The New Ducks of Two Goose Farm
Backyard ducks vs. backyard geese – what’s the difference? They seem like first cousins, right? I’ve kept Sebastopol geese for over six years now. This summer, I brought home the ducks of my dreams – a trio of 4-month-old Welsh Harlequins. Although ducks and geese are both waterfowl, and their care is very similar, the birds themselves have plenty of differences!
Sadly, at the beginning of August, I had to say goodbye to Ivan, my Sebastopol gander. But I had the blessing of welcoming Kezick (the drake), Gwen, and Arian to the farm in his place. My primary reason for getting them was to keep my lone goose, Elena, from being – well – lonely. Unfortunately, I think she views them more like troublesome tweens than as companions. 😊
I’ve been hoping to get ducks for years, and I’ve done lots of reading and research. Now that I have ducks, I’m beginning to understand some of the things those books and blogs were talking about!
Here are 5 differences I’ve noticed:
1) Water Craze/Mudding:
I thought my geese loved water! Well, my ducks out-do the geese. Maybe these particular ducks happen to be maniacal water-fiends. But if they are a true representation of the species – wow, do ducks love water! I certain they would like nothing better than for me to fill the whole yard with various water receptacles – or build them a huge pond.
Okay, so my geese have mined holes in the ground around the fence perimeter and in the soft (muddy) ground around the edges of their kiddie pools. And I’ve been thinking for about a year that it would be smart to finally follow the experts’ advice (Holderread) and do something about proper drainage.
(In Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks1, Dave Holderread recommends “a wire platform or a bed of gravel” underneath kiddie pools. I may try that….)
The mudding that the ducks accomplished in a few months has turned my thoughts into something much more like resolve. They’ve made significant improvements in the mudholes around the pools. And mud is a big sanitary no-no.
I think I understand part of why Holderread advises that “Ducks should be kept off turf in wet weather….”2 They vigorously enjoy playing in puddles.
2) Body Shape
Their legs are so short! I always thought my geese had proportionately short legs. And they do. But these little guys have legs that are very short in proportion to the length of their bodies. That doesn’t deter them much, though. They are fast! They startle my goose sometimes with their darting around.
Since I’m used to white geese with blue eyes, the plumage colors and warm brown eyes of my ducks seem unusual and really fun. A few of the feathers that they lost during molting have become part of my collection.
3) Tastes
This year, I attempted a “goose garden” mainly of greens, herbs, and watermelons planted near the waterfowl yard. Elena, my goose, loves the kale as long as it is still small, and she will eat the mustard greens and sometimes the parsley.
The Welsh Harlequin trio will eat kale and mustard greens, plus the things that Elena refuses to swallow. Like the basil. They all enjoy the watermelon, but Elena is the greedy one.
And then there’s the biggest difference: geese graze; ducks forage for all things yummy — such as insects of all descriptions. They do eat grass, but it’s not as much of a focus for them as it is for my goose.
The ducks also seem to have a wider palate when it comes to insects. As far as I have ever noticed, none of my geese have eaten crickets or really any bugs other than worms, a few grubs, and the occasional moth. The ducks leap into action any time they spot movement!
4) Fearlessness
I have always thought that geese reminded me of horses. They graze. And they shy at anything out of the ordinary, even quick movements. (That’s it for similarities, though. Unless Pegasus counts.)
My geese never liked the hose that I use to fill their kiddie pools. My first goose, Jena, hated stepping over it. But the hose doesn’t seem to phase the ducks. I’ve had to pull it out from under their feet!
They’re not scared of my shovel-and-mini-rake mucking routine. In fact, they sometimes come to see if I’ve unearthed anything yummy while digging through the soiled bedding. (I haven’t.) My geese have always either avoided the implements or attacked them, depending on whether or not its nesting season.
When I started digging a hole for the kiddie-pool mud-reduction project late this past summer, the ducks were right there on the scene. I had to be careful where I was digging!
So far, I’ve only noticed a few things that scare the ducks:
- extra-loud unusal noises
- the headlamp I use when I go out to the shed after dark
- large plastic bags, such as the ones shavings come in
5) Duck-Speak
Their “language” is a new learning curve for me. And the sounds they make are great! The drake’s funny, hoarse quacking is adorable. Having a softer voice doesn’t keep him from being insistent.
And the girls – well, they’re not afraid to make it known if they aren’t happy. And the squeaky, groaning noises they make when they are happy – so cute.
My goose is definitely capable of the highest decibel sounds at Two Goose Farm. But the rest of the time, she’s fairly quiet, especially now that she’s the only goose. The ducks chatter and babel constantly. They seem to only quack loudly when they are upset about something. Mostly they make soft and pleasing chatter. Though I begin to understand why Elena sometimes looks like she wants a break from “baby sitting.” 😉
Their habits and body language are different too. Geese seem to “forage” by sight, mostly. I have watched both of my female geese hunt for worms by walking with their heads down low to the grass on a wet morning. The ducks hunt for bugs too, but their main method of “hunting” for food of all sorts is to go rummaging through taller patches of grass, or bedding, etc. I’m not 100% sure what all they find, but their “burrowing” apparently pays off.
On the day when I first brought them home, the ducks started rustling through the shavings and mouthing it. I was concerned they weren’t familiar with shavings and were going to eat it! But they were just exploring.
Duck/Goose Relationship
Elena was terrified when I loosed the new trio into their half of the divided shed. She came back in off the porch area, wide-eyed, and she let me pet her without nipping at me. That’s rare. I think she wanted protection!
She knows she’s outnumbered. And she doesn’t like sharing. She tries to insist on her own space. But she also naps fairly close to them at times, and at first, when they would run around and flap their wings, she would run and flap nearby as though she wanted to join in.
Lately, Kezick, the drake, has decided he’s not afraid of her after all and he ought to play the gentleman and protect his girls from her. So he drives her away with his neck stretched out.
It’s not all smooth paddling, and I’m sure she’d prefer a goose friend, but overall, the ducks have been good for Elena. With Ivan gone, she spent about a week completely alone. I wondered if she would pine. She did act rather listless and didn’t have as perky of an appetite. But she’s not alone now, and having companions, however stressful, perked her back up to her normal self. Those first few weeks, she seemed afraid that if she didn’t eat, she won’t get any! That’s good motivation.
I have two water buckets, two small feeders, and two grit cups set out. I want to make sure that neither Elena nor the ducks can “puppy guard” them. So far, it seems like everyone is getting their fair shake. At least, they are all four looking on the chubby side. 😊 I guess that’s okay since they will probably slim down over the winter.
Elena gets some special treatment from me, such as saying hi and hand-feeding some whole grains. And before winter came, I would sometimes let her out of the run to graze without them — just for a few minutes of peace!
Welsh Harlequins
I’m delighted to have my WH’s! Here are a couple links if you’re interested in learning more about this breed and its origin:
And if you are looking for excellent resources for raising any breed of duck, I highly recommend Holderread’s book Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks as well as Lisa Steele’s Duck Eggs Daily and her website:
Welcome Kezick, Gwen, and Arian!
1Holderread, Dave, Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks (North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing, 2011), 226
2Holderread, 219
I always love watching ducks hunt crickets! 😀