How to Raise Ducks

Adding ducks to your poultry yard can bring interest and variety to your life. In the right environment, the birds pretty much take care of themselves once they get older. Raising ducks also provides you with protein for your diet from the eggs and from their meat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Plan how many ducks you want to produce. Clear enough space for new ducklings to grow into adult ducks. A trio of ducks can easily produce as many as 25 ducks within a 6-month period.
2. Set up the shelter. Ducks usually get along well with other birds you may have. Keep them in the coop at night, and make sure their beddings are dry.
3. Purchase at least one drake (male) and two female ducks. A broody hen may be used to produce fertilized eggs. You can also order just-hatched ducks by mail.
4. Provide food. Ducks eat specially formulated duck food, but they can also consume chicken food. They are good grazers as well; they will keep your yard and garden weed-free. However, if there are too many ducks for the plot of grass, you may find yourself reseeding your lawn on a regular basis.
5. Give the birds access to water. Be sure the watering pans are wide and flat because of their beaks.

Tips & Warnings

• Ducks are fine outside except in the coldest of winter—and as long as there are no predators.
• Keep the waterer clean. Ducks have tendencies to put mud on their bills and then dip their beaks in the watering trough, which just makes it dirty.
• If you have a small stream or pond on your property, allow the ducks to access it. If there is no natural water in the vicinity, a child's swimming pool works too. Just be sure to clean it daily.