An Unplanned Garden Plus

 Last year on impulse we bought 4 straight run Khaki Campbell baby ducks at Rural King while buying feed. They were purchased to forage and control the slug population on my property. They have exceeded our expectations. The only draw back is that we have 1 female and 3 males. So during breeding season we have to separate the males to cut down on fighting. But other than that they run the property and are everywhere. Thelma (the female) follows me around like a dog because I pick bugs and throw them to her like treats. Mom finds all the good stuff! The "boys" follow Thelma's lead. 

We keep small kiddie pools around the place to give them plenty of access to water. For those who have not had ducks they poop in their water so we have to drain those pools pretty regular. So we started pouring the poopy water on surrounding plants. Lo and behold those plants started to look wonderful and healthy. 

So our poopy duck water pools have become liquid gold, giant vats of manure tea. We now move the little pools around the place near different plantings to make it easier to scoop the water out and use it. It's a win for everyone because the ducks get watering stations and we get fertilizer. 

We have no intention of breeding ducks or maintaining a huge flock. Just a few to cruise around and eat the slugs. They do not scratch up things like chickens but we do have to protect the seedlings in the garden. Once the plants get bigger they don't seem to mess with them.  

So the ducks help us to control our slug/bug problems chemical free. The plants get the benefit of extra nutrients in the water. We eat the eggs as we get one daily and they are wonderful to bake with. And the straw that is cleaned out of the duck house once a week feeds the compost piles too. 

Thelma and "the boys" has ended up being a good investment after all!

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter 

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https://thebackfence.freeforums.net/forum

 

The Ladies Have Neighbors

Yep meet the neighbors! It's the quackers. 

Family of four. Huey, Dewey, Louise and Thelma ( we think? )

They occupy the quaint little cottage next door and share an enclosed area attached to the chickens run. Thus far they seem to get along fine but we will continue to monitor to make sure everyone is safe. We dump weeds in this area and the chicken and ducks pick through for the bugs and green tidbits and make compost as a byproduct. Ducks lay more than chickens as they lay year round. These ducks are Khaki Campbell ducks and are known to be a very docile breed.

These ducks are only a couple months old.  

Eventually I hope to allow the ducks to free range with supervision as another tool to control slugs on my shady property. They also make great entertainment on a summers eve. We are so easily entertained.

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter