Ducks and Moorhens

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Anonymous

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Hi

I'm considering getting a few domestic ducks for laying. We have around an acre of land, with a stream and pond. There is already a wild population of Moorhens living and breeding successfully around the pond, and I was wondering if anyone could advise whether domestic ducks would cause any problems to them? I was planning to have the duck's house near the pond so they can use it easily, but obviously that's pretty close to the Moorhens. Whilst it would be great to have some ducks, the Moorhens were there first and have to take priority!

All advice welcomed.

Matt
 
Hi Matt,

I don't have experience with this - but as a thought - I would say the moorhens are going to be pretty quick if they want to be and can scoot out of the way. I doubt they would set on light / heavy weight domestic ducks as they are much smaller than them. Calls could be a problem though as they are so small.

The biggest problem you will have is the fox - they really need fencing with an electrified wire at 3 levels around the outside of the fence.
 
When I worked at a bird park they used to be a problem with parent-reared ducklings, they would attack them if they were too near their nest - which I guess is understandable. This was a problem that tended to affect the mallards that were left to their own devices, everything else was hand reared.
 
Before we enclosed the duck pens we used to have problems with Moorhens coming in, they would attack and kill the ducklings my dragging them under the water and drowning them. Have also had one attack a duck sitting on a nest of eggs
 
I have been keeping ducks in a large pond for many years, mainly call ducks and even though I occasionally lose some, a nest of 12-14 usually kept the numbers even, This year my last 2 sitting ducks were taken, (they insisted on sitting in vulnerable corners of the garden too far away from the pond!) and the drake has flown off. I am considering keeping moorhens as an alternative. Can anybody tell me if they are more fox proof than ducks? Also would there beaks puncture a lined pond? Many thanks
 
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