I had been considering getting chickens for bug control in my yard and for eggs, but ducks have a better disposition, haven't they? It would really nice if the birds would be at least tolerant of people (if not downright friendly!) I don't have any water on my property, and would most likely keep the birds in a pen, is that kind of situation good for ducks, or should I stick to chickens? Is a "kiddie pool" really acceptable to ducks, or do they need room to swim? Also, I live in New England, where it usually gets quite cold in the winter, how do ducks deal with the extreme cold? Thanks in advance to all who answer! -Patti

-- Patti (cl.p@rcn.com), April 24, 2002

Answers

Ducks really do best with some type of swimmable water, and those kiddie pools get filthy pretty fast. You'll be changing the water at least daily. Based on your description of your place & your purposes, I'd go with chickens. Also, chicken eggs are better for fresh eating, while duck eggs are superior for baking.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

I have Rhode Island Red and Polish and they are down right friendly chickens (the RIRs more so than the Polish). We raised them from two day old chicks and they've bonded to me. I free range them and all I have to do is step onto the porch and they come running, it's really funny to watch 25+ chickens run to me and they follow me like dogs when I'm working around the barn. I had two small Mallard ducks given to me but they were mother raised and not friendly at all, in fact, they acted like I was the anti-Christ. I gave them away to someone that had a pond where they'd be more happy.

So, with my brief experience with both species, I'd go with the chickens.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

I love my ducks and geese but they insist on splashing about and totally drench everything. I actually have ducks, geese, chickens, guineas, and turkeys. I like them all. Ducks are great in the winter. Some breeds of chickens do well in the winter too. I guess it's all in what you want to look at! Ducks&Geese=Messy. Chickens=fly around even when you clip wings. Good Luck in your decision!

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

I have ducks and chickens. Yes the ducks lllllove water, and a pond is the best thing for them. They are good insect eaters and they do fine in the winter - 20 below occaisionally here. Mine are in a huge pond with electric fence around to protect them from coyotes, dogs, and whatever might want them for dinner. The chickens eat insects also and are great egg layers. They have a hen house and a fenced pen also due to predators. They have a heat lamp in their house in the winter to keep them extra warm. With no water, chickens would probably be best for you. You could build your own pond - Maybe? You might end up with both ducks and chickens - they are really fun.

-- Marilyn in CO (www.tomeatbeef@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

We recently added ducks to our home - having carefully considered the same question you're asking, ducks v. chickens. Ducks fare better in our N.E. climate, are generally hardier than chickens in terms of disease resistance, are great foragers, and - at least our Khakis and Runners - are excellent layers. They're also, in terms of shelter, lower maintenance than chickens. Ducks do love water, but plenty of people keep them without a pond. There are plenty of pond alternatives that are easy to put together, drain well, and - with the help of rain spouts - are less bother than carting or hosing water all day. If you can, check out Dave Holderread's book "Raising the home duck flock." Comparing ducks to chickens, he concludes that "it's difficult to find a better all-purpose bird than the duck." It's a great resource. There are some duck folks on this board who are great, as well. My last thought is that nothing is so much fun as watching ducks play and run. They're better than Seinfeld reruns. Good luck.

-- Sean (rougan@rcn.com), April 24, 2002.

Ducks are GREAT! So EASY! We let them wander everywhere except in the vegetable garden and we keep the blueberries fenced off from them because they nibble away the new leaves & buds. Chickens will peck each other's eyes out, and if it rains you have to get them out of it. Ducks LOVE rain. A kiddie pool is really quite acceptable to them. They also will splash about in any container of water like a restaurant-type bussing tub. Runner ducks don't seem to need water very much, but their eggs are smaller than regular type ducks. Duck eggs are more nutritious, higher in all vitamins and amino acids etc. Also higher in cholesterol. Tastier, too, I think.

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), April 24, 2002.

I have both & I really prefer the chickens. The ducks are messier & not as friendly, but they are funnier. I use a children's wading pool. When we had 7 ducks I had to change the water daily, but with only 2 just every few days. Some types of ducks need water to mate.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), April 24, 2002.

Our chickens are very friendly. We have a "rare" breed, the Dominique. Got them as day old chicks and handled them a lot as they grew up. As adults they are all friendly, rooster and hen alike. They like getting pets and have no problem with getting picked up. We have a couple of hens who ask to get picked up and some know their names. They have a coop with a pen, but are let out to forage when we are home. They have rose combs and can handle real winters (sub-zero) if the coop is draft free. Nice large size brown eggs. They are mellow birds, but still keep an eye open for hawks and such.

some breeds are more high strung than others. I would avoid getting chickens that were bred only for feed efficiency and high production.

Here is a chart that summarizes chicken breed traits and gives links to more web info about each breed.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

-- Dash (forthechix@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Sean and Snoozy are spot on re the ducks. I do have a pond, but for parts of the year my drakes are separated(I have purebred ducks and want to keep them that way), and pairs are separated for breeding. When this occures they are in "yards" with wading pools. You can easily put in a drain on the side or siphon out the water for cleaning, or if you are feeling frisky just pick up the side of the pool, give it a "schlosh" or two and out goes the water! Easy! Ducks are hardy, cold weather critters and mine are known as "Puppy ducks",they follow me all over the place and come a runnin' when I call them. the above mentioned book has been updated and although excellant still, if you want the later edition is Titled "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" and is the best and cheapest book on the market for ducks. Dave's wife, Millie, even has recipes for not only cooking duck but for using duck eggs. Also, my Indian Runner eggs are quite large, larger that a AA chicken eggs. If you are interested in a Waterfowl Forum with lots of nice people to talk too try www.poultryconnection.com, General Waterfowl forum. You will find lots of links there also with 100's of photos of ducks. hope this helps. Little Quacker

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 24, 2002.

If you have a tick problem, guinea hens are the best. Otherwise, ducks/geese are GREAT! I've got 2 ducklings right now - outside in the 'yard' (pen) behind my house during the day, but at night they come in. When I have ducklings, I have so much FEWER spiders, bugs, whatever, coming in the house while the ducklings are here. Here in NE OKLA, that's a whole bunch of insects! Keep in mind ducks eat 3 times their body weight every day...think of all those bugs!

-- V (WraitheLadyA@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

i had really good luck with chickens....they were friendly too....course i gave them lots of attention from when i brought em home....even my dog was good with em...which i guess is kinda unusual....when i would give the chickens scraps from dinner or what ever...the dog was right there with em......i really like chickens and they did wonders for the insect problems

-- jenny (jsuzuki222@aol.com), April 26, 2002.

Hi Patti, I have 9 ducks and we have no pond for our ducks either, I use a kiddie pool also. I keep my ducks free ranged only at night around 8:00 in the summer time they go in there house and when it is winter they go in about 5:00 pm. I let them out in the morning about 6:00 am. The ducks really do I good job on the bugs. You can also eat there eggs. The ducks really love rain and they swim in the puddles and that makes them Happy to. I hope this will help you a little bit. Grown ducks are fine in the cold weather. I wish you good luck! Danielle

-- Danielle Romano (Dove33@hotmail.com), May 12, 2002.