Ducks for Pest Management in the Garden

We're using our ducks for pest management in the garden today. We also get the added bonus of duck fertilizer in our organic garden. We've got some true permaculture ducks on our hands!
About Gold Shaw Farm: Gold Shaw Farm is more of a farm-in-progress than an honest-to-goodness farm. Our dream is that someday we are able to transform our 150+ acre parcel of land into a regenerative and productive homestead and farm.
Blog: www.goldshawfarm.com
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Twitter: / goldshawfarm

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

That's the way to do it! It works with chickens...why not ducks? They probably just don't scratch it up as much.

[@GoldShawFarm]

They don't scratch, but they do a little digging with their bills. They were great little workers on this task.

[@yourdadsotherfamily3530]

How is the cat with them?? I heard from other people that neighborhood or rural barn cats would kill their ducks

[@davelawson2564]

@@yourdadsotherfamily3530 when they brought up together and cat see ducks as his masters pets, cat will not attack. other cats/dogs will

[@alvexok5523]

@@GoldShawFarm , hope the ducks don't mess up too much of your garden with their bills, or you'll have a bill Lol

[@FrugalFarmerChannel]

@@alvexok5523,,,If they tear up too much you can put the damage on their bill.

[@Hassaan911]

When you started saying “all ducks to go to bed” and they followed your command I was amazed. Till they went the wrong side... then I burst into laughter. 🤣

[@megandaniels907]

Ducks are the best garden helpers! I don't have as many ducks as you, but I built my duck house and run into the garden. They spend all winter with access to the garden to eat all the weeds I was too lazy to pull and find all the bugs for me. In the past when I only had 2 ducks, they lived in the garden full time during the summer after my plants were established. Since the don't scratch like chickens, they don't dig up the plants. And if I lose a head of lettuce or some green beans to them it's no big deal, they deserve a treat for all the work they do in the garden for me. They did a great job keeping the bugs off the plants. Great video!

[@GoldShawFarm]

Thanks, Megan. I'm really looking forward to the spring and planting out in the garden. I bet you are, too!

[@alvexok5523]

@@GoldShawFarm , I remember when I was 11, and my grandfather used to take me to feed the ducks, and I remember him saying "don't feed the geese or I won't give you anymore bread to throw", it was because the geese would keep trying to get the bread crumbs from the ducks. I enjoyed spending time with my grandparents, may they now R.I.P.

[@ShogunHull]

BRAVO! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT TIDBIT. YOU ANSWERED A QUESTION FOR ME. THANK YOU.

[@janiefox3458]

Nothing funnier than a Peking duck in a hurry. I am enjoying your videos so much. I'm too old to even think of having some, so I live vicariously through you 2.

[@johnpapa8681]

I think this is smart. I wish we as a country would break our dependence on chemicals as much as possible.

[@MargaretMargaretMargaret]

The white ducks waddling was so freaking cute!!!!!!!!!!!

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

Geese were used for weed and insect control in cotton near Fresno in the 80’s New growth weeds follow the frequent irrigation. Geese go where tractors can’t

[@chandranapier2259]

I’ve owned ducks before and I can vouch they are great for pests. I had a hen duck that we would pick up and take around our rural home to pick slugs off the wall.

[@321stfulbyisilb6]

The poor white ducks they are so slow and wobbly

[@GoldShawFarm]

They are the comic relief. We adopted them from somebody and they showed up fat and out of shape. They are getting better, but still...

[@th3h3rmitgirl49]

They are thicc lol

[@holgerd5242]

Maybe their white privilege is weighing them down...

[@tanveersingh5423]

@@holgerd5242 damn...u know whats better than funny? dark and funny...i give you for that

[@101fairplay]

@@holgerd5242 hahahahaha

[@coopboulton]

I don't know if they're more effective than chickens but they are certainly more adorable

[@louisegogel7973]

I too live in Vermont, and at the moment (5:10) that he said it has been pouring rain, it started to downpour outside where I am... August 29, 2020 5:45 am....lol. Permaculture principles include working with the skills and ways of Nature so they work for you just ny being themselves! Go chickens, go ducks!

[@buckbuchanan9807]

When the ducks shot past the door... I thought, oh man it's about to get really exciting! Glad your herding skills were up to the task.

[@GoldShawFarm]

Ha...a few months ago, I would have been hosed. But I have had a lot of practice at this point.

[@richardvaldes3959]

Release the quaken!!!

[@alvexok5523]

They also should have ducks in a field growing the wheat used to make quackers

[@gladiator8325]

Lol

[@constancemiller3753]

WHOOOOO! THE QUACKEN!

[@constancemiller3753]

OMG tshirt!??? yes please!

[@youtubeisajoke2546]

Nuuuuuuuuu!!

