introduction to raising ducks on pasture ruth mcdaniel forty days farm

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