[Silkysmooth]

Hi All,

I'm considering having a pair or two of ducks. I currently have a small chicken house in my garden that was used for a broody coop but the brood has grown up and gone and the mother is back in the main coop at the allotment.

My questions are: -

1. Do ducks need as much space as chickens?
2. Will they go to bed when the sun goes down? considering whether I can use a automatic door opener?
3. how big would the water source need to be for 3 campbell ducks?
4. Does anyone know if they would allow them on the allotment? they currently allow chickens, rabbits, bees, pigeons etc.
5. Would there be any changes needed to the chicken coop?

Many Thanks in advance

Andy x

[Kate and her Ducks]

1, More. At least 2m²per duck.
2, No. They are party animals and if not put away they will stay the night out misbehaving (and getting eaten by predators).
3, They can cope with a pretty small water space as long as they have something to wash their eyes and nostrils in. I have used an old wheelbarrow base aand one of those shallow trug tubs.
4, Dunno but I would have thought so.
5, You will need to remove the perches as they don't use them. They just need shelter from the elements and nice deep bedding to lay in. They are not tidy layers.

Have fun. I love my ducks.

[Sassy]

Agree with Kate. I am enjoying my Campbells. Just wondered what sort of exit you have to your coop. I have converted a rabbit hutch and made the door into a ramp as they like to tumble out together in one!!

[peter rooster]

Hi

I got 25 day old mallard for our shoot the last year the main problem I had was the amount of poop. Compared with chickens they produce loads. Something to do with a simple digestive system, just poop all the time.

Peter Rooster.

ps wish I had not used Peter Rooster my eight chicks turned out 6 boys 2 girls!

[Aunt Sally]

4. Does anyone know if they would allow them on the allotment? they currently allow chickens, rabbits, bees, pigeons etc.

Check with your allotment authority before seriously considering it. 

[Chicken Pete]

Re the question of ducks on the allotment.
Suggest you speak with your Parish Council and / or Borough Council as I am led to believe there is variance between them.  We are allowed Chickens,Rabbits and SHEEP on our allotments but not Ducks,etc however in the near by town they do not allow any poultry on their allotments.

[r2d2]

I have had my 3 khaki campbells for 5 months, they make a terrible mess although this is only really near their water so I have that on a slotted platform so it can drain through and I can wash it easily,

Mine always go to bed themselves when it gets dark, i just check they're in and shut the door,

I started with them in a pen but now they just free range though my largish garden which is totally enclosed with a 6ft fence, if I pen them in now they get very grumpy

I love them to bits and have been getting 1 egg from each per day since I got them in May