[twizzel]

I'm contemplating moving my ducks into the back garden (they are in the farmhouse back garden with the chickens at the moment) once our neighbours put a fence up- their dog is not duck proof which has stopped me until now. I like watching them, although not sure my OH would entertain them wondering around everywhere making a mess... maybe I'll do it when he's working one day 

[hughesy]

We've got a small flock of Welsh Harlequins. They lay an egg pretty much every day and are no trouble whatsoever. Ours free range in the fields during the day and are penned up at night for their own safety. We don't feed them except for some corn at night to encourage them to come home into their secure pen. I have no trouble selling all their eggs they look like a proper bargain next to chicken eggs as they're nearly twice the size! Overall very easy to keep and also profitable.

[northfifeduckling]

Just for the fun of it, find the broody ducks (yes, 2! ) in the picture 

[SheepMad95]

Wooooow thanks for all the replys!!!

Defo think I'm going to get some just need to sort out a house and run and a water source for them and then I'm going to look for some

I reckon I'll get some ducklings to start with though, cause they are just the cutest!!!


Thanks everyone for the replys!!!:)

I'll let you know how I do!
And if anyone reads this from North Devon and has some ducklings, please let me know!!:)

[HesterF]

South Yeo Farm is mid-Devon somewhere around Okehampton and has rare breed ducks - my Cayugas came from there as hatching  eggs. http://www.southyeofarm.co.uk/poultry/our_breeds.html

[SheepMad95]

Thank you for all the replys!!

I'm getting some ducks on Tuesday!
One male at 11ish weeks
And two females at 4/5 weeks!
( unrelated)

I'm very excited

Main concern is that the 11 week old will pick on the 2 females as they are smaller?

Can't wait! Got a old shower base for a little pond until they get bigger and can have a deeper one!:)

[HesterF]

Wouldn't have thought they'd be any picking on - particularly as the 11 week old will be one against two. Ducks don't seem to squabble in the same way as chickens. You'll be surprised how big they are already at that age (certainly the 11 week old will be pretty much adult sized if a little slimmer).

[Porterlauren]

That's one of the things I love about Ducks, they don't seem to have the same petty squabbles and in fighting that chickens do. I bought a trio a while back, and another three from a different place and just released all six at the same time into a pen, the drake immediately rounded the three other ladies into his posse, and all six scooted off to jump in the pond together, immediate social order and calmness.

Now when I go down to their pen after dark, the five ladies are in the house tucked up, and the Drake is always patrolling the door on guard until I get there to shut them in, at which point he jumps in the house, job done.

I've also got two ducks at the moment who have made a big nest, and each gathered 14 eggs in it (their own and other ducks), so there are 28 eggs together, and they are sitting on it side by side, taking it in turns to go out to feed and wash.

Fascinating creatures.

They love meal worms and get pretty tame pretty quick if you hand feed them those as a treat.