Hi there,
We have been offered a drake and 2 ducks which we desperately want! but have never had ducks before and need a ton of advice.....

We have a green house that is under shade with a concrete floor and will be fully lined in winter as we keep our guinea pigs in there! If they had a house within the green house with a suitably large run coming off it is this ok? We aware of the water issues and have a plastic paddling pool for them. I would be happy to let them roam in the garden when we are with them but would they fly off? What do we feed them, what in terms of bedding do they need? medication (apple cider?) worming, jabs? do they get any mites? and can you eat the eggs if they are with the drake? Can anyone give an estimate of start up costs and generally monthly upkeep please?

Sorry for all the questions- any advice would be fab


Thanks.x

Hi we took on a trio of duck nevwer had them before they need a totally preditor proof area,what you have in mind sounds pretty secure we fed ours on organic layers pellets NOT the medicated and non medicated mixed corn they did great on this there is a feeding guide line on the packet. we used straw for bedding .i know there are certain types that dont fly but ours came with their wings clipped.
if you have a look chicken run has a really useful website with tons of info is really good to new duck keepers. good luck with your new additions

Hi there

Your green house would be fine for them but make sure you dont keep the door shut on hot days as green houses get very hot.
The plastic paddling pool is fine too they will be very happy with that.

Flying off -- what breed of ducks are they?

You can feed them layers pellets, and for treats mixed corn but not too much.

Bedding use wood shavings and put some straw on top of that

Worming is done twice a year, but i know people who dont do it at all but to be on the safe side i would do it.

Dont need jabs

Eggs - yeah course ya can eat them they might be fertile but dont start developing untill a certain temp and humidity, I put mine in the fridge and it stops them being fertile.

Ducks dont get red mite just poultry.

I feed 8 ducks and and 4 chickens on two 20kg bags of layer pellets a month
so for you i would say 1 bag say £8 a bag depends where in the country you live could be cheaper or more.

Your best to get the 25kg bags of wood shavings works out cheaper, i pay around £8- £10 depends where i get it from.

wormer is between £10-£15 will last ages as you only got 3 ducks and its twice a year.

mixed corn depends on size of bag say £8 for 20kgs

so for the month you will proberly only need to buy a bag of layer pellets, rest of the stuff should last you abit longer then a month.
If you need abit more info have alook on my website its not finished yet but theirs info on food you can and cant give ducks.

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My new website bits still under construction http://www.gardenquackers.weebly.com
Ducks - Crested bali runners, Cayugas, Muscovys, Chickens - Silkies, Silver Spangled Hamburgs, Lemon Millefluer Sablepoots

http://chickensandpoultry.co.uk/data...ster_flyer.pdf