Learning how to raise backyard ducks on our suburban homestead was one of the best decisions we made for our small backyard farm. Looking out the window to see our 3 ducks waddling around, producing eggs, and being on bug control for the garden is such a treat.
I would even go as far as saying they are my favorite backyard farm animal. Shhh, don’t tell my backyard chickens, or baby goats.
Why keep backyard ducks on a suburban homestead?
A little cottage with ducks swimming in a small pond, a garden producing, flowers growing everywhere, a rooster crowing, bees buzzing and baby goats playing. That is my dreams and what we are creating here in the backyard of on our little blue homestead.
Adding ducks to our backyard homestead was an easy decision. I had dreamed of owning ducks for years. I was always told how messy they were, but never the benefits of free fertilizer, fresh eggs, bug control and the absolute CHARM they would add to my days. Something about raising ducks is so peaceful, charming and I would even say they add a little decoration to your yard!
I would even go as far as saying raising ducks is easier than raising chickens. They have by far, became my favorite backyard farm animal to own.
The benefits of raising backyard ducks
There are actually many benefits of raising backyard ducks.
Fresh eggs: Ducks can give you breakfast! Just like chickens, ducks produce eggs. A lot of people actually do not know this. Some breed of ducks can even produce several hundred eggs a year. Not only do they lay eggs daily, but they also lay eggs for up to three years longer than a chicken.
Pest control for your garden: Ducks make great pest control! It apart of their diet. All day long, I see my ducks chasing bugs around the backyard.
Low maintenance animal for small farms: Ducks are really a very low maintenance addition to your backyard flock. Just provide clean water, duck feed, and a water source deep enough for them to swim and splash around around and play!
Ducks are hardy animals: Ducks can adjust to almost any climate. I’ve even seen them napping in the snow on a very rare occasion of snow in our part of Louisiana.
Make great friends/pets: Ducks are very friendly! If you handle them from early on, ducks make great pets. Our ducks will even eat feed right from your hands.
Of course, there is the added benefit of how adorable, and peace provoking these animals are.
What breed of duck is best for backyards?
Most breeds of ducks are suitable for small backyards!
On our backyard farm, we have 2 pekin ducks and 1 Indian runner duck. We had 3 pekin ducks when we first started out, but ended up loosing one very early on. We bought our Indian runner duck from our local feed store, he was there all by himself so we brought him home with us!
The most popular best breeds of ducks for backyards are:
PEKIN
Pekins are some of the best backyard ducks to keep, as they are friendly and easy to care for. They lay a large number of white colored eggs. They have very enjoyable personalities. These are the ducks what we have raised in our own backyard! Pekin ducks can be kind of loud. They make the classic ‘QUACK’ sound. Consider this if you have close neighbors.
INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS
Indian runners are known for their upright posture (which makes them look like they are running, instead of waddling) and are excellent egg layers.They come in a variety of colors and are great foragers and pest controllers. Runner ducks are my favorite breed of ducks. We plan to add more runner ducks to our flock eventually. Runner ducks can also be quite noisy compared to other breeds.
KHAKI CAMPBELLS
This breed is known for its high egg production, with some hens laying up to 300 beautiful cream-colored eggs yearly. They also have friendly personalities.
BUFF ORPINGTON
These ducks are a beautiful golden color known for their friendly and docile nature. They lay about 3-5 eggs per week.
ROUEN
Their calm and friendly personalities make them great as pets, and they lay about 3-5 bluish-tinted eggs per week.
MUSCOVY
Muscovy ducks do not quack, making them the perfect backyard pet. Instead, they make breathing sounds and coos. They are also docile.
MALLARD
Mallards are very common and smaller compared to other duck breeds. Their wings must be clipped. They also have some of the lowest egg-laying rates, laying only a few eggs weekly.
These are just a few of the many duck breeds that are best for backyard flocks!
Do ducks need a pond?
Ah, to pond or not to pond!
This is probably the most common question I get asked about backyard ducks. Although, they don’t technically need a pond, they would sure love one! At the very least, they will need a kiddie pool. Ducks need to be able to completely submerse their beaks under water. This helps to keep the mucous membranes moist and clean to prevent health issues. Being able to swim in the water activates their oil glands which are important in helping them to swim and protecting them from rain and cold.
