For my next Permsteading project, I've started toying around with the idea of adding ducks to the mix. I heard once that ducks are more prolific layers and tend to lay for a larger portion of the year than do chickens.
This prompted a bit of research. Come to find out, ducks seem to beat out chicken eggs in every conceivable category when it comes to producing eggs for the table save one - duck eggs have about twice the cholesterol.
Other than that one potential drawback, it seems that if one were after eggs, ducks might be the better option.
My only experience with ducks is that Youngblood had some when I was a wee toddler but he was made get rid of them by his mother because they developed the habit of relieving themselves on her porch.
Does anyone have any experience keeping ducks? If so, what's your take on how well they fit in on a diversified farm? Is there any downside to having them around? Do they require a pond, etc.?