[@estellar8186]

Our Duck Zeke just last week was attacked & killed 😓 something got into his cage & your videos are bittersweet. We rescued him with a broken foot kayaking this summer on my birthday. Got him healed up. He was THE BEST. Followed us around everywhere. Hung out in the bathtub with the kids. HE had just started laying eggs (so SHE) the week before...miss her so much. We really thought it was a boy.

[@kerrybiery6360]

Hi. Love the group waddle! And it was hilarious to see them forage as one big unit- like watching a ballet. Too cute! -KGB

[@HoboGotCash]

KGB? The Soviet Union?

[@Tascaraudo]

Thank you for creating these videos. It's a joy to watch the ducks and geese, and to have you explain your thought processes.

[@raebells]

If you sprayed it with water they would go to town on all that stuff.

[@docautrisim885]

I’ve had the same experience. Wet earth is a ducks dreamland !

[@TheM1cK3y]

Why does that work?

[@circa134]

They dig thier bills thru mud to feel for worms and stuff

[@anitraahrens905]

Great idea, Morgan! A very efficient way to get ducks to clean up the garden and prepare for a new planting season.

[@drloveslearning4744]

Very soothing to see Ducks clearing the winter garden...

[@de8517]

Awesome!!! Ducks can really clean out a space of bugs & greens. Great idea!

[@meenha1976]

That was a cool experiment, like a verrrrry slow lawn mower, liked it in fast motion 😎

[@RockingCHomestead]

Got to love those live tillers.

[@GoldShawFarm]

They do good work!

[@Thisisit120]

All ducks go to bed ha ha Ha🤣😂🤣

[@alvexok5523]

All ducks go to bed 🦆🦆🦆💤💤

[@watchanime331]

All Dogs to go to deb

[@bettertelevision968]

@@watchanime331 All cats go to bed

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

We're doing some research with chickens in a no-till garden..gotta get some ducks! "Poking around looking for bugs" sounds great to us 😁

[@dandelionfields6955]

I just found your channel and love it! Ducks are my number one favorite farm animal. I have 65 that free range here in zone 4. Looking forward to future videos!💕

[@auniciasharpe7293]

LOVE the timelapse!! Those ducks are loving the garden buffet!!

[@apollothealchemist]

Awesome footage! I’ve seen this done with chickens but never with ducks! I love it👍

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

Great to see your ducks doing this, it's food for them and its good for your garden! I liked your video editing skills on this too, really enjoyed watching this thank you.

[@GoldShawFarm]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@ppj0241]

Even ducks don't like Kale. Smart birds.

[@invalidghosty72]

This is actually genius because if you don’t have ducks, chickens, birds etc on your garden yiu garden will get filled up with worms, snails, maggots and more animals eat up the weeds or worms that lurk around your garden PURE GENIUS

[@ShogunHull]

YOU'RE DOING *SUCH A GOOD JOB* !!! I'M PROUD OF YOU. I REALLY AM!!!

[@WillowCreekHomestead]

One of those white ducks was struggling to go fast enough In the beginning! HAHA!! Beautiful birds my 5 yr old said I wish we had ducks! lol the spooking in the garden so funny! I love letting them do the cleanup! ~Trish

[@GoldShawFarm]

Thanks. The pekins are definitely our comic relief!

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

"Release the Quacken," I like it! I usually ask, "Who let the ducks out? Bump, bum, bum, ba, bump. Who let the ducks out? " I've been doing the same thing with my flock. Bonus? They find slugs and slug eggs in the mulch. Heh heh heh. Note: try herding with a white stick - a poultry net pole is perfect, but even a white conductor's baton will do. Somehow, a white stick will get them moving in the correct direction; all I have to do is point it. I didn't have to train mine flock. If they are really skittish, I use two. Try it; you'll like it. (Works on geese, as well.)

[@GoldShawFarm]

That's a great tip about the white stick, Kirsten. I'll give it a shot at some point.

[@gypsypath1]

I second the white stick. I keep two of the plastic electric fence posts near the house and near the coop for when it’s “Time to go to bed!”

[@MARTINADBA1980]

Fun fact 😂: Ducks poop every 11 to 13 minutes!

[@cynthiamcwhorter6721]

Wow that's alot of poop

[@BloodyGaaraOfSand]

Free fertilizer

[@iamf6641]

@Khalil Khalil its easy to study lmao

[@5ducksinakittypool563]

Wow

[@johneduardoctavianoiv9749]

Khalil Khalil Hihi

[@vanessabunnie9262]

beautiful duckies 😊 Jesus made beautiful things 😊💖

[@guasal12]

Amen!!!

[@leslieMClass80]

So cool how nature takes care of itself! Having your ducks clean and fertilize the garden is very interesting to learn about! Thanks! Have a good day!

