Why Ducks?

THE POPULARITY OF DUCKS — often described as the happiest animals in the barnyard — is increasing in many areas of the world. It appears that the rest of us are beginning to understand what many Asians and Europeans have known for centuries — ducks are one of the most versatile and useful of all domestic fowl. For many circumstances it is difficult to find a better all-purpose bird than the duck.

Duck Attributes

There are many reasons why people raise ducks. These amazingly adaptable fowl produce meat and eggs efficiently, in many situations require a minimum of shelter from inclement weather, are active foragers, consume large quantities of flies, mosquito larvae, and a wide variety of garden pests (such as slugs, snails, and grubs) and weed seeds, produce useful feathers, and are exceptionally healthy and hardy. A wonderful bonus to their myriad practical qualities is the entertaining antics and beauty they add to our lives.

Easy to Raise

People who have kept all types of poultry generally agree that ducks are the easiest domestic birds to raise. Along with guinea fowl and geese, ducks are incredibly resistant to disease. In many situations chickens must be vaccinated for communicable diseases and regularly treated for worms, coccidiosis, mites, and lice to remain healthy and productive. Duck keepers can often forget about these inconveniences. Even when kept under less than ideal conditions, small duck flocks are seldom bothered by sickness or parasites.

Resistant to Cold, Wet, and Hot Weather

Mature waterfowl are practically immune to wet or cold weather and are profoundly better adapted to cope with these conditions than are chickens, turkeys, guineas, or quail. Thanks to their thick coats of well-oiled feathers, healthy ducks of most breeds can remain outside in the wettest weather. Muscovies (which tend to have less water repellency than other breeds) and any duck that has poor water repellency due to infirmity should have free access to dry shelter during cold, wet weather.

While chickens have protruding combs and wattles that must be protected from frostbite, as well as bare faces that allow the escape of valuable body heat, ducks are much more heavily feathered and are able to remain comfortable — if they are provided dry bedding and protection from wind — even when the temperatures fall below 0°F (–18°C). (When people express concern about mature, healthy ducks being cold, I remind them that these waterfowl have the original and best down coats on the market!) Because ducks have the ability to regulate how much down they grow depending on weather conditions, they also thrive in hot climates if they have access to plenty of shade and cool drinking water. During torrid weather bathing water or misters can be beneficial.

Insect, Arachnid, Snail, and Slug Exterminators

Because they nurture a special fondness for mosquito pupae, Japanese beetle larvae, potato beetles, grasshoppers, snails, slugs, flies and their larvae, fire ants, and spiders, ducks are extremely effective in controlling these and other pests. In areas plagued by grasshoppers, ducks are used to reduce plant and crop damage during severe infestations. Where liver flukes flourish, ducks can greatly reduce the problem by consuming the snails that host this troublesome livestock parasite.

Under many conditions two to six ducks per acre (0.5 ha) of land are needed to control Japanese beetles, grasshoppers, snails, slugs, and fire ants. To eliminate mosquito pupae and larvae from bodies of water, provide six to ten ducks for each acre of water surface. With observation and experience you will be able to determine the number of ducks needed for your specific situation. The breeds of ducks in the Lightweight class and the larger bantam breeds are the most active foragers, making them the best exterminators for large areas. However, as noted in the chart of breed profiles on pages 28–29, most other breeds are also good foragers.

Productive

Ducks are one of the most efficient producers of animal protein. Strains that have been selected for high egg production (especially Campbells, Welsh Harlequins, and special hybrids) lay as well as or better than the best egg strains of chickens, averaging 275 to 325 eggs per hen per year. Furthermore, duck eggs are 20 to 35 percent larger than chicken eggs produced by birds of the same size. Unfortunately, in many localities, strains of ducks that have been selected for top egg production are not as readily available as egg-bred chickens.

Meat-type ducks that are raised in confinement and fed an appropriate diet are capable of converting 2.6 to 2.8 pounds of concentrated feed into 1 pound of bird. When allowed to forage where there is a good supply of natural foods, they have been known to do even better. The only domestic land animal commonly used for food that has better feed conversion is the industrial hybrid broiler chicken, with a 1.9:1 ratio.

Excellent Foragers

Ducks are energetic foragers. Depending on the climate and the abundance of natural foods, they are capable of rustling from 15 to 100 percent of their own diet. Along with guinea fowl and geese, ducks are the most efficient type of domestic poultry for the conversion of food resources that normally are wasted — such as insects, slugs, snails, windfall fruits, garden leftovers, and weed plants and seeds — into edible human fare.

Aquatic Plant Control

Ducks are useful in controlling some types of unwanted plants in ponds, lakes, and streams, improving conditions for many types of fish. In most situations 15 to 30 birds per acre (0.5 ha) of water are required to clean out heavy growths of green algae, duckweed (Lemna), pondweed (Potamogeton), widgeon grass (Ruppia), muskgrass (Chara), arrowhead (Sagittaria), wild celery (Vallisneria), and other plants that ducks consume. Once the plants are under control, 8 to 15 ducks per acre will usually keep the vegetation from taking over again.

In bodies of water containing plants submerged more than 2 feet (0.6 m), or when it is desirable to clean grass from banks, four to eight geese per acre of water surface should be used along with the...