09/26/2026
THINKING ABOUT ADDING DUCKS TO YOUR HOMESTEAD?
Ducks are one of those animals that can be an amazing addition to a homesteadā¦ but theyāre also not quite as simple as āchickens that swim.ā
Here are a few things worth knowing!
THE PROS
š„ AMAZING EGGS
Duck eggs are larger and have a richer yolk, and many people swear by them for baking.
š NATURAL PEST CONTROL
Ducks LOVE foraging for slugs, snails, insects and other little garden pests. Some breeds are particularly enthusiastic foragers.
š± GREAT FORAGERS
Give them room to roam and theyāll spend a surprising amount of time hunting for their own snacks. I also find that ducks tend to disrupt the ground and vegetation much less than chickens do while foraging.
āļø COLD-HARDY
With appropriate shelter and protection from the elements, ducks generally handle cold weather very well.
š§ THEY DONāT NEED A POND
This surprises a lot of people! Ducks need clean drinking water deep enough to submerge their bills, but swimming water isnāt required for them to thrive. A pool or pond is enrichment, not a requirement. Honestly, winter can be one of the easiest times to skip the swimming water altogether. Less mud, less ice management and one less thing to clean!
ā¤ļø LOTS OF PERSONALITY
Ducks can be incredibly social, curious and entertaining. Hand-raised ducks can become surprisingly friendly and people-oriented.
š£ THEY CAN BE WONDERFUL MOTHERS
Some breeds and individual hens are naturally broody and make excellent mothers. Watching a duck raise her own ducklings is pretty special.
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THE CONS (aka the parts people donāt show)
š© DUCKS ARE WET
Their droppings contain a lot of moisture, and they splash water EVERYWHERE. Keeping bedding dry can take considerably more effort than with chickens. That said, Iāve found that giving them more space makes a huge difference. The more room they have to spread out, the easier it is to keep their living area manageable.
šŖ£ MANAGEMENT IS A DAILY JOB
They will turn a perfectly clean water tub into something resembling swamp soup remarkably quickly. They will also always remind you of their scheduled snack time.
š³ļø HOLES
Ducks also love filtering water through their bills, which means they can create little holes and divots in the ground around their water sources. Luckily, Iāve found these pretty easy to fill back in and manage.
š¢ SOME DUCKS ARE LOUD
Especially females! If you live close to neighbors, breed selection is definitely something to consider.
And if youāre thinking about Call Ducksā¦ just know that my Calls can be very dramatic at times.
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And honestly, despite the consā¦ I wouldnāt trade my ducks for anything. ā¤ļø
Theyāre messy, loud, wet little guys but they bring so much fun to my farm.
If youāre considering adding ducks, do your research before choosing your breed. Different breeds can have VERY different personalities, noise levels, sizes, egg production and even flying abilities.
Whatās the biggest thing that would make you want ā or NOT want ā ducks on your homestead? š¦