[@GoldShawFarm]

So far, so good. It will be interesting to see if it helped next summer.

[@MysteryViv]

This was very entertaining and makes me want to add ducks to my flock. Great editing too.

[@sdushdiu]

So many great memories!!! Ducks are cool. Thanks for your great informative videos/

[@ccefc_families297]

I find this video very relaxing and even entertaining. Plus the ducks are so cute and doing such a great thing for the garden.

[@FrugalFarmerChannel]

I do these types of experiments on my little homestead as well. Thanks for sharing!

[@annaoliviaiizuka1762]

This is probably one of my favourite videos on youtube and I dont know why

[@Goghahahahahaeej]

0:34 where do I find Barn cat seeds, I would love to have those lol

[@sandyhill4081]

Me to

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

They come out of a barn cat’s butt. They look like sesame seeds. They don’t grow into baby barn cats though.

[@pepecocomax]

That is just great how you work with the ducks. Love all your videos.

[@GoldShawFarm]

Thank you! I am incredibly appreciative of your support and encouragement.

[@judithbiller3732]

They've been waiting all season to get into your garden😀

[@heathergustafson4237]

Pigs really get into the soil and do all sorts of good things to the soil Whatever you have and make it work

[@yasminghani2073]

Really enjoy watching your video

[@kellypawspa]

Great video, photography, music, good humor. 5 stars!

[@florianpeter7045]

Legend has it he still says „All ducks, go to bed!“

[@GoldShawFarm]

I do!

[@LaoSoftware]

Your birds are adorable.

[@sandrodz5265]

Your ducks are good. they're following you.

[@RoseThistleArtworks]

Release the Quacken. hee hee I love your duck herding cat, too. She did a good job heading them off at the door.

[@cindyskillman544]

Haha! I noticed you waggling your fingers to turn the quacky herd. 🤣😂😅 It took me two years to figure that out. (Yeah, I'm a little slow.)

[@ogmius2001]

so this was last season, did this have a real impact on your garden?

[@greenandglamorousliving904]

Great idea to release them in the garden.

[@dogcatparty7371]

General Public: Please learn to use Permaculture techniques for a healthy garden.

[@davidschmidt270]

👏👏👏✨🔥🎉🍻💥💯💯💯

[@ScarletCandlelight]

Just binge watching all of your duck videos. Just love your style and take on duck raising along with I'm learning a lot. I hope you will get the duck breeds I have some day so I can learn more from another keeper. Sadly not as many educational videos on yt of my breeds. Just thought I would note that. Thank you

[@ShogunHull]

HAHAHAHAH YAH.. SO AM I !!! AAHHHAHAHAHA

[@oreides]

that just redefined the term "herdin' cats" lol

[@heathert5455]

Ducks are my favorite fowl because they are usually very mellow.

[@GoldShawFarm]

They are funny, but I wouldn't necessarily call them chill.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

The kale I grow gets sweeter after a few snows.abd that's when I used to put a bale or 3 of straw on the carrots then remove after snow and dig ,last time just before christmas.

[@noworriessoap5494]

What a tremendous idea. Less work for you, more menu items for the ducks, and soil improvement in the process. Thank you for sharing!

[@GoldShawFarm]

Thanks! It was a fun video to make.

[@drewbakka5265]

Idea: every year switch the duck pasture with the garden one, lettting the duck one fallow and be re-fertilized

[@sonnyxlbright5904]

The Quack Brigade.. I love 'em !!!

[@lucasrubinstein923]

one great thing to remember is that ducks absolutely love slugs. if you are ever having a slug problem in your garden let the ducks loose in the garden and they will seek out every last slug and stuff them selves on them.

[@evilelfis3646]

5:50 the white ones make me laugh my buns off 😂🤣

[@GoldShawFarm]

The Puddleducks are the comedic relief.

[@silasderoma4726]

Release the Quacken! Thanks for this video. My kids wait for your signature duck calls!

[@GoldShawFarm]

Glad they enjoy it. Thank you!

[@le9186]

Man, they will clean up and turn that garden like land on the moon!

[@crafty_gem6563]

So funny. Thank you for sharing. Hope you experiment worked.

[@miguelvelasquez8357]

I like your channel. New subscriber here. Love from PH💕

[@adilahmed8236]

ماشااللہ تبارک اللہ تعالی

[@tarapelcher3102]

2:23 ducks are so cute

[@McAmber]

Ducs are superb in pest control

[@dawagan1784]

I love those Tibetan wind horse prayer flags.

