Ducks

  • How Long Do Ducks Live? | Wild Ducks vs. Domestic Duck Lifespans!

    How Long Do Ducks Live? | Wild Ducks vs. Domestic Duck Lifespans!

    Like geese and swans, ducks are members of the Anatidae bird family. Ducks are talkative and comical. And they are becoming increasingly popular with homesteaders and others who enjoy the benefits of natural pest control, namely because their webbed feet can’t destroy landscapes like the taloned claws of chickens. Duck eggs are also nutritious and…

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  • 21 Innovative Duck Pond Ideas to Suit Every Budget, Yard, and Style

    21 Innovative Duck Pond Ideas to Suit Every Budget, Yard, and Style

    Are you looking for new duck pond ideas and designs for your feathered friends? Maybe you’ve got a duck pond system that isn’t working for you – or you feel your ducks deserve an improved swimming area. As any duck keeper will tell you, getting the best pond setup keeps your ducks happy and reduces…

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  • 13 Fabulous DIY Floating Duck House Plans and Ideas for Your Feathered Friends

    13 Fabulous DIY Floating Duck House Plans and Ideas for Your Feathered Friends

    Are you a backyard farmer or a pond owner who loves ducks? If so, you may have considered seeking floating duck house plans to provide your feathered friends with a safe and comfortable place to roost on the water. But why a floating duck house? Well, not only does a floating duck house offer protection…

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  • 8 Black and White Duck Breeds [Farm Ducks, Wood Ducks, and Sea Ducks!]

    8 Black and White Duck Breeds [Farm Ducks, Wood Ducks, and Sea Ducks!]

    You won’t believe these charming black and white duck breeds! Because contrary to popular belief, not all duck breeds are white with yellow bills. Many different breeds of ducks range in appearance and live all over the planet. They flock freely and widely throughout Asia, Northern Europe, and North America. We’re talking about various types…

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  • 8 Most Profitable Farming Animals | 2023 USA Smart Farmer’s Guide

    8 Most Profitable Farming Animals | 2023 USA Smart Farmer’s Guide

    Let’s brainstorm the eight most profitable farming animals for 2023! Because meat, eggs, honey, milk, fur, wool, and leather matter – and have enjoyed a historically high demand worldwide. That’s why raising livestock has been an effective revenue generation method since roughly 13,000 years before Jesus walked the Earth. Animal husbandry predates the first known planting of…

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  • How Much Do Ducks Cost to Buy and Raise on Your Homestead

    How Much Do Ducks Cost to Buy and Raise on Your Homestead

    Have you been wondering how much a duck costs? And what does it cost to raise a duck, or many ducks, on your farm or homestead? You’re not alone! With the continuing global shift toward more sustainable, healthy living, more and more homesteaders are considering raising ducks as pets – or for their soft down…

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  • What to Feed Baby Ducks – What’s the Best Food For Baby Ducks?

    What to Feed Baby Ducks – What’s the Best Food For Baby Ducks?

    Ducklings, like their adult counterparts, are omnivores from birth, but determining what baby ducks can and cannot eat can be tricky since there are so many feeds and treats to choose from. So, what do you feed ducklings, and what should you avoid? Baby ducks eat insects and many plants, including fruits, leaves, vegetables, and…

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  • 15 Rare Duck Breeds (That Will Make You Quack In Awe!)

    15 Rare Duck Breeds (That Will Make You Quack In Awe!)

    Let’s discuss rare duck breeds! Domestic ducks have been with us for literally thousands of years. They diligently supply us with meat, eggs, and feathers. They also provide pest control and the invaluable companionship and joy of having such cute birds flopping around on their webbed feet. However, when commercial meat and egg production took over – especially the cruel practice of battery cages –…

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  • Brewers Yeast for Ducks – Prevent Niacin Deficiency With Brewers Yeast

    Brewers Yeast for Ducks – Prevent Niacin Deficiency With Brewers Yeast

    My Indian Runner Ducks quack me up. They operate as a single unit, running in formation as though they share one brain between their 13 bodies. They’re busy birds, constantly foraging, flirting, and floating. They also love their food, gobbling it down as though it may run away, which is highly unlikely given that it’s…

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  • 333+ Funny Duck Names That’ll Have You Quackin’ Up

    333+ Funny Duck Names That’ll Have You Quackin’ Up

    Cute, pun, and funny duck names! Ducks and duck names are cute – that’s for sure. We have a fascination with everything duck, especially funny name ideas! There are games like Duck, Duck, Goose named for them, shoes called ‘Duck shoes’ named for them, and special phrases like “just ducky” to share how you feel. The eggs…

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  • 5 DIY Duck Pen Ideas [+ Helpful Tips on How to Build the Best Pen]

    5 DIY Duck Pen Ideas [+ Helpful Tips on How to Build the Best Pen]

    Duck pen ideas! Many people put off keeping ducks after seeing duck pens that are muddy and filthy! But although ducks love to play in the water, the correct duck accommodation doesn’t have to be somewhere you’d only venture into with waterproof boots. Let’s look at some clever and innovative duck pen ideas, as well…

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  • Do Ducklings Need a Heat Lamp [And 5 Alternatives to Save You Money]

    Do Ducklings Need a Heat Lamp [And 5 Alternatives to Save You Money]

    Did you know that birds aren’t necessarily born with feathers? Most poultry species, including ducks, are born with a thin later of soft immature feathers. After they are born, they are susceptible to chilly temperatures.  For that reason, many homesteaders wonder: do ducks need a heat lamp? Well – when ducks get raised domestically, a…

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  • How to Tell If a Duck Egg Is Fertile [3 Easy Ways!]

    How to Tell If a Duck Egg Is Fertile [3 Easy Ways!]

    How can you tell if your duck eggs are fertile? Consider the following advice from our Indian runner ducks! Let me explain. Our Indian runner ducks are laying once again! But, they have a somewhat haphazard approach to egg production. When it comes to mating, their enthusiasm knows no bounds. Given how many sexual shenanigans…

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  • Can You Have a Duck As a Pet [7 Pros and Cons]

    Can You Have a Duck As a Pet [7 Pros and Cons]

    Ducks are some of the most impressive birds, and I love their quirky personalities! But – can you have a duck as a pet? What about domestic ducks? We have a flock of 12 ducks, but I’m not sure I would call them pets. Our Indian Runner Ducks aren’t the friendliest creatures on the farm and…

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  • Duck Teeth – How Ducks Use Their Bills to Eat Bugs, Slugs, and More

    Duck Teeth – How Ducks Use Their Bills to Eat Bugs, Slugs, and More

    Do ducks love to eat? Absolutely! They’re avid foragers. But do ducks have teeth? No. At least, not in the same way that you or I do.  So, How Do Ducks Eat If They Don’t Have Teeth? A duck’s bill is lined with something called lamellae. Lamellae may look like serrated teeth, but unlike teeth,…

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I’m the heart and soil behind Outdoor Happens. Dream of a garden that feeds you or a farm that practically runs itself? I’m here to help make that dream a reality. With 25 years of hands-on gardening and farming, I’ll share down-to-earth tips to help you grow your own slice of sustainable paradise.

Ready to dig in without getting buried? Stick around, let’s make your dreams happen!


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