new to duck keeping

[karminski]

i am looking at getting some khaki campbell ducks but my area where they will be kept is only 20ft by 10ft and soil only would that be ok ??i have been looking at so many sites and its getting confusing as same say one thing and another says something esle but as i am new to ducks i want to get as much infro as poss.
in time the area can be made bigger as i wont be replacing my chickens as they die of from old age i may just stick to a smaller number of about 6 or 7 but thats it so they wont need such a big area they are in now .
i have the pond and the housing but i need to make sure the area is ok for them before i look into getting some or hatching my own .

 

[AlexArt]

It should be OK if you just get a pair/trio at the most of ducks on that sized plot, I'd also get a membrane down and then some gravel/woodchip or similar down over the whole thing as they will turn that to total mud soup in a few days - they are extremely messy birds and like to be busy all day dabbling everywhere!!! The ground protection will also save you a fortune on bedding as they won't be tramping the mud into their house and will mean they don't turn their water into a mess so quickly as well!! Winter is the worst - I have 5 runner ducks on an acre and they turn almost a third of that to soup in winter, after it rains is the worst time, I might even put them in a stable this year if it looks to be as wet this winter!! :roll:

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya
I agree no more than 3 in that area and one day of rain will turn it into a quagmire. I would be tempted to turf it then lay down some grass protector mesh and maybe have a wood chip or bark area also.
Zo
X

 

[karminski]

thanks for that guys i would not get more then 3 anyway as i do have big concerns for the animals regarding the space they have which is why i dont ever over stock with chickens .
this wont be happening for a while as i am waiting on the yarris fencing panels to come in so i can make the sepration fence moveable so it may be a month or so yet before anything happens but if i did put grass down with those plastic grids wont they eat the grass really quickly ??

 

[dorsetduckowner]

They dont tend to graze the grass, they bib in it making holes and killing the root, thats why the grass protector stuff works well as they cant get through it but still have the comfort of grass underfoot and can get their bills in a bit it would take the grass a good 6-8 weeks to get established though so i would seed it now x

 

[karminski]

well that area is now clear as i have moved mum and chicks into the mini pen ready for sepration to start over the next few days so i can think about starting in that area during the week weather permitting

 

[karminski]

:lol: have just been watching videos of other peoples ducks online and now i am wishing i had no big chickens so i could turn the whole run into a duck home :lol: once i have them i think i might stuggle to get anything done as i will be to busy watching them omg they look like so much fun .