Ducks

Ducks at Acres Wild Farm.

The ducks finally arrived today on 27 July 2007. Just as the ponds are ready and going to be stocked with fish. There are very good reasons for keeping ducks and integrating them into the farm pond system.

Duck-fish integration is very common in countries like China, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Russia and to some extent in India. The fish pond being a semi-closed biological system, with several aquatic animals and plants, provides an excellent disease-free environment for ducks. In turn, ducks consumes tadpoles, juvenile frogs, dragonflies and other insects, making a safer environment for fish. Duck excreta are used as fertilizer in a fishpond, which stimulates the growth of fish food organisms in the pond. Ducks feed on snails and gastropods available in the pond which otherwise serve as vectors for certain diseases and the ducks thus serve in reducing their incidence. Ducks further help in aerating the pond water along with pond bottom raking effects, which is beneficial for fish.

Muscovy Duck.

Ducklings of Khakhi Campbell Ducks - 9 Sept 2007

Same ducklings with Foster Mother who hatched the eggs.