MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Keep Your Ducks in a Row

Gardeners have been raising chickens in gardens for centuries — but ducks in gardens? Believe it or not, keeping ducks in a small garden is growing in popularity. With their adorable faces and cheery quacks, ducks work alongside gardeners to help clear the garden of harmful bugs and larvae. Ducks are increasingly being used in UK gardens, where the damp conditions create breeding grounds for destructive snails and slugs. Some countries use ducks to clear out snail infestations, which can cause liver flukes in cattle and sheep. A task force of 24 Indian Runner ducks covering an area of almost 50 acres is hard to beat.

Before you purchase some tail-waggling waterfowl, determine whether ducks would complement your garden and how you’d like to put them to work.

Are Ducks a Good Fit for Your Backyard?

Ducks need water, food, protection from the elements, and a few other extra amenities to survive.

Ducks need fresh, clean drinking water every day.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from MOTHER EARTH NEWS

MOTHER EARTH NEWS5 min read
How To Store Water For An Emergency
I want to keep an emergency stash of water. Can I store it in 2-liter containers after cleaning them? What else should I know about water storage? Plastic bottles, such as 2-liter soda containers, can be cleaned, sanitized, and reused to store water.
MOTHER EARTH NEWS2 min read
Improve Soil Quality with Cover Crops
Which cover crops should I use, and how can I integrate them? Popular cover crops include alfalfa, buckwheat, cereals, clovers, cowpeas, daikon radishes, sunn hemp, millet, and Australian winter peas. Cover crops can be used in almost any production
MOTHER EARTH NEWS6 min read
The Art of Reducing Expenses
Rising interest rates, high food and energy costs, and stagnant wages are on everyone’s minds these days. Sometimes, it seems there’s no way to get a handle on out-of-control finances, especially when it comes to the dream of homesteading. For some f

Related Books & Audiobooks