FowlBlog.com » Housing

Want a Green Alternative to Herbicides and Pesticides? Try Garden Ducks

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:31:55 +0000

Many avid gardeners consider their vegetable and flower patches as more than just hobby level agricultural endeavors. Rather, one’s garden is a reflection of one’s natural self. Thus, just as you don’t want to use harmful herbicides and pesticides on a large scale as it is unsustainably damaging to the environment, you likewise do not want to use the same practices in your own garden.

Pesticides are bad for a lot more than pests

How then can you control harmful weeds and pests from destroying your prized herbs, flowers, and vegetables without employing the very practices which you may be opposed to on a large scale? One innovative solution is to keep ducks in your garden. That’s right, ducks….quacking, waddling, goofy yet adorable waterfowl. Ducks will literally take your garden pests and nuisances and convert them to natural fertilizer and eggs (which by the way are suitable for human consumption).

Gardener Amy Grisak of Grit.com wrote a piece on how she received such wonderful help and valuable work from her feathered friends. She writes -

Ducks will eat just about any pest. Grasshoppers, which can decimate a garden in short order during heavy infestation years, are quickly gobbled up when in reach of a hungry duck and so are Japanese beetles, June bugs, grubs and even mice. Ducks will also chase and catch flies, and root their larvae out of fresh manure and decaying vegetables.

Using ducks as an environmental and low cost gardening and farming aide is nothing new. Chinese farmers have herded Pekin ducks by the hundreds through their rice paddies for thousands of years. These avid foragers would seek out and consume any pest or weed they could find, yet leave the more mature rice crop alone. Furthermore, their droppings would serve as fertilizer for the plants and soil. A recent episode of The Amazing Race featured a challenge where contestants were to herd large amounts of Pekin ducks, as an homage to this ancient practice.

Ducks are best used in your garden when there aren’t any sprouting seedlings, as they will likely tear up the ground enough and prevent the seedling from taking root. Ducks should be allowed to forage when the plants are mature enough that they can survive some physical movement and won’t be hurt by some disruption in the soil. Ducks essentially use their beaks as plows, and will actively seek out even buried pests and weeds.

Also, ducks can serve as a wonderful alternative to a bug zapper. Simply keep a light over their water supply and it will attract countless insects at night, which the ducks will gladly eat out of their water. Thus, you will have a natural, environmentally sound, and fun alternative to an unsightly blue light and power consuming device.

Which breeds of ducks make the best for this innovative and green gardening solution? eFowl.com recommends four key types -

Runner Ducks – these wine bottle shaped ducks are far and away the most active foragers
A type of avid foraging duck, the Black Indian Runner
Khaki Campbell Ducks – not only are these birds great foragers, they’re also one of the most prolific egg layers of all ducks.
Khaki Campbells are avid foragers and prolific egg-layers
Cayuga Ducks – these ducks are a medium size, and very popular as pets for their unique iridescent green color, as well as their quiet demeanor.
Cayuga Ducks are great for pets and great for your garden
Swedish Ducks – who knew Daffy Duck was so helpful in the garden?
Daffy Duck is modeled after a Black Swedish Duck

What are you waiting for? Get some ducks and take green gardening to a whole new level!

Do Ducks Make Good House Pets?

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:21:43 +0000

Ducks are only good house pets as long as you can keep them comfortable in a large box or cage. As the ducklings mature to about 6-8 weeks of age, their care demands will change such that they need access to water, will become a bit messier, and will require more space.

Ducks are not meant to live in houses, despite some owner's best efforts.

Generally, we consider the 6-8 week old mark to be “pond ready”, when ducks can be released as primarily yard or pond ducks. Granted, they’ll still need some type of duck housing, but their domain should move to a more natural environment at this age.

Now there are certainly exceptions to these guidelines as there are for nearly any bit of pet waterfowl care knowledge. We receive many testimonials of pet duck owners who keep their friends primarily indoors, but most breeders and experts will agree that they need to be more of a yard pet.

A pet duck in NYC? It’s more common than you think.

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:07:45 +0000

UPDATE: 07/01/2009 – It has come to my attention that it is against NYC regulations to have a pet duck in the city. I am not advocating the practice, I’m simply pointing out a humorous pop culture anecdote. Both Joey Tribbiani and myself are sorry if anyone interpreted that as endorsing a pet duck in NYC.

More and more people are raising ducks as pets in urban areas and even city apartments. This practice gained lots of popularity from the 90s TV show “Friends”.

How do I care for a pet duck in the Winter?

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:33:22 +0000

Many people ask us how to handle a pet duck during the winter months. Given the outdoor nature of a ducks and other waterfowl, the winter can pose some threats to your pet’s well-being. However, with some simple preparation and care, your pet ducks or even ducklings can thrive and love the winter months.

Here are some guidelines to follow-

Shelter – Even in the harsh winter months, ducks are capable of being outside. The key is that you must provide them the heat source which will allow them to get warm if they need to. Essentially, you should either provide a shelter that the ducks can freely move in and out of (such as a Rubbermaid Shed), or you should bring them in every night into a garage or shed.

