The Poultry Keeper

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

Im thinking about getting some ducks as i cannot breed from my own chickens due to having no cockrel.

How noisey are ducks?

Do they lay alot of eggs?

How much space do they need?

Will they eat more/less than chickens?

Thanks

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

How noisey are ducks? relatively, females are more noisy than males, call ducks deserve their name! Muscovy ducks are very quiet

Do they lay alot of eggs? so-so some breeds lay very well, an egg a day, others not so much (a bit like chickens really)

How much space do they need? as much as you can give them! depends on the size of the duck but I'd say at least 5 times as much as you'd give chickens and they will still turn it into a mudpit.

Will they eat more/less than chickens? more - and they are messy eaters, and they get their food wet so you need to change it more often

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

Any suggestions on a quieter breed? that lays lots of eggs?

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1267 Location: Correze

Muscovies! They make hardly any noise at all!!

Dunno about their egg-laying prowess so far, as we were given ours with babies in tow ... so no eggs so far.

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

I dont fancy muscovies for a first breed, indian runners noisey?

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

If eggs are your main aim, then you would need Khaki Cambells or Runners, They lay as many eggs as a hybrid chicken... However they do make a lot of mess, Pea gravel is quite good for keeping ducks clean. My Calls are on pea gravel through the winter months. If you just want pretty ducks for the garden then Miniature Silver Appleyards are quite good as they are quite small and less noisy than Calls Very Happy

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

Thanks!!

tracey061196 · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:

Hi

I have 8 ducks, (2 saxonys, 3 kharki campbells, 2 white campbells 1 which is a drake and a cayuga drake)

Mine dont make alot of noise only when the drakes are chasing the ducks. Very much yes to eating more than chickens, they are messier than chickens, space mine do have a large pen but alot of the day they seem to be having a snooze. Eggs i have been having 6 aday until about 1.5 months ago and now i am getting 4-5 aday. Last year i think in July time i was only having 1 egg a day for about 3 weeks.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1188 Location: Cornwall

I'd go for runners. They lay as many if not more than Campbells and they don't mess up your garden so much as other ducks.

Plus runners don't need a pond, just something to dip their heads in.

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

Do runner ducks still swim if you give them a pond?

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1188 Location: Cornwall

Yes they're good swimmers.

A trio of mine used to take themselves off down the stream and into the woods every day. The others were content with a washing up bowl of water in their pens.

newby · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Dordogne

We had Silver Appleyards. They laid better than the chickens, lovely big white eggs. The didn't need a huge amount of space, but they do like water. You can also get them in a bantam size, very pretty. I'm looking for some here in France.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1724 Location: Clawddnewydd

I've got chocolate runners and highly recommend them Very Happy

Mine love the stream even thought hey are only 2 weeks old Rolling Eyes

I've had to net the end of the outlet pipe on the stream which runs through the garden in case they go for a big adventure........ the stream runs under the yard and anyone having seen pics of my place will know thats a long way Laughing

Welshduck, do you keep/breed miniature silver appleyards by any chance? I'm looking for a pair Very Happy

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

would a pen about 3 metres by 6 metres be OK for 1 drake and 2 ducks? it would be on grass aswell Smile

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

I have to say that all ducks really need a pond - in the same way that chickens really need dirt/grass to scratch around on - they will live without it but it's far better for them to have one.