small ducks for built up area?

[Mark1985]

what small ducks would be suilable for a built up area. i live in a semi detached ex-council house in a 'resonably' nice estate. our back garden is about 30ft long by about 10 ft wide, we have a masive side/ front garden, but its not fenced in.
I was considering building a small pond and a penned off area with a secure coop and having a few small ducks. i would love call ducks, but will they be too noisey? i remember from going to poultry auctions that call ducks were verry vocal (hence the name i guess) but was this perhaps because they couldnt see all the other ducks around them, and kept calling to them? i dont want to upset my neighbours with noise. are carolinas and manderins particularly vocal?

 

[Lordcluck]

On a decibel level, Mandarins and Carolinas are not in the same league as Call ducks! They do present their own problems however. Like Calls, both species are fliers, so at the very least wing clipping will be required, if not buying pinioned birds. They are also born climbers and can scale wire netting in no time! A covered Aviary type pen would be better for them.

Back to Calls, you could consider keeping a bachelor flock of Drakes, if youre worried about noise?

 

[duckiedee]

I have call ducks and also live in a semi. The male duck is quiet and only really makes a rasping noise. The females are quite noisy just before they are let out of their house or if excited but apart from that the noise level is minimal. Call ducks can and will fly but I have clipped their wings and that's solved the problem of them flying into neighbours gardens!

I can't comment on any other breed of duck but can highly recommend Calls!

 

[Mark1985]

thanks for your replies. hahah im well aware that all breeds mentioned are strong fliers so wing clipping is likely my option.

id never thought of a batchelor group, but then i do think the ducks are as prety as the drakes in their own way, plus i would like to breed from them. i guess what i could do is get them from egg, hatch them out and the neighbours can get used to the noise gradualy as they get older hahah, and if i get complaints i can always find them new homes i suppose. failing all else il stick with quiet breeds.

 

[rita]

hi i have mini appleyard and they are free range in my garden, they are pretty quiet compared to the call ducks, and very easy to train, mine come in with a bowl of fresh fruit they just love tomatoes and cucumber with some grapes, i tap the bowl and tell them it's bed time and in they go. good luck with finding some ducks.

 

[Katy-may]

Hi, I have had call ducks, and live in a very rural location. I wouldn't do again! They are really lovely ducks, but you have to be prepared for the mess & mud during the winter! Plus my girls were very noisy which is fine where I am but not in a built up area. Have you thought about chickens? X