I agree on the Muscovy. I have a few Indian Runners at the moment, which are very utilitarian and lay better than some of the chooks! However, with us living in the burbs, they are terribly noisy, and poop for Australia! As much as I love them, they will be relegated to the folks' farm and Mammoth Muscovies will replace them shortly.
Cheers!
Mark Ellis
"Be excellent to each other"
I have been thinking for quite some time to get ducks, and the idea of growing vegies with ducks sounds rather tempting. Could some of you, who keep ducks already please tell me- do I need to feed them or will they forage enough in the paddock or garden, and do I have to keep them in a fenced off area, or will they return to their nesting place like chickens do? We have a dam and I am thinking of providing a floating island in the middle for the ducks to rest at night as we have foxes around here. Does that sound feasible? Any comments will be appreciated.
Hi Abbabba,
The problem with ducks and vegies is that ducks eat vegies. Those accounts that you read about Asian farmers (and others) using ducks to weed their vegetable crops are often fanciful (and recycled by well-meaning folks) or lacking in detail.
Where it happens, the ducks are just a few weeks old and are more interested in snails and insects. They are removed from the vegetable or grain plot before the crop matures (by which time, they will have developed an interest in the crop.
Geese are also used as weeders but they have to be trained to it from an early age.
I've tried it but I wasn't successful. The geese just ate the crop.
While some ducks (particularly muscovies) can get a lot of what they need from good pasture, they will usually need some supplementary feeding to fatten properly.
If they are not fenced, they will eventually fall victim to foxes or dogs.
Your idea of a pond with an island (where their night quarters are located) has been done successfully. I've seen such a design in one of the Permaculture books.
Muscovies don't require water to swim in. A large bowl (large enough to immerse their head in) will be required for drinking and washing their eyes.
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
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