I grow ducks to keep the slug population down, but once I have my veggies planted, I keep them out of the garden itself. They're great at cleaning out the bugs and slugs before I start planting, and they patrol the perimeter all season, but they will eat just about any vegetable plants I have. I've had them (back before I learned my lesson!) pull out an entire bed of onion seedlings, sample each one and them spit them out because they didn't care for the taste. They are fun to watch and each one has its own personality, but you have to learn to work with their natural instincts just like any animal you keep.

Well yes, they can be pretty destructive. They love green things and can eat a lot. So, I wouldn't let them in there during the growing season, but as pointed out above they are good at cleanup so can go in during the off season. They are also extremely efficient at converting unwanted produce and scraps into great compost. I have 9 Rouens right now and just love having ducks. I also have 6 turkeys, 9 hens, and hatched 7 button quail last week and refilled the incubator with 55 Coturnix quail eggs.

Hmm I was under the impression that the could roam around after the seedlings were grown into more mature plants and they would pretty much leave them alone...

Is there a breed of duck that does well in Dallas, Texas in a smaller living space? Unfortunately, I do not live in the country and my space is somewhat limited. I was thinking of supervised free range and then using one of the tractor/coops to keep them moving to different areas and safe from predictors the rest of the time.

Any thoughts or feedback?

Thanks!

Suggestions for a breed? Runner ducks. They are comical to watch and they are heavy egg layers.

Buy females from a hatchery that specializes in commercial ducks, not show ducks. Duck eggs are unbelievably rich and delicious.

Duck eggs can also be sold at a super premium price to people who are allergic to chicken eggs.

My experience is that they don't pull up mature plants that are taller than their heads, but they do graze on tender young plants. They are also very efficient at getting every slug and snail that they can reach.

Their flat feet can trample any small plants and they will turn any water into a mud hole.

I agree with the runner duck recommendation, though my true love is the Muscovy, which is MUCH LARGER and quieter. I purchased runner ducks, a couple of years ago, built their pen right into the side of my main vegetable garden. Let them roam in the garden, during the winter, with success. They did hunt bugs and slugs very well. But when I let them out into a fairly mature garden... HOLY DEMOLITION CREW! They were picking cucumbers, hollowing out immature muskmelons and uprooting onion plants! I had to put them up in their pen and only let them roam in the pasture, outside the garden, where they feasted on grass hoppers, etc.

Having said that, I still say that ducks are WONDERFUL creatures! They are my favorite fowl, and we raise turkeys, two breeds of heritage chicken, and have raised guineas. I've gone back to Muscovies simply because I like to eat duck, and the Muscovy produces a much larger carcass. The Muscovy is much calmer than the runner duck. But it is also much larger. It would squash a lot of plants if allowed in the garden.

We too, enjoy duck eggs. They are really large, and very good eating.

George
Tahlequah, OK