Introduction to Raising
Ducks on Pasture
Ruth McDaniel
Forty Days Farm
Why Ducks
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Control of aquatic weeds
Ease of containment
Eggs and meat
Pest control
Manure provides nutrients for
garden areas
If it Quacks Like a Duck…
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Egg type ducks
Meat type ducks
Dual purpose ducks
Wide variation in foraging ability
Egg Type Ducks
• Smaller
• Better flight
ability
Meat Type Ducks
• Larger
• Very little
flight ability
• Genetics and
nutrition
affect size
Practical Issues
• Odor
• Noise
• Proximity to water supply
Odor
• Ducks will produce a lot of wet
manure
• Use deep bedding in holding areas
• Manure will build up around
watering and feeding areas, so
make these mobile or use deep
bedding
Holding Pen With Deep Bedding
Quack Quack Quack Quack
• Ducks are noisy!
• Do not locate ducks where they will disturb
you or your neighbors
Like a Duck to Water…
Ducks use water to:
• Groom, preen, and bathe
• Drink
• Help swallow food, especially dry
food
• Breed
Water
• Ducks consume a lot of water
• Change water frequently
• Locate watering areas close to a
source of water
Water
• Swimming area not required, but
helpful
• Bathing helps a duck maintain the
oil coating on their feathers
• Ice on ponds need to be broken if
pond is the main source of water
Welcome Home Ducklings
• Locate brooder away from flock in
a protected area
• Brooder needs to be preheated
• Consider odor when deciding on
brooder placement
Access to Water
• Ducks scoop water with their bill
• Watering device must have
opening larger than a duck’s bill
• Water should be located close to
food
Water Basics for Ducklings
• Make sure the ducklings can get
their bills in the water, but nothing
else!
• Change water often to protect
against harmful bacteria and
reduce spread of disease
Water Hazards
• Young ducklings can drown, especially
those not naturally brooded
• Wet ducklings can get too cold and die
• Shallow pools of water can get very
hot in the summer and breed harmful
bacteria
Brooding
• Brooder temperature suggested is 95 F
for first 5-10 days
• At 5-10 days switch to a brooder with
DEEP LITTER and a heat lamp
• I have used “chicken tractor” type
structure with a heat lamp in warm
weather
Outdoor Brooding Pen With Duck
Impostor
Going To Pasture
• Begin by providing access to pasture as well
as sheltered area with heat source
• Age for starting on pasture will depend
upon weather
• Heavy ducks need a much lower fence than
lighter ducks
Moving The Flock
• Don’t expect ducks to want to go
everywhere you want them to go
• A border collie may become your
new best friend!
Big Duck Water Rules
• Consider excluding ducks from ponds
during very cold weather
• Small pools will freeze quickly and
need refilling often, so locate them
where you have easy access to water
• Rinse small pools often, especially in
the summer
Feeding
• MEDICATED POULTRY FEED WILL
KILL DUCKS AND GEESE
• Use a crumble or mash for ducklings, I have
been very happy with a gamebird
starter/grower crumble
• Adults can use a crumble, pellet, or mash
• Whole grains should be cracked or rolled
Foraging
• Ducks will eat land and aquatic plants,
small insects, larva, slugs, etc.
• Prefer to forage when the ground is wet—
ideal to put them in pasture areas which are
too wet to be grazed
• Ducks will sift through horse and cow
manure, consuming bugs and larva and
helping spread manure
Lame Duck
• Thorns, brambles, and burrs can
puncture foot and lead to infection
• Pasture areas should be free of
thorny plants if possible
• Holding areas MUST be free of
thorny plants
Predators
• Crows, raccoons and rats will eat duck
eggs
• Hawks will eat duckling and small
ducks
– Have overhead protection
• Fox and coyote will prey on ducks
– House near a dog at night if possible
Harvest
• For eggs, ducks will begin laying at 16-24
weeks, depending upon genetics, diet, and
season
• For meat, I have used ducks from 14 weeks
to 18 months. For planning purposes, I’d
suggest looking at a window from 12-18
weeks.
Biosecurity
• Maintain isolation area for all incoming
animals
• Remove and isolate any animal that appears
to be sick
• Use footbaths at entry and exit areas
• Assume that any visitor could carry
contaminants
Duckling Sources
• “Chick Days” at local feed stores
• Mail order
Checklist for duckling arrival
• Brooder is clean,
disinfected and heated
to 95 F
• NONMEDICATED
crumble or mash feed
is ready
• Ducklings can get
entire bill in water
• Ducklings cannot get
their bodies in the
water
• Someone can check
the brooder a few
hours after ducklings
have arrived
Resource List
• Storey’s Guide to
Raising Ducks by
David Holderread