Ducks on the Smallholding

At long last we have finally got ourselves a lovely pair of Aylesbury ducks. Meet Rosie and Jim, although those names are still being argued about by the children and may be subject to change (one approves, the other doesn't)! They are only three months old so it will be next spring before breeding commences, fertile eggs are laid and ducklings waddle around.

Eggs and duck for the table aren't the only asset involved, indeed these are two positive extras, but the real reason we wanted to get ducks was to tackle the slug problem. Ducks LOVE to eat the slugs we HATE. So this is a match made in heaven. Keeping ducks around the smallholding can eradicate a slug problem but they must be fenced out from your garden and crops, because they also love to nibble plants, especially newly emerged tender seedlings. Our ducks have the freedom to roam around the outside of the polytunnel so any newly arrived slugs will not gain entry. They will also patrol the periphery of the raised vegetable beds and once beds are harvested they'll be allowed in to mine sweep all manner of beasties before we mulch or re-plant.

We considered several breeds and decided that dual purpose was the way to go ie a bird that gives a decent annual supply of eggs but also provides us with the option to eat roast duck. There are a few breeds of duck that in theory offer this, such as Muscovy (beauty is in the eye of the beholder!), Pekin, Cayuga or Rouen, and in the end it comes down to what you like the look of and what's available in your area. Most ducks these days are bred for their exhibition traits rather than their traditional ability to produce decent quantities of good quality meat so it can be difficult to find suitable utility birds for the table, however we shouldn't give up hope.  The smallholder can help to preserve specimens of  varieties in their originally intended utility form by selectively breeding heavier birds for the table, rather than for their looks. In the UK there are a number of breeders who are dedicated to resurrecting poultry for the smallholders use as opposed to the show ring.

Comments

[Mattyjay]

They're so good looking! What a gorgeous addition.

A question: I know there's a lake on your property. Will they find their own way there? Don't ducks like/need water-based living? Do they still have the ability to fly? (I presume no, but hey).

Thanks for a great update! I look forward to hearing about the different taste of duck eggs!

[Amanda]

Oh they are just perfect! I love the names Rosie and Jim - I can just imagine them toddling around, eating slugs and chatting away with all the day's news!

[Amy@CrabtreeStudio]

Oh my goodness - they are so sweet looking!

I don't know very much about ducks - do they have similar needs as the chickens? Do they have their own coop/shelter? What do your chickens think about the ducks? Plus I have all the same questions as Mattyjay above.

I'm very curious about how to raise ducks - It would be great if you made a post about that someday!

[Rebecca (Sallygardens author)]

Well they do eat the same feed as the chickens, but they need a deep water drinker to get their beaks into, 4 inches at least. We did provide them with a separate shelter but they always go in with the chickens at night, the coop is large enough for them not to have to stand under the roosts and get pooped on! They sleep on hay on the ground. We are learning on the hoof as it were and I'll write a post all about it soon.

People do keep ducks without water access but they really do enjoy it, it's a natural instinct and so they really ought to have access. They use it to wash in, but also larger ducks like these also need it to mate in as they are too ungainly on land to manage! We have provided a large plastic paddling pool next to a mains supply and Dan fitted a plughole for easy water change, otherwise it gets very grubby very quickly.
There's a breed of duck that has less developed oil glands and so has less of a need for water access, the Muscovy duck, which I think is actually a type of goose.

Our lake is just too far for them to walk to, and the field they live in is fenced to keep the fox out.

[Rebecca (Sallygardens author)]

ps this breed is too heavy to fly, but others still can

[craftydabbler]

Thanks for sharing all of this. You and your family are so inspirational. I'm a vegetarian, but I really appreciate how you raise your animals and your family.

[Terri Pollhein]

Just a note to say how much I enjoy visiting your blog. We sold our farm a few years ago and now live in a perfectly nice house in a lovely neighborhood.

I can't wait to get back to the country though....Until then, I'll just "visit" your place...
God bless

[Mbutterfudge]

Welcome little ones. We did laught when I read out that one of their jobs is to mine sweep the veg patches after harvest, very funnyXX

[Péitseoga]

khaki campbells also don't need much water, and they are brilliant egg layers! they like to wash and splash though, so they would greatly appreciate the paddling pool. they can fly up to about 3 foot, so we clip their wings

[farmingfriends]

Your ducks look lovely. I have noticed that my ducks love to eat slugs and snails which is a bonus for us but not for the snail and slugs!
Sara from farmingfriends

[jayne]

Bought 2 Aylesburys's yesterday !
2 females, they are brilliant ! Daffy & Dilly ! being Welsh, their beaks are the colour of daffodils, and it's our national flower ! I have just seen them jump into our small pond and they are splashing around like a pair of toddlers. I could spend hours watching them. My neighbour has just put a chair by the wall so she can watch them too !!!