The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Sbom on October 30, 2013, 09:16:23 pm

Title: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: Sbom on October 30, 2013, 09:16:23 pm
As it says in title I'm a newbie duck keeper and wanting to plant some stuff in the area my ducks reside. Was wondering what was safe or more, what isnt safe! Would they eat blaccurrant bushes? Struggling to find somewhere for them as both horses and cows reach over and help themselves at the moment! Would like something colourful and bush type? Or edible?
Any thoughts welcome!
Title: Re: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: HesterF on October 30, 2013, 11:43:01 pm
The only way I've got anything established with ducks around has been to put chicken wire around it - at least it doesn't need to be as high as for the geese (who have ring barked my baby fruit trees - grrrr). I thought gooseberry might work but even the thorns on them didn't deter munching ducks. They're pretty good at digging things up too. They've got raspberries through the fence (starting with the bits that poke in and pulling the rest through), taken the top out of a grapevine and I've let them free onto the pumpkin patch post-harvest which they've turned over nicely. Oh, except for the thistles. So thistles?

H
Title: Re: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: Backinwellies on October 31, 2013, 06:27:44 am
Ducks will pretty much eat or distroy anything ..... unless you fence it separately. 
Title: Re: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: sokel on October 31, 2013, 07:55:29 pm
Our ducks are the only birds that are not allowed into the garden, they dig everything up and turn it into mud.
Title: Re: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: Womble on October 31, 2013, 08:03:32 pm
Our ducks share the orchard quite happily with gooseberries, blackcurrants, rhubarb, blueberries, apple trees etc.

I'd fence off any new plants until they're established, but after that they seem to be ok.

Perhaps mine are just particularly well behaved!?  ;D
Title: Re: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: Sbom on October 31, 2013, 10:41:43 pm
Hmmm, doesn't sound hopeful.......
Title: Re: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: HesterF on November 01, 2013, 12:00:47 pm
Well you might as well try - just start it off with chicken wire protection and once it's big enough, it might withstand the attack!
Title: Re: Planting in duck run, what's safe?
Post by: Sbom on November 01, 2013, 12:03:34 pm
Will certainly try!