Using sound judgment to be more self-reliant.
I read a permaculture article that said slug issues in the garden weren’t due to too many slugs, but to a lack of ducks. That’s what triggered the purchase of the Duck Patrol. Some of you know our duckies from other posts or their Instagram feed. In this article, we’ll talk specifically about using duck pest control in the garden. We’ll share why we chose the breed that we did, how to train your ducks, and tips for managing your pest control crew.
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In fall 2018, we noticed that one of our runner ducks, Miss Emerald, was lethargic and having difficulty breathing. On closer examination, we suspected she had ascites, also known as “water belly”. We made the diagnosis in early October, and have been treating her since (just over three months). Her condition improved, and her quality of life is good. There is no cure for ascites, but our goal is to give her the best possible quality of life for as long as possible. She and her flock mates are trained for pest control in the garden, and are an important part of our homestead – as well as being adorable. In this post, I’ll share some basic info on ascites in ducks and other poultry, as well as our treatment and care regimen. 
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Since our little crew of duckies has become a big part of our lives, I wanted to formally introduce them and tell a little about their story. We’ll also use this page to answer some basic duck questions, and share some duck videos for those who need more duckie time….
“The Resilient Gardener – Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times” by Carol Deppe came onto my radar while reading Harvey Ussery’s book, “The Small-Scale Poultry Flock“. Harvey mentioned Carol’s approach to feeding her ducks using garden crops to dramatically reduce purchased feed consumption, and I wanted to know more. Coupled with the duck information was an array of topics unlike any other gardening book I’ve ever read. …