[@ginawhisnant9966]

The rain was helpful for them to be able to dig and swallow what they find. Next spring if you get a pair of goslings and pen them near the garden you can throw weeds you want to be removed to them. Geese are herbivores and will earn the tasty stuff. After a month or so when your vegetables are little bigger you can turn the geese loose in the garden and they will weed and fertilize. A good duck-herding stick is helpful. A 5 or 6-foot section of cane with a loop of plastic-coated cable attached to the thinner end- Mine was large enough to put both ends of the cable into the cane and glue it in with a wrapping of tape to secure it while it dried. The loop should be put in so that it is slightly curved, and being flexible doesn't hurt the little guys. If you make the loop just a little smaller than the ducks' bodies you can use it as a safe catchpole in case you need to catch one to medicate or clip its wings.

[@HaywireHomestead]

ducks and chickens are great at cleaning up the garden.

[@GoldShawFarm]

🦆🐓➕🌱🌱🌱🔁

[@donnynapitupulu3740]

5:09 RIP earphone users

[@colenorthway8578]

I'm dead af lmao turn it up to Max volume

[@user-mi7xu4nt8v]

Donny Nebuuu my dog started barking at that exact time lol

[@dc4334]

Totally unnecessary. Why did he do that? Ugh.

[@Infinite8blue]

I just spend over 2 hours binging your videos

[@GoldShawFarm]

Thank you! I really appreciate that you’re watching.

[@heracleskarpusi1716]

Those white ducks have the sassiest walks.

[@jimclaire7996]

Nice video, and it seems to be a nice video. God bless you, God bless America.

[@alvexok5523]

I'm always glad to see people today who still believe in God. The athiests have been bending over backwards the past few years to try and shut it all down, trying to shut down something that's been going on for thousands of years, something that major holidays like Christmas is based on, and national anthems like "God save the queen" and "God bless America", and government slogans like "In God we trust", and then there's the pope. They're trying to end all of that, trying to end so many traditions, make the whole world so unrecognizably different from how it's been continuously for numerous millenniums for shit's sake! They are so freakin itchy to want this new world to lack hope and wonder, and they're trying to have us all live in fear and hopelessness just to be "real". I say, whether it's real or not, whether they could be right for argument's sake, why are they trying to make our one time here without hope and wonder? If we are actually here just once, don't you think it would be better not to waste it throwing into other people's faces and having it constantly thrown in our faces how hopeless and ugly it all is?

[@heloshark]

Well produced. Excellent content!

[@leesantos9711]

They sure like to stay bunched up !

[@gozer87]

Vineyards use ducks to go after slugs and snails.

[@USMC.OIF.Vet.]

White House on the Hill fan subscribing with you now.

[@GoldShawFarm]

Awesome! Jake and Becky rule!

[@lowfrequencyfilms]

When i see the white duckies run 👀😱😱😱😍😍😍😍😍

[@monkeynumbernine]

Doing the last of the harvesting... Brussels sprouts, kale, pumpkin..barn cat. 🐈😄 Ich leibe Enten💞🤸😃

[@alvexok5523]

I didn't know brussel sprouts were grown in America very much, I thought they're grown alot more in the UK

[@armaanrampadarath4436]

I really enjoyed your video

[@eliskagray1546]

Your content is my therapy. I love your ducks and animals of any kind.

[@GoldShawFarm]

Awesome! I’m glad you’re enjoying our videos. I really appreciate your support and encouragement. Thanks!

[@tommoore5272]

Crispy duck is best!

[@CHILLZkryptex]

That intro was cool

[@scotman8785]

Very enjoyable video. "Release the Quacken". That's funny.

[@ed4all33]

All ducks go to bed. Hahaha . Wish this worked with kids too. Accept for that one wrong turn , they were pretty obedient .😃

[@esmeraldakitty]

I need ducks! I have a garden and the rumina decollata are aeting my potatoes, sweet potatoes, collard greens and cucumbers!!!

[@builtontherockhomestead9390]

Thanks for the laugh. Ducks are so funny.

[@GoldShawFarm]

I'm glad I made you smile, Kiri!

[@TheMacs1]

Great video!

[@marissatapiru6425]

So cute ducks

[@benjaminfarias9169]

I love ducks.

[@liversuccess1420]

My roommate heard the continuous "ALL DUCKS, GO TO BED!!!" and came in to ask what the heck I am watching 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@captainianmich1814]

The cat at the back is already hunting mice and popping

[@colinbateman8233]

When I was a boy my grandfather always let one hen set with about a dozen chicks in the garden they worked as big control they where he’ll on the strawberry early but this passed

[@Alexarmer]

Great Video!

[@GoldShawFarm]

Thanks!

[@anthonyappleyard5688]

Big domestic ducks are also very efficient anti-frog patrollers; frogs and their spawn are summarily dredged out and pumped down the hatch and disposed of.

[@louisegogel7973]

Anthony Appleyard Frogs eat slugs too.