Are ducks easy to keep? Which ducks are good start offs?????

ColacWaterfowl · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:13 am

YOu would be surprised most do only get 1

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:34 am

hi
are crested ducks good natured?

originbreed · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:41 pm

i've never had crested ducks, but i have read that there can be troubles when breeding them. never breed 2 ducks with crests. you will get alot of misformed ducklings. this can be very upsetting.
if you start with any young ducklings that have just come off the need for a heat supply(not needing to be kept in a brooder) and spend a lot of time with them so they get to know you, they will be good natured ducks.
depending on the breed you get some of the domestic ducks can grow very big.
indian runner ducks can be fun if you get them young enough
mallards are a smaller duck and lay a beautiful greenish blue egg
depending how close your neighbours are and how well they put up with noise, female ducks can be very loud with their quacking
dont let me put you off having ducks, but any prior knowledge of what to expect can only help you
they are lots of fun and keep you amused for hours

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:03 pm

ahhh well they have plenty of noise over there and wake up at 5am anyway, shouldnt be a problem.i think. :roll:

yeah i have heard dont breed two crested ducks together as it is not good for the babies, they are the same as frizzle chickens :-D

so, should i get a couple of crested and some mallards? i want a pretty duck as well as one that is ffriendly and doesnt(normally) bite/peck you.those beaks look pretty powerful!!! :lol:

a lot!

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:05 pm

would also appreciate some tips on how to keep ducks too [smilie=thanks.gif]

chooklover101(ready to become ducklover101as well:-D
:lol:

)

originbreed · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:18 pm

if look thru the older threads on APF you can gain a lot of tips about ducks and chooks

the breed profiles will give you a lot of help

problems you cant work out just ask on the forum, somebody will help

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:26 pm

Rob1983 · **Joined:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:36 pm **Posts:** 1

Our first ducks were the natural mallards and I have to say a joy to own very calm breed and social with the chickens

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:13 pm

Rob1983 wrote:

Our first ducks were the natural mallards and I have to say a joy to own very calm breed and social with the chickens

ok so i will probably go with mallards.all that i have to do is convince my mum we need them(she is already half convinced-phew! :-D

)thanks everyone!!!! [smilie=thanks.gif]

originbreed · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:22 pm

if your mum likes baking cakes, you get the best results by using duck eggs instead of chook eggs.
the cakes are so moist and delicious.
last year when we were down to having only 1 duck and 1 drake, when the duck was sitting on her eggs the drake followed the 3 oldest hens around like a lost puppy.
he had to fly every now and then to keep up with them. i was surprised the chooks tolerated him.
duck33

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