There are an huge array of ducks from the ornamentals to the larger meat breeds, for the purposes of brevity I will assume that you have purchased Rouens, Commercial hybrids or Muscovies which are generally the most useful for the 'downsizer' and commonly sourced from markets across Normandy.
All waterfowl need access to water, not just to drink, but to dip their heads, clean their nostrils and splash thier feathers. You may hear that they will be content without such pleasures, after all factory raised birds live in confinement,maybe force fed mechanically to make paté, but they are artifically raised and ducks need the buoyancy of water to successfully mate. Without doubt on a small scale they will stay healthier and happier if you respect their natural requirements, and smallholding is all about quality not necessarily quantity at any cost.
Ducks are pretty robust and easy to keep, but unless you have a huge pond with an island where they can roost safely, you must bring them in at night and deprive Mr Fox of his favourite dish. They enjoy leafy kitchen scraps, leftover cooked pasta or rice but moisten stale bread to avoid choke, and they will forage and dibble in the mud for much of their needs. In winter the addition of some grain such as blé (wheat) will supplement the diet when the pond is frozen.
Ducks are quite difficult to sex until adult feathers appear, if you end up with too many males, when they reach sexual maturity they become competitive and a torment to your females. Be prepared therefore, to kill the excess males for the table quite early on when they are still tender. Ideally aim for 1 male to at least 3 or 4 females and then everyone will be satisfied!
If you just want the eggs, collect them daily, supply plenty of clean straw for nesting and discard any that are dirty; duck eggs are quite porous which gave rise to the oldwives tale that they are unhealthy to eat.
It is also vital to ensure, both legally and morally, that you know how to despatch any animal properly and swiftly, or else pay someone to do it for you. Ducks have thick rubbery necks, and if you feel proficient with your hens you will soon realise waterbirds are far different in this respect. Also ensure that they are stunned first if a well meaning neighbour offers to do the job. Ancient French methods are not always pleasant to watch and in some cases downright cruel.
Read 'Humane Slaughter Association' leaflet (Tel: +44 (0)1582 831919) on the subject.
Choose Muscovies
Canard Musque
A wonderful bird, happy to live with less swimming water than other ducks, but still requiring enough depth for a daily bath. ‘muskies’ become broody and raise the abandoned eggs of other ducks with pleasure.
They may on first sight not be the filmstars of the duck world, their knobbly red skin around the eyes and nose may at first put you off, but if self-sufficiency is your intention then a couple of Muscovy females are well worth having amongst your flock. Whilst most ducks can interbreed, indeed a Muscovy/Rouen cross is a fine meat bird, the offspring with be infertile 'mules'.
Next Month - Geese
Sue Coleman copyright 2009