Insulation – Any shelter you create should be well insulated, have adequate duck bedding , be windproof, and be waterproof. Also, if you have a pen or shelter that the ducks will have free access to, the doorway should not be open. A rubber flap or something in line with a doggie door works great stop heat loss due to draftiness.
Shelter Size – Depending on the size of your flock, the size of the shelter should be small enough that the collected heat of the ducks will warm it, but large enough to provide the animals with freedom of movement and the ability to escape the heat should they get too warm.
Heat Lamp – An artificial heating source such as a heat lamp works wonderfully to provide the ducks and other farm fowl with warming spot. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using this method -
- LiveDucks recommends a 75-100 watt of the standard variety, ceramic type, or infrared type.
- Ensure the heat lamp is out of all animals’ reach, and is not near any flammable materials.
- Make sure the ducks can escape from the heat lamp area (without going outside), should they get too warm.
Dryness – Even though ducks are inherently waterfowl, it is vital that they are capable of drying themselves to stay alive. This is especially true during the winter time. Again, it is key to make sure there is adequate, clean and dry bedding available for them. You should change this often (once / day) to prevent mold buildup which is especially hazardous during the winter.
Breed Hardiness – Many of the types of ducks that are available as pets are domestic breeds that are very hardy during harsh winters. The Pekin Ducks or Rouen Ducks, for example, are large enough such that they will survive quite well. If you have a smaller breed such as Call Ducks or Mallard Ducks, you may need to take extra winter precaution in colder climates.
Ventilation - Make sure the air inside any shelter doesn’t become trapped or stagnant. If you are using a smaller shelter this can be hazardous. Small air holes combined with good insulation are key to achieving the right balance of heat and fresh air.
Ponds – Pet Ducks will still enjoy bathing and splashing in ponds just like during the Summer. There are some deicing solutions available which will keep your pond area liquid if you would like to provide this comfort. Also, for small ponds, a pond heater may work wonderfully. LiveDucks.com recommends a company called Pond Solutions for small pond heating and deicing.

Ducks still love the water in the cold, and they will love access to ice free water

Ducks and other waterfowl are like other animals in that they have adapted to their climate and to all weather that they are naturally exposed to. However, keep in mind that your pet duck is most likely a domesticated breed. Much of their survival characteristics have been bred out over hundreds of years to make them a strong farm fowl.

Finally, do not let a harsh Winter intimidate you or keep you from ordering a pet duck. One of the main hatcheries eFowl.com uses is near the frigid Winters of the Canadian border, and the ducks still thrive as healthy as ever. Like most aspects of pet ownership, simple research and preparation will trump any extreme conditions that you may encounter.

How do I house my Pet Duck?

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:16:46 +0000

Yes, your pet ducks need housing. They need an escape from weather, predators, and general stress…just like a human does. If you take some relatively simple steps to ensure you pet ducks have adequate shelter, it will go a long in promoting their well-being and happiness.

Once again, we turn to the pet duck experts at LiveDucks.com for advice on how to house ducks. Also, a lot of the general waterfowl knowledge for this article comes from the section on keeping ducks and geese at PoultryKeeper.com .

Here are some guidelines for providing your ducks with excellent shelter -

Roaming – Ideally, you’ll allow your ducks to roam your entire yard. If this is not viable, give them as large of an area as you can, ensuring that it is clean and safe from predators. Also, use and area that is accessible to you for feeding, cleaning, and socializing.
Cages and Kennels – Do not fully cage your adult ducks unless it is to provide protection from predators. If you must cage your ducks, have the floor covered with bedding as a wire frame cage or even a flat metal surface can damage your ducks’ legs. Also, make sure the gaps in the wire frame aren’t too wide so the ducks don’t stick their heads or wings through them, as this can result in injury.

If you use wire framing of any kind, ensure the floor has appropriate bedding and the wire gaps aren't too large.

Nighttime – Ducks should have access to a sheltered area for bedding and protection at night time. If you bring in your ducks at night you greatly reduce the liklihood of an attack from predators and weather hazards. A pen with a sheltered area usually works great.
Size – Avoid cramped enclosures that do not allow the duck to flap their wings and move around. If you buy ducks at eFowl.com, their instructions suggests that ducklings need ½ square foot of floor space the first week, 1 square foot the second week, and 3 square feet after that.
Bedding – It is important that you use appropriate bedding to provide your ducks with adequate comfort and insulation. Also, change bedding regularly to prevent mold from building up. This can be hazardous to you and to your ducks.
- Recommended Bedding Materials – hay, straw, fleece, newspaper strips (but not for the long term)
- Materials to NOT use – wood chips, litter, anything that presents a choking hazard

Hay or Straw makes the best bedding. Be sure to change it often.

Ducklings – Keeping ducklings in a cardboard box for safety and warmth reasons is perfectly acceptable. However, be sure that their bedding is not a flat surface, as this can cause spraddled or splay legs.
Heat – Even when conditions are mild or warm, ducks of up to about 4 weeks old need a steady heat source. Usually this is a heat lamp placed high enough such that ducks will not burn themselves.

Great all-around duckling housing - note the heat lamps providing ample warmth

By being careful to avoid potential harzards, and providing your ducks with basic comforts you can create a safe any happy environment for your pets.