Duck, Duck, GOOSE! Raising Waterfowl
Whether you want eggs, meat, a friendly face, or a guardian animal, ducks and geese are a great choice if you want to think beyond chickens. These personable, active birds are a fantastic addition to the menagerie, and they come in a wide variety of breeds, too! Check out the Runner Duck (left), for
Posted — UpdatedHere's the great thing about ducks and geese: both are big foragers, and they love insects, slugs, snails, and other pests along with weeds. They'll happily root around to eliminate garden pests, providing a natural and free form of pest control -- and that means you don't need to feed them very much (if at all, depending on their range). They love weeds, and they're especially great at keeping ponds clear.
Plus, they both provide a source of protein and nutrient-rich eggs. Duck and goose eggs are larger than chicken eggs, and they perform extremely well in cooking, especially in baking. Furthermore, people who are allergic to chicken eggs can often eat eggs from ducks and geese. And, of course, ducks and geese are walking, waddling, and swimming sources of meat, too, for those who are interested in doing their own butchering. Both offer dark, flavorful, rich meat that's especially popular for holidays.
As the birds feather out, you can move them into a protected outdoor enclosure, and when they start to reach adolescence, you can integrate them with the flock. If this is your first flock, your babies can be the first of many garden weeders, pond splashers, and treat cadgers.
For comfort and cleanliness, your birds need a water source they can dip their heads into to clean their beaks and nostrils. A trough with an automatic waterer can work well for this, but do yourself a favor and keep it away from food dishes or mud-prone areas! In terms of food, a small amount of rations in the evening or morning can be enough (you want to encourage your avian pest and weed controllers to do their jobs), but in spring, add a little more to the dish to encourage egg laying.
Even if you're keeping geese and ducks with no ganders or drakes, sometimes females go broody. They'll hunker down on an egg and decide to sit there until it hatches, come what may. There are several options for dealing with a broody animal including putting fertile eggs under her, repeatedly shifting her off the nest, or putting her in a cage for a few days so she can't nest. Make sure broody animals have access to food and water, because they will die on the nest rather than abandon their eggs!
Not many veterinarians treat ducks and geese, but if there is a problem with your flock, you may have some options. Common problems like mites can be treated with powders available at your feed store, and animal antibiotics are also available for cuts and scrapes. If one of your flock breaks a leg or wing, contact a vet to talk about your options and see if it's possible to set the limb. An animal too injured to live comfortably can be humanely slaughtered, but if that would be difficult for you, a veterinarian may be able to offer euthanasia.