bluenarcotic
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- Apr 23, 2014
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Hello all,
I recently moved to little house with good size garden and pond in Whyteleafe, East Surrey, where I hope to keep a small number of chickens or ducks. I am not completely unfamiliar with keeping birds as I have had parrots or budgies most of my life and I look after my neighbours' hens while they are on holiday.
I love all waterfowl and therefore the idea of keeping ducks appeals to me slightly more than chickens. While I like the idea of fresh eggs, it's my love for birds and having them for company while in the garden as much (or possibly more) than the supply of fresh eggs that appeals to me. However, I have read a lot about the amount of poo produced by ducks, and in particular runner ducks, and how much mess this creates and therefore how much cleaning it involves.
Before I decide what egg-laying companions to get I would very much love to meet some duck owners not too far from me that would be happy for me to come around and get a practical idea of how messy ducks are and what their effect on the garden is, or even what useful tips and tricks some duck owners employ to keep the mess and cleaning effort required to manageable levels. I certainly know from direct experience with my neighbours' chickens that I can look after 3 to 6 chickens but I have no idea how much proportionally 'worse' runner ducks or other types of ducks may be...
So if any duck keepers read this that are within 20 or 30 miles from Croydon, Oxted, Warlingham, Bromley, Gatwick, etc, would it be possible to come and visit your flock to get an idea of practical everyday life with ducks and some hints and tips?
Many thanks in advance!
Sheila
I recently moved to little house with good size garden and pond in Whyteleafe, East Surrey, where I hope to keep a small number of chickens or ducks. I am not completely unfamiliar with keeping birds as I have had parrots or budgies most of my life and I look after my neighbours' hens while they are on holiday.
I love all waterfowl and therefore the idea of keeping ducks appeals to me slightly more than chickens. While I like the idea of fresh eggs, it's my love for birds and having them for company while in the garden as much (or possibly more) than the supply of fresh eggs that appeals to me. However, I have read a lot about the amount of poo produced by ducks, and in particular runner ducks, and how much mess this creates and therefore how much cleaning it involves.
Before I decide what egg-laying companions to get I would very much love to meet some duck owners not too far from me that would be happy for me to come around and get a practical idea of how messy ducks are and what their effect on the garden is, or even what useful tips and tricks some duck owners employ to keep the mess and cleaning effort required to manageable levels. I certainly know from direct experience with my neighbours' chickens that I can look after 3 to 6 chickens but I have no idea how much proportionally 'worse' runner ducks or other types of ducks may be...
So if any duck keepers read this that are within 20 or 30 miles from Croydon, Oxted, Warlingham, Bromley, Gatwick, etc, would it be possible to come and visit your flock to get an idea of practical everyday life with ducks and some hints and tips?
Many thanks in advance!
Sheila
