Ducks on Pasture

Introduction to Raising Ducks on Pasture Ruth McDaniel Forty Days Farm

Why Ducks • • • • •

Control of aquatic weeds Ease of containment Eggs and meat Pest control Manure provides nutrients for garden areas

If it Quacks Like a Duck… • • • •

Egg type ducks Meat type ducks Dual purpose ducks Wide variation in foraging ability

Egg Type Ducks • Smaller • Better flight ability

Meat Type Ducks • Larger • Very little flight ability • Genetics and nutrition affect size

Practical Issues • Odor • Noise • Proximity to water supply

Odor • Ducks will produce a lot of wet manure • Use deep bedding in holding areas • Manure will build up around watering and feeding areas, so make these mobile or use deep bedding

Holding Pen With Deep Bedding

Quack Quack Quack Quack • Ducks are noisy! • Do not locate ducks where they will disturb you or your neighbors

Like a Duck to Water… Ducks use water to: • Groom, preen, and bathe • Drink • Help swallow food, especially dry food • Breed

Water • Ducks consume a lot of water • Change water frequently • Locate watering areas close to a source of water

Water • Swimming area not required, but helpful • Bathing helps a duck maintain the oil coating on their feathers • Ice on ponds need to be broken if pond is the main source of water

Welcome Home Ducklings • Locate brooder away from flock in a protected area • Brooder needs to be preheated • Consider odor when deciding on brooder placement

Access to Water • Ducks scoop water with their bill • Watering device must have opening larger than a duck’s bill • Water should be located close to food

Water Basics for Ducklings • Make sure the ducklings can get their bills in the water, but nothing else! • Change water often to protect against harmful bacteria and reduce spread of disease

Water Hazards • Young ducklings can drown, especially those not naturally brooded • Wet ducklings can get too cold and die • Shallow pools of water can get very hot in the summer and breed harmful bacteria

Brooding • Brooder temperature suggested is 95 F for first 5-10 days • At 5-10 days switch to a brooder with DEEP LITTER and a heat lamp • I have used “chicken tractor” type structure with a heat lamp in warm weather

Outdoor Brooding Pen With Duck Impostor

Going To Pasture • Begin by providing access to pasture as well as sheltered area with heat source • Age for starting on pasture will depend upon weather • Heavy ducks need a much lower fence than lighter ducks

Moving The Flock • Don’t expect ducks to want to go everywhere you want them to go • A border collie may become your new best friend!

Big Duck Water Rules • Consider excluding ducks from ponds during very cold weather • Small pools will freeze quickly and need refilling often, so locate them where you have easy access to water • Rinse small pools often, especially in the summer

Feeding • MEDICATED POULTRY FEED WILL KILL DUCKS AND GEESE • Use a crumble or mash for ducklings, I have been very happy with a gamebird starter/grower crumble • Adults can use a crumble, pellet, or mash • Whole grains should be cracked or rolled

Foraging • Ducks will eat land and aquatic plants, small insects, larva, slugs, etc. • Prefer to forage when the ground is wet— ideal to put them in pasture areas which are too wet to be grazed • Ducks will sift through horse and cow manure, consuming bugs and larva and helping spread manure

Lame Duck • Thorns, brambles, and burrs can puncture foot and lead to infection • Pasture areas should be free of thorny plants if possible • Holding areas MUST be free of thorny plants

Predators • Crows, raccoons and rats will eat duck eggs • Hawks will eat duckling and small ducks – Have overhead protection • Fox and coyote will prey on ducks – House near a dog at night if possible

Harvest • For eggs, ducks will begin laying at 16-24 weeks, depending upon genetics, diet, and season • For meat, I have used ducks from 14 weeks to 18 months. For planning purposes, I’d suggest looking at a window from 12-18 weeks.

Biosecurity • Maintain isolation area for all incoming animals • Remove and isolate any animal that appears to be sick • Use footbaths at entry and exit areas • Assume that any visitor could carry contaminants

Duckling Sources • “Chick Days” at local feed stores • Mail order

Checklist for duckling arrival • Brooder is clean, disinfected and heated to 95 F • NONMEDICATED crumble or mash feed is ready • Ducklings can get entire bill in water

• Ducklings cannot get their bodies in the water • Someone can check the brooder a few hours after ducklings have arrived

Resource List • Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks by David Holderread