We just got some ducklings from our local Ace Hardware. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision that my husband talked me into! We originally came to the store to purchase hay for our rabbits, but then we saw adorable, cute, baby ducks, and well.... That's the end of the story. We got two ducklings for $6.99 each. I am not sure if that is a good price or not. All I know is that I left Ace Hardware happier than I ever imagined lol. In the car I was playing with the ducklings all the way home. I immediately noticed that the ducklings were more friendly than the chicks that we raised. I would love to hear about your experience if you've raised both, do you think ducks are more friendly? Please leave a comment below!
I am so thrilled to have our ducklings. I didn't know anything about ducks when we got them, but come to find they are excellent birds to help create a sustainable homestead, which is what my family is trying to do! Let me share with you some amazing information I came across:
1. Duck manure can be applied directly to the garden. This is a HUGE win! If you have chickens then you know you gotta compost your chicken poop before applying to the garden, however, this is not the case with duck manure! Duck manure is HIGH is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Most people use the duck water or duck tea in their garden beds; this is the slug left over at the bottom of the duck pool or bath. the duck water is a wonderful addition to help break down your compost, or you can apply it to your plants directly. Some people even sell the duck manure and make money :-D
2. Ducks are great to raise for meat. Pekin duck can be ready to eat in a matter of 7-12 weeks at 8-10 lbs. This is about the same range for a chicken, however it depends on the breed. Also, chickens typically weight less at about 6 lbs. If you never had duck meant...... You ain't living. Duck meat is a delicacy. It's something you can prepare for a New Years or Christmas dinner and wow your friends and family. One must learn how to cook it as it's not like chicken. Every time I eat duck meat, it's always something to celebrate. I would be happy to share with you one of my all time best duck recipes that will make you feel like you are dining at a high end restaurant! It is very easy, just takes a long time in the oven to become tender and juicy. Some people who raise ducks sell them to restaurants and make good money!
3. Duck eggs are another amazing benefit of ducks. It wasn't until I was 26 that I tasted duck eggs and boy did it rock my world. Duck eggs are larger and richer than chicken eggs; they also have more nutrients. Though ducks don't lay as many eggs as chickens, keep in mind that one duck egg is enough for one person because of the size an nutrient content. It takes about 16-24 weeks for ducks to lay their first eggs; chickens take 18-24 weeks. Duck eggs have a thicker shell than chicken eggs, which helps them to have a longer shelf life. Selling duck eggs is also a decent way to make some money, as duck eggs are generally expensive usually $6-12 for a dozen.
4. Ducks are hardy because they are native to America! If you ever raised chickens, than you know you gotta deal with mites and other sicknesses that can kill them. Chickens also need a lot of protection from the weather. Ducks are generally healthier and have stronger immune systems than chickens. This makes sense because chickens are what I like to call GMO animals. Chickens came from Europe, they are not native to America. Chickens have poor genetics because they were created by man for commercial purposes. The duck is not as commercialized; for example, you can find chicken in every grocery store, but will need to go to a specialized store to get duck meat. Duck is more of a wild bird, that's exactly why we see ducks at parks and in nature, whereas, there are no chickens in nature because they simply do not exist. Chickens are manmade. If you are looking to live a healthier life choose ducks over chicken every time. Not only will you be healthier, but it's less work to care for ducks as they care for themselves very well. Because they are waterfowl, they clean themselves in the water and get rid of mites naturally. Ducks also have a high cold tolerance compared to chickens. Morality rate for ducks is way lower than chickens. Knowing what I know now, I would have picked ducks instead of chickens from day one.
5. Ducks are quieter and easier to raise than chickens! Unless ducks are scared or excited they keep the noise level down. I can't say the same for chickens lol, especially roosters. Because of this, people enjoy keeping ducks near their garden areas. Ducks are also good at eating garden pests such as slugs. Ducks don't require laying beds, as they lay eggs in the ground; they also sleep on the ground. All they need is some basic shelter for shade and winter protection, access to fresh water, and food, and they are good to go. If you live in an area where your winters and summers are not that harsh, they you basically only need food and water.
