Basic elements for species-appropriate husbandry - an overview
With their upright gait and long neck, runner ducks are unmistakable. The flightless water birds are also very agile and like to run and swim for their lives. Until gardeners recognized their qualities as beneficial insects, the cute bottle ducks were mainly kept for their tasty eggs. The following basic elements make life easy for you and your ducks in the garden:
- A small stable as a retreat and shelter from robbers
- A medium to large pond with a gravel path for access
- Alternatively, several water points for drinking and splashing around
- A fence at least 180 cm high
also read
- Making the garden safe for cats - tips for effective protection against cats
- Where bougainvilleas feel most at home
- Can a lemon tree feel good in Germany?
Please note that ducks are very sociable. Do not expect a duck or drake to live a lonely lonely life. Ideally, you should settle the waterfowl as a small flock or at least in a double pack. For the sake of peace, you can choose to hold an all-male flock of ducks or a drake and several ducks. With a single lady and numerous drakes, annoyance and constant, loud chatter are inevitable.
Easy to care for and very sociable - tips about care
The larger the garden, the more natural feed is available for your ducks. At the top of the menu are snails, their larvae and eggs, as well as insects, small animals and pests. Nevertheless, it should be fed regularly, especially in winter and in smaller areas. Grain feed is well suited for chickens. The birds do not disdain leftover food from the lunch table either. Noodles, potatoes and rice are popular. On the other hand, spicy dishes cause discomfort to the animals.
Tips
If you are creating a new garden or bed, the ducks should stay in the enclosure for about 2 weeks. Otherwise the tender young plants fall victim to the hungry beaks. If the perennials and flowers have grown well, runner ducks do not cause any significant damage.
