How messy would 2 ducks be?

[Tall-esRaisin]

I'm wanting to try and convince my dad to get me 2 ducklings real soon, so I've been reading up on them. I've read many posts about their messiness, but most of those people had 5+ ducks and I would only get two. I have a large front yard (35+ feet in length and 25+ feet in width) that includes a 3.5ft deep pond that they could swim in as adults. I have raised chicks and have 7 chickens currently and think ducks would be a great addition! I would just like to know just about how messy they would be, thanks!

 

[seashoreduck]

I'm wanting to try and convince my dad to get me 2 ducklings real soon, so I've been reading up on them. I've read many posts about their messiness, but most of those people had 5+ ducks and I would only get two. I have a large front yard (35+ feet in length and 25+ feet in width) that includes a 3.5ft deep pond that they could swim in as adults. I have raised chicks and have 7 chickens currently and think ducks would be a great addition! I would just like to know just about how messy they would be, thanks!

Ducks are messy, even 2. Ducks have different feeding needs but in general if you're used to cleaning up after chickens it wont be too bad. Sounds like you have the water

 

[Amykins]

Hi Raisin, welcome to BYC! Well, I can tell you one thing, I have just one duck (well...and a duckling now) but he's pretty dang messy all on his own, LOL! They love mud, and love to fling their food and water around even more. They're such silly creatures! Two is a good number to start with, just one duck would get very lonely, but it sounds like your dad is hesitant to get three or greater.

They'll need to be kept in a separate pen from the chickens, unfortunately. The chickens would likely peck at the little ones, and the ducks in turn will turn the chicken coop into a poopy, muddy mess! And that's no good for chickens to be walking over, they need to keep their feetsies dry.

Have you settled on what breed you want? And of course, if/when you get them you'll take lots of pictures for us to d'aww over, right?

 

[Tall-esRaisin]

Oops I should have mentioned my chickens live in the backyard in their own, about, 15x15 area that is closed off. So the ducks would live most likely in the backyard itself, but taken to the front for the pond; so the ducks wouldn't be living with the chickens. I would still have to figure some things out though.

 

[Amiga]

How big a pen will the ducks have? They need to be kept safe from predators.

If you design a good area, I don't expect you'll have much mess. Before anyone snickers, I have a flock of 13. And while there are some maintenance tasks to do, their pen is not a mess - neither the night pen nor the day pen.

The day pen has a 2% slope so it drains. The base is a nice composting mix of chopped straw, leaves, and duck manure. Under the swim pans is a mixture of sand and smooth pea gravel and some organic matter that collects there. Periodically I shovel off the top of that, toss the enriched stuff on the compost. Once a year or so I refresh the sand and pea gravel. I also once or twice a year pull some of the compost out and use it to mulch gardens. A few times a month I add more straw or leaves.

The night pen has a watering station to hold most of the splash. I spot pick daily, and fluff the bedding. As needed I pull out used bedding and replace it. I rarely have to do the whole pen - generally the spots they hang out need to be fixed up more often, some spots maybe once every two weeks - depends on the time of year, too. This winter has been harsh and they have been in the night pen most of the time, so the maintenance schedule has increased some.

 

[WVduckchick]

I never had ducklings before either, until I hatched 4 this past weekend. Boy oh boy did I get a surprise. I had also read and heard how messy they are, but was still surprised just how fast they can mess up a brooder. Poop factories! And water hoses! They aren't as messy with the food as they are with the water and poo. I keep trying ideas to keep the water contained. Still working on it haha. I'm changing the brooder pads (puppy pads) 4 times a day, and could easily be much more.

But I guess messiness is all relative. I'm originally a city gal, turned country, so maybe it seems worse to me than someone else. They definitely will make more mess than your chicks, but I still think they are worth it!!

 

[Amiga]

WVduckchick, have I shared these with you before?



https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

post number 8 from this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959603/ducklings-getting-stuck-on-their-backs#post_14939819

 

[WVduckchick]

WVduckchick, have I shared these with you before?



https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

[COLOR=0047A4]http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html[/COLOR]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

post number 8 from this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959603/ducklings-getting-stuck-on-their-backs#post_14939819

I don't think so, but from the titles, I definitely need to read them. Thanks!!

 

[Amykins]

How big a pen will the ducks have? They need to be kept safe from predators.

If you design a good area, I don't expect you'll have much mess. Before anyone snickers, I have a flock of 13. And while there are some maintenance tasks to do, their pen is not a mess - neither the night pen nor the day pen.

The day pen has a 2% slope so it drains. The base is a nice composting mix of chopped straw, leaves, and duck manure. Under the swim pans is a mixture of sand and smooth pea gravel and some organic matter that collects there. Periodically I shovel off the top of that, toss the enriched stuff on the compost. Once a year or so I refresh the sand and pea gravel. I also once or twice a year pull some of the compost out and use it to mulch gardens. A few times a month I add more straw or leaves.

The night pen has a watering station to hold most of the splash. I spot pick daily, and fluff the bedding. As needed I pull out used bedding and replace it. I rarely have to do the whole pen - generally the spots they hang out need to be fixed up more often, some spots maybe once every two weeks - depends on the time of year, too. This winter has been harsh and they have been in the night pen most of the time, so the maintenance schedule has increased some.

Wow...got any photos, blueprints or how-to DIY threads about that? It sounds ingenious! It's like you were some sorta engineer, or something.

 

[AVAFarms]

We have 2 Pekins and they are a MESS! They love to make mud and get it every where. They are hilarious though... Our love to chase soccer balls.

One warning- if you get a male (at least a Pekin male) you need to train it to like you. Ours never really bonded with us and enjoys trying to chase us around the yard. On the good note- when he gets you it's like the dog coming up behind you and banging your leg with a rubber dog toy.

We also have 4 mallards, but they are still in the tub (our version of a brooder) so not clue how much of a mess that will add.