How to Keep Ducks

If a permaculture gardener is thinking about getting some poultry as livestock, more often then not their first inclination is to have some chickens. A reasonable enough assumption, when chickens are much more common on smallholdings and constitute the most popular meat in America. There is also a lot of information available about keeping chickens, and the birds seem ideally suited to a permaculture plot, with several yields and relatively energy and time efficient in terms of maintenance.

Indian runners

Chickens are great, but the permaculturist might want to take a moment and consider ducks as an alternative poultry livestock animal. The y have many of the benefits of chickens but with added attractions all their own. For instance, ducks produce eggs that are richer in taste and more loaded with nutrients than chicken eggs. Protein, calcium, iron and potassium levels are all higher in duck eggs than chicken eggs, and they are just as versatile in the kitchen, suitable for everything from baking to poaching. Ducks have many of the same needs as chickens, which the permaculture gardener will need to meet to ensure the animals’ survival and comfort, but ducks are arguably lower-maintenance than their cousins, as they forage for a greater proportion of their food from the garden. The majority of the food that ducks source while foraging is organisms that, if not kept under control, can become pests, particularly slugs and snails. Ducks are also hardier than chickens and can thrive in ore extreme weather conditions, and are generally quieter, making them more suitable for urban areas where neighbors are closer. And while chickens are characterful birds, ducks are arguably even more fun to be around – playful and always curious about investigating new things.

If you do decide to take the plunge with ducks as livestock, you need to analyze the needs, or inputs, of the birds and ensure you can meet them on your plot.

Choose Breed

Pekin ducks

Most commonly available breeds of duck will give you plenty of eggs, but you may also want to raise the birds for meat, maximizing the outputs of your livestock. There are certain dual-purpose breeds that are particularly suited to permaculture plots. The most popular breed in the U.S. is the Pekin, sometimes called the Long Island Duck. They are pure white with an orange beak, and can produce up to 200 eggs a year. The Muscovy is another popular option, producing leaner meat and renowned for the range of insects and spiders they will forage. Another good choice would be the Indian Runner, which does not fly and can give up to 300 eggs per year.

Get Several

Muscovy duck

Ducks are very social animals and it is not recommended, for the sake of the animal’s well being, to keep a single bird. Three to five ducks is a good size flock to start with, and is suitable for all but the smallest permaculture plots. If you just have two ducks and one dies, the other will become very distressed. If you are planning on breeding your ducks, you should have three ducks and one drake.

Housing

Ducks need housing, but as they do not perch like chickens, the shelter can be simpler. A simple shed will suffice. You should put the shed on a raised platform. This not only make cleaning and collecting eggs is easier for you and doesn’t involve bending (ducks can easily climb ramps) but also ensures the shelter is well ventilated. Ducks don’t naturally go to a roost at night, but will quickly learn if you make herding them into the shelter a routine. The shelter should be protected against predators, with heavy mesh fencing, and which is also sunk to keep predators from digging underneath.

Because they don’t perch and sleep at ground level (or on the floor of the shelter if it is raised), you need to provide a litter for the ducks. There are several suitable options, from straw, hay, leaves and sawdust to shredded bark or rice hulls. The bedding will need to be replaced or at least renewed every week or so, as it will become wet with droppings. But when you do replace the bedding, it makes a great addition to a no-dig garden bed or the compost pile.

Be aware that ducks do not confine their egg laying to their roost at night; they will lay wherever they are foraging, so you may need to check around the plot when collecting the eggs.

Water

All ducks need access to a water source. If you already have a stream or pond on your property, you’re sorted, but even if you don’t you can still keep ducks. The birds need a water body that is big enough for them to bathe in and deep enough so that they can dip their heads entirely underneath (they rely on this to clean their nostrils and eyes, as they do not have tear ducts). You could reuse an old children’s sandpit, or any plastic container that is at least 30 centimeters deep. Given that the ducks use the water primarily for cleaning, it will get dirty, so replace the water regularly, preferably with harvested rainwater.

Protection

Ideally, you would like to let your ducks range freely in your plot. If so, make sure the site is well secured with fencing to prevent predators attacking your birds. If wild animal predation is a real problem, you could confine your ducks to an enclosed run during the day, but it need to be reasonably large to give the flock enough space, and must include your water body.

Food

Like chickens, ducks are omnivorous. If they are allowed to roam in the garden they will forage for slugs, snails, worms and other insects, and will also eat grass. Generally they don’t graze on vegetable or fruit plants, the exceptions being salad greens and strawberries, and do not scratch at the soil like chickens. This is beneficial in terms of not disturbing your garden plants, but be aware that the ducks’ flat feet can trample seedlings. If possible, allow them to forage in orchards or underneath vines, where they will do the least damage and give the most benefit in terms of pest control. Supplement this with an organic grain mix, and add kelp powder once a week to boost the ducks’ immunity. Like chickens, ducks should also have access to grit to aid their digestion.

*****Reprinted from Open Permaculture Magazine***** Original link below.
https://www.openpermaculture.com/magazine/keep-ducks