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Introduction to RaisingDucks 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