Keeping Ducks: Housing, Water and Care

Ducks are forgiving, weatherproof birds that ask for less fuss than chickens once you accept two things: they need water to stay healthy, and they make mud. Plan for both and they are some of the easiest livestock on a New Zealand section.

Water and mud

Ducks must have clean water deep enough to dip their whole bill and splash their heads, which keeps eyes, nostrils and feathers healthy. They do not need a pond, but they will turn any wet area to mud, so site waterers over gravel or a drained spot and move them about. A simple trough or tub refreshed daily works well.

Housing and shelter

Ducks are far more cold and wet tolerant than chickens and do not roost, so they need a low, dry, well-ventilated shelter with clean bedding at ground level rather than perches. The main job of the house is keeping them safe at night and out of the worst weather. They lay early in the morning, so shutting them in overnight means you collect eggs in one place.

• A low, dry, predator-proof house with ground-level bedding, no perches needed
• Clean drinking and dabbling water available whenever they are out
• Shade in summer and shelter from driving rain and wind
• Shut them in at night against dogs, cats, stoats, ferrets and hawks

Predators and good neighbours

New Zealand has no foxes, but dogs are the biggest killer of backyard ducks, followed by stoats, ferrets and cats taking ducklings, and hawks overhead. A secure night house and a well-fenced run handle most of this. Ducks are also louder than people expect, the females especially, so a urban keeper should think about neighbours and check council rules, much as for hens.