We dug a small pond for our 3 ducks but some people use kiddie pools, plastic ponds, old bathtubs or other deep structures to create water sources for backyard ducks. FYI, These guys will even swim in mud puddles!
Backyard ducks (obviously) love to swim and play! They will need plenty of water to be a healthy duck. This is where that messiness come into play. I never have to clean our small pond, just refill it from time to time but a swimming pool or other source I would imagine you have to clean or refill water containers daily.
How to make a backyard duck pond
We made a duck pond in our backyard by digging a large area of dirt up, adding small stones and plants around the edges of the pond and filling it up with water! The ducks love it! We refill when the water gets low, usually once a week.
I would like to add a pond liner and pump later on.
Do ducks need a shelter?
All backyard ducks need some type of shelter. I believe housing needs for ducks depend vastly on how you plan to keep your duck. Will you free range your ducks? Or will you keep them in a run or pen that has a duck house, nesting boxes, and a swimming pool? Do you have predators?
Everyone does it differently and every backyard situation is so different!
On our backyard homestead, we love to watch the ducks forage and waddle around. We chose to free range our ducks in our privately fenced in backyard (that has minimal predators), with a small pond and a small duck house for a nest box, or for sleeping if they choose to do so. I will say, most of the time, they choose not to do so, lol! I find them napping together all over the backyard.
Our ducks also prefer to find and make their own nesting area (much like in the wild) usually under a bush or in tall grass. It’s like an easter egg hunt looking frothier eggs everyday! Every now and then they will lay eggs in the small duck house/nesting area, but not always.
If you have predators where you live, you may consider a predator-proof coop or shelter for your ducks. Predators are minimal in our backyard. We have your typical raccoon, hawk or owl but they have never messed with my ducks. I believe the ducks must be too large for the hawks or owl because they have definitely gone after my chickens before!
Also, make sure you give the ducks plenty of space if you plan to keep them in a coop and run!
When do ducks start to lay eggs?
Ducks typically start to lay eggs around 5-8 months of age and don’t stop for 7-9 years. Although, egg production does start to slow down when full-grown ducks are 3-5 years old. Environmental factors play a role in the egg production of ducks (molting, poor nutrition, broodiness, etc)
Duck eggs are much larger than chicken eggs. They have a much larger yolk and are often used for baking!
How many ducks should I keep in my backyard?
Well, that depends open how much space you have and how many eggs you’d like to receive. The more ducks you have, the messier it your situation may be. 3 ducks have been plenty of enough for our small backyard! I would say 3-5 ducks would suite any backyard homestead perfectly.
Can you raise ducks with chickens?
Yes, you can most certainly raise ducks with a flock of chickens(and kittens lol!) There is one exception though, drakes (male ducks) can’t be left alone with hens. A drake will attempt to mate with a hen and can cause severe internal injuries or death to the hen.
Are ducks really as messy as they say?
Ducks can be very messy, if you let them. With a proper setup, you can keep the messiness under control. Since we use a small pond for our ducks, the mess is very minimal for us. Also the size of your flock would play a role too.
Will backyard ducks fly away?
Some breed of ducks (like mallards) could fly away. For this, you would clip the animals wings (much like clipping your nails) making them unable to fly. Ducks are less likely to fly away if they are properly fed, hydrated, and have a safe and comfortable living environment. Make sure they have access to fresh water and food at all times.
Will backyard ducks get into my garden?
Backyard ducks, given the chance may will nibble on your garden. Ducks love leafy greens like lettuce and kale!
We have a raised bed garden so I have not had any issues with my ducks getting into the garden. If anything, they have helped my garden! During the growing season, I can find them running around my raised beds, snatching all the creepy crawls. It’s like natural pest control! Plus, with some added protection of chicken wire, they almost don’t even notice the garden!
My chickens have done far more damage to my gardens than my ducks ever have.
Are ducks friendly?
If you handle ducklings from very early on, they can be very friendly!
Why keeping ducks on a backyard homestead is a good idea
In conclusion, raising backyard ducks is a true joy and can be suitable for any small backyard homestead. You’ll get fresh eggs, slug patrol and a little charm added to your days.
By starting with only 3-4 ducks, raising backyard ducks will be such a wonderful experience. I believe everyone should experience raising ducklings at least once in their lives!
More suburban homestead animals to consider raising
How to build a backyard chicken coop
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