I have ducks and find they do a fine job of tending the yard. They are fond
of slugs and bugs of all sorts. They do occasionally find greens to their
liking and have done some damage in the garden. They got into the lettuce
and cilantro and ate it all down to a nub. I've seen them plucking cherry
tomatoes from the vine. And they started ripping up the pumpkin leaves
before I fenced them out. The ducks do find some landscape plants tasty,
too, and I've had to put little fences up to protect those particular
plants. They tend to keep the mulch from packing down with all their rooting
around, too. Even more, I am getting delicious eggs every morning. The
downside to having ducks is that they poop everywhere.

I have seven Indian Runners, two drakes and five hens, on an acre and a
quarter. They spend their days hunting for bugs and I feed them duck chow
supplemented with vegies and fruits from the garden. If you have less
property, you might want to consider fewer ducks. I highly recommend Indian
Runners for a breed. They do not fly and are relatively quiet, for ducks.
They are easy to herd and seem to be rather intelligent - as well as
endlessly entertaining. Indian Runners are also very good layers, if you are
wanting eggs. Ducks are generally healthy and easy to care for.

A kiddie pool works well - just keep a drip of water running into it to keep
the water fresh. The ducks root around in the dirt and get surprisingly
dirty, and that water will be black in no time. If you live where there are
predators (raccoons, coyotes, dogs, owls) you will want to secure the ducks
at night - closing them up in the shed. I got flexible electric fencing to
set up a pen with a small shelter and nest box where they stay at night.
They patrol the yard all day. I have two border collies that sort of care
for the ducks and keep predators out of the yard during the day.

Ducks are very useful in the garden and I hope you are able to get a few for
yours. Your kids will love them too - especially the Indian Runners. They
stand upright and look like little monks running around the yard, always
busy, following each other everywhere.

Anything else you want to know, just ask.

Karen


"Mark" wrote in message
om...
I'm thinking of getting half a dozen ducks.

#1 -- It would be cool (to a geek like me)

#2 -- I'm imagining that they'll help keep the bug and slug population
down in my yard/garden.

Has anyone here done this? Do they eat seedlings and other stuff
you'd rather keep in the garden? Is this, for some reason, a
phenomenally bad idea?

I have a plot of raised beds in my backyard that can easily be fenced
in, thanks to the neighbors on two sides who have chainlink fences
bordering my yard. I'm thinking of chicken wire, a kiddie pool for
them to splash around in, and a ramp up into my garden shed so they
have shelter when necessary.

I spilled the beans to my kids already, so they're running around the
house "naming" the ducks we don't even have yet. Any input would be
appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

P.S. Gary...My second year of growing garlic is upon me. Year #1 was
a smashing success. Thanks for your help.