Foreword

Ahhhh. The ducklings and goslings. They are easy and fun to raise. Baby waterfowl do not require as warm an environment even while their very young, however they do need a constant supply of food and water. The ducks rarely peck or do any of the other repulsive things that chickens and turkeys do, so they are a refreshing getaway from the other poultry problems.

It is advisable that those who plan to start waterfowl also read Starting Chicks as it contains much in-depth information that is applicable to all types of poultry.

Feeding

It is always preferable to feed the special duck/goose starter and grower feeds because some chick and turkey feeds include medications that are not compatible with the waterfowl. They may become deathly ill from the coccidiostats that are used in feeds meant for turkeys and chickens. However, I have used a duck feed that is medicated with something called amprol or amprolium. It was just fine for the ducks that I raised. I would suggest that you make sure that your feed was mixed specifically for ducks and geese. Beware, though, there are feed dealers who don't know much about feeding poultry. (I once had a farm supply store salesman try to tell me that turkeys will "roll over dead" from medicated feeds! Anyone who has ever raised these birds knows otherwise.) Ducks and geese grow terribly fast, so invite all the neighbours over to see the cute little babies while they're still small.

Feeders and waterers for ducks are the same as those for chicks, but be ready for a wet, mucky mess. Waterfowl have an amazing ability to carry feed and water away from the point of origin. (This is the reason for avoiding to place ducks and geese in with chickens and turkeys - the non-waterfowl will not fare well in the moisture-rich environment which ducks and geese create.) The water founts will be full of wet feed muck daily, feed will be left in the litter, the litter will be saturated with water, and the birds will be extremely healthy. But be of good cheer! Add more litter, clean out the water fount, and put some more feed in the trough! You are nearly guaranteed to end up with lively, healthy birds. Waterfowl are very hardy, compared to turkey poults and chicks.

However, if they run out of water for even a short time, I have read, a condition called staggers can develop. This occurs when the dry crumble that they eat becomes compacted in the birds' digestive tract because it was not "washed down" with water. According to the documents which I have read, this condition often results in death, and so must be strictly avoided.

Brooding

I have raised ducks adjacent to turkeys and chickens, and the ducks fare fine with excess heat from the nearby brooder, but my brooder house was quite warm. Geese, I have read, can survive freezing temperatures when they are a day old. Don't try to prove that, but it does show how different they are from the mainstream chickens and turkeys! Offer the birds a heat lamp, and see how they react. If they are attracted to it, lower it and keep it running; if they are repelled, raise or remove it. (Remember to consider the difference between night and daytime temperatures that may exist in your brooder house!)

Litter for waterfowl, especially, must not be slippery or smooth. A condition called splay leg will develop where the hips of the duckling or gosling become permanently damaged from hyperextension when slipping and sliding (they do the "splits"). I have lost one duck to this because it stopped walking, then was trampled to death. I would recommend using straw, peat, or shavings for litter above the shredded paper just because of the "slip factor". Even later on in life, it is dangerous to expect much from the legs of waterfowl. A long walk or chase can put them off their feet for awhile. Face it: ducks are not meant to travel on the land.

Beyond Brooding

It is for this reason that it is very nice (for those with small flocks) to have a dugout or pond in which the ducks may swim. They aren't wild, but they still look pretty graceful as they float around the water. They are a great addition to any hobby farm, both for their beauty and flavour.

Conclusion

It is easy to enjoy waterfowl when they are alive, but do not hope for an easy butcher routine. Chickens are easy, turkeys are a pain, ducks are tough, and geese are terrible to butcher. I would recommend you to try your hand at butchering chickens or turkeys before attempting to scale the waterfowl processing mountain.

Have fun with your ducks and geese, but try to pay someone else to butcher them! On the other hand, if you're determined to butcher them yourself, or (the more likely scenario) have no choice in the matter, please visit the only photographically-enhanced Butchering Poultry page on the internet, right here at Mulligan Creek Poultry Farm