Hey there! We've had our ducks for about eleven weeks now, so I figured I'd give an update on how they're fitting into our ranch. It's hard to believe they're almost three months old!
The ducklings are fully-feathered now. In fact, they're actually molting and growing in their true adult feathers now. It seems like they're always in some stage of molting or growing new feathers—no wonder they eat so much food each day!
The drakes are just now starting to grow black feathers on their head and neck, which you can see in some of the pictures above. When they're done molting this time around, they'll have black/green heads and necks and beautiful chestnut bodies!
I'll have to share some photos when they are done growing so that you can see how many changes they go through in their first few months of life.
The ducklings bring me so much joy. There's something so innocent and pure about animals; they have these set routines that they seldom stray from, but yet each new day seems like the absolute best day of their lives.
Their favorite thing to do, by far, is spend time in their kiddie pool. It's pretty small for them now (they're huge!), so we're in the process of trying to find them a bigger spot to swim. The smaller kiddie pools are nice because they are so easy to dump out.
In case you didn't know, ducks are DIRTY! After what seems like five minutes of swimming and playing, their pool is absolutely filthy. I'd read that ducks made a big mess, but I didn't fully understand it until we had ducks of our own. Let me tell you, they make more of a mess than you could imagine!
Now that our ducks are getting bigger, I thought I'd explain why we got ducks in the first place. Many homesteaders and regenerative agriculture folks choose to have chickens, so what made us decide to have ducks instead?
Ducks Are Great Foragers
One of the biggest reasons we chose to have ducks is because they are great foragers. They love eating weeds, flowers, and bugs. In fact, ducks are well known for being great at controlling slugs, grasshoppers, and other unpleasant garden pests.
While I haven't had our ducks in our veggie garden yet, I have noticed them eating lots of bugs in our backyard. We seem to have a ton of grasshoppers, but the ducks are hard at work every day keeping their population in check. I hate creepy crawlies, so I'm all for it!
Duck Eggs Are Tasty And Nutritious
Did you know that duck eggs are actually more nutritious than chicken eggs? Duck eggs contain more folate, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin B-12 than chicken eggs.
They do contain more fat and cholesterol than chicken eggs, but when eaten as a part of a healthy and varied diet, the added fat and cholesterol don't pose a great risk to your health.
Duck eggs also have a leg up over chicken eggs when it comes to baking. Eggs contain something called albumin, which is the protein in egg whites that helps bind things together. Duck eggs contain more albumin than chicken eggs, which means that they help baked goods rise more than chicken eggs do. Duck eggs are prized by professional bakers for this reason.
Interestingly enough, those who are allergic to chicken eggs can sometimes eat duck eggs. I can actually say I'm one of those people—chicken eggs make my stomach quite upset, but I can eat duck eggs with no problem at all. I'm so looking forward to when our girls start laying so we can eat duck eggs on a regular basis!
Ducks Are Gentler On Soil Than Chickens
Because ducks have webbed feet, they don't wreak as much havoc on the ground as chickens do. They won't scratch at the soil or destroy plants by walking on them. They'll eat the plants without digging up weed seeds or eating all of the beneficial worms in the soil.
Of course, this can also be a bit of a drawback; when properly managed, chickens scratching at and working the soil can be extremely beneficial in regenerating poorly-managed areas. However, I personally enjoy being able to put my ducks in an area without worrying about them tearing up the soil very much.
Duck Fertilizer Is Ready To Use Immediately
The manure from just about any animal is great for gardens and compost piles, but it usually needs to rest for a few months (and sometimes even several years) before it can be used. Fresh manure from chickens, horses, and cows contains a lot of nitrogen, which can burn plants if it's not properly composted beforehand.
However, the high water content in duck manure means it can be immediately used as a soil amendment. The water helps to dilute and break down the nitrogen, making it less likely for plants to be burned by the manure. It's incredibly convenient to be able to place the straw and waste from the duck coop directly onto my garden if I want to.
Ducks Are Cute!
Admittedly, one of the biggest deciding factors in choosing ducks for our regenerative agriculture adventure was how cute and fun they are. There's absolutely nothing better than watching ducklings swim in a pool, gobble down some peas or weeds, or waddle around the property.
While it may seem silly to choose an animal based on their cuteness factor, it does matter. At the end of the day, it's important to enjoy the animals we have. Otherwise, the workload can become unbearable, leading to burnout and a loss of passion for what we're trying to do here. Because the ducks are so darn cute, it's easy to care for them and give them what they need.
Chickens And Ducks Are Both Great Options
If you're thinking about adding chickens and/or ducks to your property, you really can't go wrong either way. They both provide nutritious eggs and meat. They also both love to forage and can be an integral part of regenerating your land. And, of course, both ducks and chickens are absolutely adorable—they're sure to add immeasurable joy to your life.
Comments