Differences

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--- duck:ducks [2025/12/07 17:11] – Dave Darby
+++ duck:ducks [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Ducks
+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]].
+====== Ducks ======
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-## What are ducks?
+===== What are ducks? =====
 Domestic ducks are small waterfowl raised to produce eggs, meat or down. They are also kept for their ornamental value or as pets. There are many species of wild duck but domestic ducks, with the exception of the Muscovy, are descended from the Mallard. The domestic Muscovy is descended from the wild Muscovy duck of Mexico and south America. Ducks descended from the mallard were domesticated at least 4,000 years ago, most breeds have a reduced ability to fly and reduced aggression and territorial behaviour compared to the Mallard and less of a tenancy to incubate and hatch eggs.
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 ![mallard](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/mallard.jpg "Domestic ducks are usually the descendants of wild mallards pictured here")
 <caption>
- Domestic duck breeds (apart from Muscovies) are all descended from wild mallards.
+ _Domestic duck breeds (apart from Muscovies) are all descended from wild mallards._
 </caption>
 </figure>
@@ Line 29: / Line 30: @@
 ![](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/Ducks-30.5.14-6-Y.jpg)
 <caption>
-Call ducks can be a good choice for a small garden and won't mess up the pond too much (pic Graham Bell, [Garden Cottage](http://grahambell.org/))
+_Call ducks can be a good choice for a small garden and won't mess up the pond too much (pic Graham Bell, [Garden Cottage](http://grahambell.org/))_
 </caption>
 </figure>
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-## What are the benefits of keeping ducks?
+===== What are the benefits of keeping ducks? =====
 You can produce meat and eggs in your own back garden; food miles don't get much lower than that! You can also be sure that your eggs have been produced in an ethical sustainable way. Duck eggs have a stronger flavour than chicken eggs. most people prefer the taste of a boiled hen egg to a boiled duck egg, but duck eggs are excellent for baking, scrambling and omelets. They also contain more protein, calories, vitamins and minerals than chickens' eggs, so they're good value – although they also contain more saturated fat.
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 ![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/DSCN3401-e1503164040828.jpg)
 <caption>
- An Indian runner duck with a pile of snails (pic: Lesley Anderson)
+ _An Indian runner duck with a pile of snails (pic: Lesley Anderson)_
 </caption>
 </figure>
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-## What can I do?
+===== What can I do? =====
 **Getting started**
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 ![aylesburys](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/aylesburys.png "Aylesbury is a popular breed for duck keeping, pictured here taking a dip")
 <caption>
- Aylesbury ducks take a bath.
+ _Aylesbury ducks take a bath._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/ducks23.jpg)
 <caption>
- Raising ducklings is not hard to do with a bit of research - and they are cute! (Pic: Lesley Anderson)
+ _Raising ducklings is not hard to do with a bit of research - and they are cute! (Pic: Lesley Anderson)_
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![duck-house](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/duck-house.jpg "A floating duck house helps protect ducks, although foxes may still swim for food")
 <caption>
- A floating duck house - still not completely fox-proof as a fox will swim if there's food involved.
+ _A floating duck house - still not completely fox-proof as a fox will swim if there's food involved._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![duck-pond](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/duck-pond.jpg "A pond isn't a necessity when keeping ducks - but they will love it if there is one!")
 <caption>
- It's not essential for ducks to have a pond, but they'll love it if you do; they'll turn the banks into a mudbath and decimate wildlife though.
+ _It's not essential for ducks to have a pond, but they'll love it if you do; they'll turn the banks into a mudbath and decimate wildlife though._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![indian-runner-ducks](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/indian-runner-ducks.png "Indian runners are a popular choice when keeping ducks")
 <caption>
- Indian runner ducks
+ _Indian runner ducks_
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 {{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/2O7exYTLXWA?start=55 560,315}}
 <caption>
-_Indian runner ducks play with a ball in their paddling pool._
+__Indian runner ducks_ play with a ball in their paddling pool._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![khaki-campbells](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/khaki-campbells.png "Campbells remain the most popular breed for keeping ducks")
 <caption>
- Khaki Campbells - two drakes and a duck.
+ _Khaki Campbells - two drakes and a duck._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![ducks-chickens](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/ducks-chickens.png "Keeping ducks and hens can go hand in hand as the two birds get on well")
 <caption>
- Ducks and chickens get on well.
+ _Ducks and chickens get on well._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![duck-chicken-quail-egg](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/duck-chicken-quail-egg.jpg "Keeping ducks has its reward in eggs, shown here alongside a quail egg and a chicken egg")
 <caption>
- A duck egg compared to a chicken and a quail egg.
+ _A duck egg compared to a chicken and a quail egg._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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+===== Forum =====
-## Further resources
+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
+===== Further resources =====
 - [British Waterfowl Association](https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/)
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 - [Mother Earth News](https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/raising-ducks-zmaz70mazglo/) - guide to keeping ducks
 - [Raising young ducks](https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKRaisingDucklings.html)
+- [[wp>Duck]]
+===== Related topics =====
+- [Geese](gees:geese)
+- [Smallholding](smho:smallholding)
+- [Chickens](chic:chickens)
+- [Ponds](pond:ponds)
+- [Turkeys](trky:turkeys)
+- [Quail](qual:quail)
+- [Guinea fowl](guin:guinea_fowl)
+- [Butchery & meat](butc:butchery)
+- [Natural pest & weed control](ntpw:natural_pest_and_weed_control)
+- [Keeping livestock](livs:livestock)
-## Specialists
+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====