Benefits of Adding Ducks to Your Homestead

Jul 11, 2023
2 min read

A couple of years ago, I wanted to get ducks. The first question my husband had was, "why would we get ducks?"

Aside from the cuteness factor and a sustainable egg supply, ducks have several benefits to add to a homestead. Check out a few of the justifications I gave (it worked - we have ducks now).

Eggs

The most obvious reason to get ducks would be for eggs. Ducks are more likely to lay consistently throughout the year and lay larger eggs.

Wondering about all the differences between duck eggs and chicken eggs? Check out this blog post I created.

Pest Control

When allowed to free range, ducks are a great natural pest control method! They will eat anything from worms, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, ticks, mosquitoes, and more.

While chickens are also great pest control methods, ducks will not cause as much damage to your soil.

Fertilizer

Again, when allowed to free range, the additional nutrients that ducks take in will boost the value of the natural fertilizer they are providing!

They naturally fertilize the grass they are free ranging in, or their poop could be collected from their coop and spread on your vegetable garden.

Duck Meat

Much different than the taste of their wild cousins, domesticated duck meat is delicious and nutritious!

While chickens are white meat, ducks are considered red meat (like beef). This means that they offer more protein, fat, and iron.

If raising for meat, it's important to ensure you have the right type of duck! Here is a guide to choosing your perfect duck breed.

Perfect for Families

Ducks tend to be a better choice for families with small children when compared to their sharp-beaked cousins. Aside from not having to worry about an aggressive rooster, ducks are much gentler when hand-feeding.

They have the additional benefit of large personalities, and children will love watching them swim around in their pond or kiddie pool.

Low Maintenance

We have had ducks for a couple of years now, and they are by far our most low-maintenance animals. They need little medication or extra effort. They can also be self-sufficient if you are away for a weekend.