12 Reasons why Ducks are Better than Chickens
Ssssh.... don't tell my chickens, but if I had it to do all over again, I would raise just ducks instead of chickens and ducks.
Having raised both chickens and ducks together for more than 15 years, I can unequivocally say that I not only find ducks easier to raise, I actually prefer raising them.
But before all you chicken people start cancelling me (LOL!), please hear me out and let me explain - and don't worry, we're not getting rid of our chickens. I still love them too.
But it's the ducks who truly hold the key to my heart.
Busting the Myth that Ducks are Messy
I'm sure you've been told, or read, or heard, "ducks are too messy". I disagree.
And I have to say that people who say that just didn't take the time to really think about their duck set-up and create an environment for ducks specifically - instead they likely just got a few ducklings and raised them with their chickens without making any modifications.
You need to remember that while ducks are poultry, same as chickens, they're waterfowl, which makes them different.
People who complain that ducks are harder or messier than chickens have to stop and think that instead of creating a home for their ducks tailored for their needs, they just created a chicken set-up and expected the ducks to adapt to that. Or added ducks to their coop without considering the ducks' requirements.
I do agree that ducks love to make a mess anywhere there's water, but other than that, they are actually much cleaner than chickens.
Ducks are always preening, and even our white Pekin ducks can be covered in mud one minute and then snow white the next. It's their super power!
12 Reasons why Ducks are Better than Chickens
1. Ducks are more cold-hardy than chickens.
Ducks really don't seem to mind the snow and cold weather much at all. They are much more cold-hardy than chickens. Duck don't have combs or wattles that can get frost-bitten.
They also have an intricate artery system in their legs that I won't pretend to understand, but that allows wild ducks to paddle around in half-frozen lakes all winter long, and allows our ducks to sit in a snowbank all day or hop into their water tub in the middle of the winter.
My ducks will sit in their water tub in the dead of winter here in Maine without a care in the world. They will also sit in a snow bank all day if I let them. They pull their feet up into the warm down on their bellies, tuck their bill under a wing and are perfectly content.
In addition, ducklings harden off much sooner than chicks and can be moved outside at a much earlier age, usually by 5 to 6 weeks old, depending on the time of year and where you live.
If you live in a cold climate, ducks are the obvious choice over chickens.
2. Ducks are more heat-tolerant than chickens.
On the flip side, if you live in a hot climate, ducks fare far better than chickens. While the chickens are standing around panting with their wings held out from their bodies trying to get cool, our ducks are happily paddling around in their kiddie pool.
Fill a pool for them and your ducks will tolerate temperatures well above what chickens find comfortable.
Although it's still a good idea to keep electrolytes on hand for extreme heat, it's pretty rare for a duck to suffer heat stroke as long as they can submerge their bodies in cool water.
So if you live in a hot climate, ducks might be a better choice for you.
3. Ducks are less likely to be bothered by mites, lice or fleas than chickens.
Because they spend so much time in the water, ducks are very unlikely to be plagued by external parasites such as mites, lice or fleas that can bother chickens.
Although ducklings aren't waterproof when they hatch (unless they hatch under a mother duck who preens them) and can easily get chilled or drown before they're about a month old, short supervised swims are good for them.
Not only for their leg muscles, but also because that encourages them to preen afterwards which stimulates the oil glands which will eventually make them waterproof.
Adult ducks should have access to a kiddie pool or deep tubs of water to splash around in. That should take care of any bugs wanting to take up residence on your ducks.
4. Ducks are healthier in general.
Because of their extremely high body temperature and fast metabolism, ducks aren't as susceptible to the many pathogens and infectious diseases that you have to worry about when you have chickens.
Ducks rarely contract Coccidiosis or Marek's disease - two of the more common chicken illnesses. And although ducks can be carriers of Avian Influenza, they rarely succumb to it.
They are also less likely to contract respiratory illnesses or have internal parasites. And because they spend so much time in the water, they rarely get egg bound or have vent prolapse issues.
The most common things to watch for in ducks are botulism, hardware disease, wet feather and angel wing. All of which can be easily prevented with a proper diet and maintenance of their environment.
5. Ducks make less noise than chickens.
6. Ducks don't need roosts to sleep on or boxes to lay their eggs in.
7. Ducks are better layers than chickens.
8. Duck eggs are better for baking than chicken eggs.
9. Ducks are friendlier to newcomers than chickens are.
While we're on that topic, ducks just have better dispositions in general. They are happy when the sun is out, they're happy when it's raining. They even seem to not mind snow.
10. Ducks are easier on your landscaping.
And for the most part when they free range, the ducks are more interesting in splashing in their pool or drilling down into the ground for worms and grubs (which is actually great for aerating your lawn!).