Explorer Les différentes Plantes

Raise ducks?

Ducks are very easy to breed pets. They fit very well in a farmyard because they get along perfectly with, for example, chickens or geese. They have the opportunity to bond emotionally with those who care for them. You can breed ducks for ornament, egg laying, or their meat. These animals are also formidable natural weedkillers: they clean your garden of weeds in a jiffy.

The living conditions.

It is best to breed several ducks at the same time. Either a couple (duck and duck), or a small group of at least four. You can quite mix several breeds of duck such as the Muscovy duck, the mandarin duck or the crested duck. These barnyard animals are undemanding as long as they can roam the middle of a plot of land large enough to find grass to eat and have a water feature available. Ducks, on the other hand, need quite a bit of space to get enough exercise.

Allow around 2 to 5 m² per animal at least. Their plot must be fenced to prevent predators and the escape of ducks. A fence about 5 feet high will also prevent ducks from going into your garden to eat your salads and strawberries or to trample on your seedlings.

These pets have a vital need for water nearby, to drink first, but also eventually to swim and maintain their plumage. A simple paddling pool may suffice. Remember to scatter gravel or sand around the water point available for the ducks to avoid the formation of mud. Ducks also need shelter to rest and lay eggs. But they can also sleep in the open air if they are well protected. A litter, placed on the ground, composed of wood shavings, straw or sand is well adapted to ducks. Be sure to reserve a shelter for them separate from other farmyard animals. If you have breeds of duck that can fly, consider cutting their primary feathers off a wing once a year so they don’t escape.

Food.

Ducks are omnivorous and have a great appetite (twice as much as chickens, for example). Adult ducks find their food on their own in soil (earthworms) or by eating grass. You should serve them in addition to grain such as oats, corn or wheat, greens in the form of grass or salad. These food supplements concern in particular diving ducks which do not feed on grass but on fish and other aquatic animals. Be careful, however, not to feed ornamental ducks corn for too long. They could end up suffering from overweight.

Ducks also feed on leftover vegetables or small insects. They will also effectively get rid of slugs and snails that attack the plants in your garden. Ducks are heavy consumers of water, about ½ liter per day each. Drinking water is also essential for them to swallow their food. Keep the water safe and clean at all times.

Health.

Ducks are among the hardiest barnyard animals. They are quite resistant to diseases and parasites unlike other animals. However, you should still watch for any signs of ill health such as ruffled feathers,

changes in the swallowing of food and water, fatigue, or bloody diarrhea. A sick duck should be quarantined and treated promptly.

The regulations to breed.

Certain breeds of ducks require a breeding permit and a certificate of capacity. The prefecture or the chamber of agriculture where you live will give you all the rules in force in your region.

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