Ducks are endearing creatures and make friendly, lovable pets even if they are a bit messy!  What’s so good about them?

• Ducks are hardy and live for up to seven years.
• They lay edible eggs.
• They provide meat.
• They are easy to contain.
• They aren’t as prone to infectious diseases as chickens.
• They eat slugs, worms and other wee beasties.
• Their basic requirements are simple – they need water, food and a safe place to spend the night.

Water

Ducks need water to swallow and they need at least 100mm of water to clear their nostrils and keep their beaks clean.  A natural pond is ideal but a child’s wading pool will do.

Water for swimming is not strictly necessary but they must have tubs of clean drinking water, which should be changed daily.

Food

Free-range ducks can be fed a grain-based diet. Ideally, table ducks should be fed growers meal, and laying ducks should be fed layers mix. 

A diet of household scraps is not sufficient for good health, good growth and good egg production.

To prevent a digestive upset, any change of feed should be gradual over a period of weeks. Keep the feed in metal containers to prevent spoilage.

Housing

Housing will protect your ducks from night predators such as hawks, weasels, stoats, dogs and cats.

They should have covered shelter available at all times including essential shade in summer. The duck house can be bedded with wood shavings or sawdust.  Add fresh litter as necessary and clean out deep litter every summer or more frequently.

Health care

Ducks don’t need any particular vaccinations but worming once or twice a year is advised.

Egg laying

Ducks are great egg-layers, but their eggs don’t keep as well as chicken eggs. If collected soon after lay, kept clean and stored in a cool place, they will keep for seven to 10 days.

Egg laying breeds such as the Khaki Campbell have the potential to clock up 300 eggs a year. The average yield is around 230 eggs a year from well-fed ducks. Egg laying begins at about 16 to 18 weeks of age.

Egg-laying ducks will have a check in laying for six to eight weeks when they moult in summer, but egg laying stops completely for only about 10 days during that time.

Meat ducks

The table duck can be almost half grown by about four weeks of age, and it can reached its table weight of 3.2 kilos by about nine weeks of age.

Outdoor ducks usually take a few weeks more to reach this weight.

Clipping wings

Many duck don’t fly well but if they have any mallard blood they may be quite good fliers. 

Clipping the flight feathers of one wing will keep a duck grounded.  It is important that only one wing is clipped. The feathers have a good blood supply at their base, and only 50-80mm need be trimmed.  This should not draw blood.

Poultry Clubs

For the novice duck farmer, Poultry Clubs are an invaluable source of help.