Chickens or Ducks ?

[sarahkeast]

I am starting to think about getting some more chooks or ducks in the next month or so. Had ex-bat chickens before and they were great, apart from WRECKING the garden every time they got out or where let out. I have a shed and small sheltered area for housing, but liked to let them out as often as possible to scratch around a bit, get the bugs and slugs etc. They would mostly go on the lawn/flower beds for an hour in afternoon and then in run.

So, I was wondering about ducks as they dont scratch up the ground and would still eat the bugs. Do they do much damage to plants and other stuff ?

Also, I recall reading somewhere that ducks eat a LOT more feed, so cost per egg is higher, which is definately a factor.

Thanks

[Rosendula]

I don't know if it makes a difference to you but quacks are a lot louder than clucks. That said, my chickens cluck a lot more than my neighbour's ducks quack, thought the quacks do continue after dark, unlike the clucks.

[Odsox]

So, I was wondering about ducks as they dont scratch up the ground and would still eat the bugs. Do they do much damage to plants and other stuff ?

Don't forget ducks have huge webbed feet and really stomp down loose soil, if you let them loose on a cultivated area they will turn it into concrete when it dries up.
They do eat a lot of slugs though which my chicken certainly won't.

[oldjerry]

We kept both ,and I think on balance,the chickens cause less hassle,but for sure the ducks are loads more fun.Odsox is dead right ,ducks will wreck runs,better have 2 small runs and rotate.They will need some water3'x2' will do for a dozen,plus aramp for them to get in(dont bury it,makes it too hard for daily water renewal).On the other hand,they are great to keep,dont eat much more than chickens,the eggs IMO are FAR superior(and make fabulous cakes),and best of all a decent Khaki Campbell(or if you can find some, White Campbell ) will lay in excess of 300 eggsper year,is less prone to give up when the days get short,and has a longer laying life.......but if you work away from home,dont need the hassle etc.etc. praps not for you.BW.

[Birdie Wife]

I've kept both and ducks definitely do more damage to a run. Chooks will scratch up ground in serach of bits of grit and the odd bug, but ducks will go through the ground sifting it with their bills if it's damp and eat grass roots and all, resulting in a quagmire unless you've got a lot of ground to rotate them on. They also need fresh water to wash and dabbele in - if you have a pond with a stream running through it, it's perfect. I had muscovies and Indian runner ducks, which don't need so much water, but still needed clean water to wash their faces. Duck poo (sorry if you're eating lunch) is really liquid and copious . That said, they are funny, and beautiful, and really cool to watch.I was sad when we moved and I had to sell mine

[bill1953]

I seen ducks turn a lush grassland into something that resembles a Flanders battlefield within an indredibly short time.

[merlin]

Trust me, unless you have a a large piece of land that you want trashed, stick with chickens!