Читать книгу Duck Eggs Daily - Lisa Steele - Страница 11

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WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT DUCKS?

There is growing interest in raising backyard ducks, whether as an addition to a flock of chickens or on their own. I can vouch for the fact that ducks are a wonderful addition to any back yard, having raised both chickens and ducks for several years now side-by-side, co-mingling them by day in a large run and providing separate sleeping quarters. Although they are becoming more popular, backyard ducks still are running a distant second to backyard chickens. But more and more people seem to be considering adding ducks into their lives.

Ducks, like chickens, come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and colors. If you are thinking of starting a backyard flock, you might want to consider some of the outstanding breeds that are on the Livestock Conservancy Critical List (meaning that fewer than 500 ducks of breeding stock exist in the United States, with five or fewer breeding flocks of 50 ducks or more, and fewer than 1,000 ducks worldwide), including Saxonies, Anconas, Magpies and Silver Appleyards – all of which I raise. Every backyard flock that starts up and includes some of these endangered breeds helps to ensure that the breed will continue to flourish. Raising the awareness of many of these rare breeds has been one of my goals with my own flock and one of my reasons for writing this book.

Over the years, I have had ample opportunity to observe both our chickens and ducks, and I think there are some distinct advantages to raising ducks, especially for the small backyard enthusiast. Here are some reasons why I actually prefer raising ducks to raising chickens:

Ducks are quieter

One benefit of raising ducks is that they don’t feel the need to loudly proclaim to the world every time they lay an egg, like a chicken does; instead, they stealthily lay their eggs pre-dawn under cover of darkness, in complete silence. This is especially important for those who live in neighborhoods with other houses close by. Chickens cackle and carry on after they lay an egg, before they lay an egg, and for no apparent reason at all. Female ducks, on the other hand, although they will quack loudly when agitated or excited, normally just quietly chitter-chatter among themselves. And unlike roosters – who seem to feel compelled to communicate their presence, not just at dawn, but throughout the day – drakes (male ducks) don’t have a real quack. They make only a soft raspy noise.

Ducks are much quieter than chickens - even in their run.

Ducks are generally healthier overall

Ducks have hardier immune systems, tend to stay in better overall health and are less likely to contract diseases than chickens. Ducklings generally don’t contract either coccidiosis or Marek’s, two serious concerns for baby chicks, and adult ducks aren’t as susceptible to external parasites because they spend so much of their time in the water – so mites, lice and other external parasites that might be tempted to latch on will drown. Ducks run an extraordinarily high normal body temperature of around 107°F, which makes their body inhospitable to most pathogens and resistant to disease.

Ducks are more heat-tolerant

During the hot and humid summer months when I lived in Virginia, our chickens would stand around panting, trying to stay cool in the shade. Ducks handle the heat quite easily by merely taking a dip in their pool to cool off. They paddle about contentedly, hopping out only to enjoy some chilled watermelon or other summertime treats.

Ducks are more cold-hardy

Ducks have waterproofing on their feathers to protect against the elements, as well as a thick down undercoat designed to keep them warm and dry in the water and rain. This makes ducks far more cold-hardy than chickens. In fact, our ducks actually prefer to sleep outside, even in the snow and inclement weather. Ducks also have an added layer of fat that chickens don’t have.

Duck eggs are superior to chicken eggs

Ducks lay eggs that are larger, richer in flavor and excellent for baking, due to their higher fat and lower water content. And duck eggs are slightly more nutritious than chicken eggs. Pastry chefs prize duck eggs because the large amount of protein in their whites adds heft and loft to baked goods. With their thicker shells and membranes, they also stay fresh longer and are less likely to break.

Ducks don’t mind being out in the cold.

Ducks lay more regularly

Our ducks consistently outperform our chickens in egg production, even through the winter without any supplemental light in their house. Most domestic ducks are also very unlikely to go broody (broodies stop laying eggs and therefore become unproductive, unless you’re trying to hatch eggs). Ducks generally lay productively into their fourth year and continue to lay for several years after that.

You get more eggs with ducks than chickens.

Ducks adhere to a far less aggressive pecking order

Drakes are not nearly as aggressive as roosters and rarely turn nasty toward humans. Ducks also don’t take their pecking order as seriously as chickens and tend to welcome newcomers far more quickly – and with far less squabbling than do chickens. Whether the newcomers are chickens or ducks, our ducks seem unperturbed by it all and seldom bother new additions to the flock. Ducks won’t bicker within the flock about pecking order or other issues. They are far more laid back in temperament.

Ducks are easier on your lawn

Ducks don’t scratch grass or plants down to the bare dirt like chickens do. They may trample your lawn a bit and will dabble in the mud around their water tubs or in the dirt looking for snacks, creating small, deep holes in the ground, but they won’t turn your backyard into a barren wasteland like chickens will.

It’s true that ducks can, and will, eat anything green within their reach, but . . . as long as you plant bushes and trees that are tall enough so that the ducks can’t reach the tops – or fence around your gardens and flowering plants – you can successfully landscape your run or backyard, even with ducks inhabiting it. Fencing around your gardens and landscaping doesn’t need to be much more than two or three feet high because most domestic duck breeds can’t fly, and ducks generally can’t hop or flutter and flop as high as chickens can.

Ducks are wonderful for pest control

Ducks will eat every slug, grub, earthworm, spider, grasshopper, cricket, and beetle they can find in your yard. Given the opportunity, they will also eat snakes, mice, frogs, and lizards. Ducks are wonderful for natural pest control, but be aware they will eat so-called “good” bugs and beneficial worms and toads as well.

Ducklings are adorable!

Okay, I admit this comes down to personal preference. As cute as baby chicks are, baby ducklings are irresistible. Those too-big-for-their-bodies webbed feet, earnest dark eyes and almost flesh-colored rounded bills steal my heart every time. As a bonus, ducklings grow up to be adorable ducks!

On the flip side, sure, ducks can be pretty willful and stubborn. They don’t automatically put themselves to bed at dusk like chickens do (although they can be trained to head to their house each night without much trouble). They also are messier than chickens when it comes to water and mud, but the ducks themselves are always pristine and perfectly clean, even our snow-white Pekins! I find ducks pretty unlikely to get their feathers ruffled for the most part. They are generally calm, alert, always happy and downright funny.

Are you considering a few ducks yet? You will want to invest in a few pairs of muck boots, most definitely, but it’s a small price to pay for the joy a flock of ducks brings. In my eyes, ducks win out as my top choice for a backyard flock and they will always be an important part of ours.

There is no such thing as an ugly duckling.

DUCKS VS. CHICKENS