Chicks and Ducks

[serz]

We have been thinking for some while now about getting some chicks and Ducks for our back garden. We have quite a big back garden so space would not be an issue. I was just wondring if anyone has any pics of any outside housing they have built eg the coup and the pen ect and the laying place. Also would i need a place eg small pond for the duck to swim in?
Any advice and pics would be most appreciated

[sleepylizard]

Hopefully i've managed to put some pictures on of our duck set up. We incubated eggs bought from e bay last year, they hatched early April. We were very lucky to get 6 ducks and 1 drake.
They live very happily on a large deep pond with an island in the middle and a bank at the side with shrubbery and bushes. They also have a what use to be grass area but is now just mud! as they are so messy. they have a shed on the grass that we herd them into every night and lock so they are safe. We let them out at seven to half past every morning and we get 6 eggs most days.
They are really lovely most of the time, although at half ten last night when they refused to go in and it was pouring with rain i was not calling them lovely! Theya re very friendly and will hand feed. As soon as you apporach them they dip their heads in greeting.

[serz]

thanks for your pics they are great. Is a pond that size a nessesety for just say 2 ducks. Its the chicks that are a definate still unsure about the ducks. Are they hard work?

[Dave-Flames]

lovely ducks Nicola. I get tempted every friday when they come in to the shop to buy some.

[jonny snake]

as long as you have the right stuff [small pond, medium size garden and a duck house/pen] they are so easy to keep, my ones spend a little bit of the morning washing up in the pond then spend the day grazing. i have 4 runners and i get 2 and sometimes 3 eggs a day. just give them a tray full of seed and pellets [50.50 mix] so that if they do get hungry they can sort it out. if you have a gardn big enough the grass stays looking good. i will get some pics up on the weekend. i am also incubating 4 eggs with only 7 days to go. its soooooo painfully exiting.

[CB89]

Originally Posted by jonny snake

as long as you have the right stuff [small pond, medium size garden and a duck house/pen] they are so easy to keep, my ones spend a little bit of the morning washing up in the pond then spend the day grazing. i have 4 runners and i get 2 and sometimes 3 eggs a day. just give them a tray full of seed and pellets [50.50 mix] so that if they do get hungry they can sort it out. if you have a gardn big enough the grass stays looking good. i will get some pics up on the weekend. i am also incubating 4 eggs with only 7 days to go. its soooooo painfully exiting.

Will you be letting them go to sell?

[Pimperella]

Ducks are great but god do they make a mess lol

They pull up all the grass at the roots and clear areas so fast and nowt gets to grow back.


We have 3 Muscovies, 1 stanbridge white drake, 1 alyesbury drake and 1 apricot runner duck.


We decided to just get another pair of runner and stay with the chickens after the mess the rest made. We cut down on the amount of ducks as they ruined all the chicken pens. lol They are cute and make great pets. Just be prepared for the mess.

We also have 70plus chickens and 50plus chicks.

[JasonRep]

I recommend that you get chicks, as ducks do tend to be messy more than chicks. Plus they make less noise as well.

[Pimperella]

May I also Introduce you to our Livestock Thread?

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/other...ck-thread.html

Lots of us keep Poultry, few of us Breed and Show aswell. So any help or info you would need, we would be more than happy to help.

Lots of Various Breeds and sizes of poultry, all with different colours, and natures and laying ability. Something for everyone.