will be safe. You are wise to consider this, it is the only way to keep them alive. If by "migrate" are you speaking of wild mallards? If so, we are talking about something different. Last but not least, for a great duck site with lots of knowledgable, friendly duck people log on to www.poultryconnection.com, click on the General Waterfowl Forum and have fun.. Happy Spring, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), March 31, 2002.

Little Quacker has said most of it. I've never used a chicken tractor arrangement except with ducklings that are just going outdoors for the first few weeks. They would work alright in one, but be aware they would almost certainly drill bill holes in the ground next to the waterer each day as they dabble. That's something ducks do naturally, at least all of the Mallard based breeds do--not sure if Muscovy do that or not. The holes aren't large, but if we're talking about your lawn you might not like it.

The coop near the pond would be my choice. If ducks like their territory they won't feel a need to go anywhere else. (To a duck, liking the territory means swimming water.) I would put the coop 100 feet away from the water, though, because if they don't want to go in and keep going back to the water, you can't catch them. You need the coop placed so that you can get behind them and herd them away from the water if necessary. Normally, they get used to going in each night and will be in the box when you go out at night to shut them in. Either feed in the box or near the box, never down by the water so they are encouraged to go to the coop at night for food.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), March 31, 2002.


The coop near the pond is great. keep them penned in for a few days with a tub of water. once they learn that it is safe and their feed is there, they will return after swimming.

-- Robin Downing (Southpawrobin1@aol.com), April 01, 2002.

Re: Ducks and Water

Ducks need 3 times their body weight of food every day. Regarding water requirements, ducks require more water than any other breed of water fowl. Not only do they need the clean water for cleaning bills and eyes, they need water that is deep enough to immerse their entire head. If they don't have this deeper water available, they will develop dry-eye (eyes literally dry out), and they will go blind.

Hope this helps.

-- V (WraitheLadyA@yahoo.com), April 01, 2002.


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