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If you've ever thought about adding ducks to your homestead, this episode is for you.

We sit down with Marc and Katy Metzer of Metzer Farms, one of America's premier family-owned waterfowl hatcheries, to talk all things ducks, geese, and waterfowl.

We cover everything from choosing the right breed and setting up your brooder to keeping ducks healthy, managing water without creating a muddy mess, and whether ducks really need a pond. Along the way, we discuss the advantages of ordering directly from a hatchery, how ducks can benefit your garden, and the important conservation work Metzer Farms is doing to preserve rare waterfowl breeds.

Whether you're dreaming about your very first waterfowl or already have a flock waddling around your backyard, this conversation is packed with practical advice, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of duck enthusiasm.

What You'll Learn

• Why buy directly from a hatchery 
• How to choose the best duck breed for your goals 
• Brooder setup mistakes to avoid 
• The secret to cleaner brooders and less water mess 
• Why niacin is so important for growing ducklings 
• Housing ducks with chickens successfully 
• Do ducks actually need a pond? 
• Best duck breeds for egg production 
• Using ducks for pest control and regenerative gardening 
• How Metzer Farms is helping preserve endangered waterfowl breeds 

Connect with Metzer Farms 

Follow Metzer Farms on IG @metzerfarms

Visit www.metzerfarms.com for a wealth of information and resources including What Duck Breed is Right for You? 

Connect with Homestead-ish

Follow Homestead-ish on IG @homesteadish_pod

Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_

Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson

🌱 As always, stay curious and a little bit wild!