question for the duck owners

[Deleted]

Hello! Does anyone keep free range ducks? Do they damage your garden plants or are they only interested in bugs? How well can they keep away from predators? My wife and I are interested in adding ducks but I dont want to set us up for constant heartache... thanks!

[bergere]

I raised Dutch Hook Bill ducks when I lived in NW WA. They did free range in my pastures during the day, but even with my fencing locked up at night.

You will need a predator proof fence.... I had woven field fence and hot wire. Keep the ducks in and the predators out. Without it, you will loose your ducks.

I ran my ducks in my kitchen garden during the winter, as they ate all the bugs that were in the ground. Was a great way, to keep pests from being a problem in the garden.
Also had a problem with Liverflukes and my sheep, ducks fixed that too.

Tried to run some Cayuga's when I moved to OR.... had some fencing but not good enough. All gone in one night. That was spendy and I knew better.

[Deleted]

I keep my ducks fenced up, I have had them for 1 1/2 years and just today we found two missing. We don't know if they wandered off (doubtful) or something got them. Ducks are very messy and I like to contain the mess. My gardens are all fenced ( because of deer, dogs and the goats) so I don't have to worry about the ducks getting in if I free ranged them because they can't fly well.

[Deleted]

Thank you both for your reply! janisr, I'm sorry about your recent loss

I haven't checked to see what supplies I could recycle or what it would cost to do this, but - If I were able to fence in my garden and keep the ducks in there permanently - should I include a top on it? Any recomendations on what type of fencing?

I'm thinking - 8 ft high so we can comfortably walk in / have some kind of fencing or wire on the ground so nothing can (easily) dig through / we'd keep a kiddie pool with water inside for the ducks to swim...

any other ideas or suggestions? We are looking at adding goats in a couple of months also, so we need a good fence for the garden anyway.

[okiemomof3]

ducks need to be protected, at least night, because they can't fun fast or fly, so foxes can get them super easy. they are too heavy owls (most breeds). I do let mine out to free range with my chickens and i have turned them loose in my fenced garden to eat bugs. they don't scratch and they don't harm my plants, and only get the bugs.

[manygoatsnmore]

Ducks love ripe tomatoes, nearly ripe tomatoes, and green tomatoes. Ask me how I know. In my experience, ducks are best kept fenced out of the garden during gardening season. During the winter, let them in to eat slugs.