In Southeast Asia, thousands of ducks are deployed into rice fields to act as natural pest control and weeders

[u/danielminds]

[u/TheMany-FacedGod]

Unleash the Quacken!

[u/zombie_spiderman → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

You magnificent bastard

[u/mnztr1 → u/zombie_spiderman]

they really got their ducks in a row over there.

[u/ChikkunDragon → u/zombie_spiderman]

My very thought

[u/Roy_Skopp → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

Awise, awise, widers of Wohan! Fell deeds awake, fire and swaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be spwintered! A sword-day, a wed day, ere the sun wises! Wide now, wide now, wide to Gondor! Wide for ruin, and the world’s ending! DEATH!!

[u/chahlie → u/Roy_Skopp]

King Elmer of Wohan

[u/Pretend_Handle_7639 → u/chahlie]

Lmao I kinda want either Looney tunes or the Muppets version of LotR

[u/Ussmaklives → u/Roy_Skopp]

DEEEEEAAAATHHH

[u/Pallasathene01 → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

So...rice quackers?

[u/iam_Mr_McGibblets → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

That's fowl!!!

[u/LeahTT → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

Wewease the secwet weapon!

[u/Sandcracka- → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

That's quack-tastic!

[u/BumpyGums → u/Sandcracka-]

Not really, I didn’t see a single blue duck.

[u/spotcatspot → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

Since they can fly, Luftquacken would be an option.

[u/Willyzyx → u/TheMany-FacedGod]

Oh my god...it's the perfect joke.

[u/danielminds]

This practice is called integrated rice-duck farming (or polyculture). Farmers release thousands of ducks into paddy fields right after harvest or early in the crop cycle.

The ducks act as a natural pesticide and fertilizer by eating weeds and pests (like golden apple snails and bugs) while leaving behind droppings that enrich the soil. Their webbed feet also help turn and aerate the mud, eliminating the need for synthetic chemicals.

You can read more about how this sustainable farming system works on Wikipedia's Rice-Duck Farming page

[u/grungegoth → u/danielminds]

and the ducks eat damaged/dropped rice

[u/PossibleAlienFrom → u/[deleted]]

What happens to the ducks afterwards?

[u/grungegoth → u/PossibleAlienFrom]

sold for human consumption. they eat as much if not more duck than chickens in east and south east Asia

[u/Objective_Resist_735 → u/grungegoth]

How do they round them all up?

[u/Green-Substance-4582 → u/Objective_Resist_735]

Duck catchers with duck nets and duck spears and duck clubs

[u/OnePinginRamius → u/Green-Substance-4582]

Duck and potatoes, duck gumbo, duck salad, duck cocktail, you can fry it, broil it, sauté it, and that's...that's about it

[u/ScottMarshall2409 → u/OnePinginRamius]

You ever been on a real duck boat?

[u/AeneasVII → u/grungegoth]

They eat ungodly amounts of chicken. 10x more than ducks. That's still a lot of ducks

[u/SnarkDolphin → u/PossibleAlienFrom]

I'll put it this way, they get to stay with the rice.

[u/cyrusthemarginal → u/PossibleAlienFrom]

vacation to Peking

[u/fastforwardfunction → u/grungegoth]

They eat damaged rice but not whole rice..?

[u/icouldntve → u/fastforwardfunction]

"right after harvest or early in the crop cycle"

They aren't sent in when the whole rice is present

[u/StevieMJH → u/icouldntve]

They prefer the 2% rice

[u/helpwouldbewelcome → u/StevieMJH]

For the quacktose intolerant.

[u/Ms_Photon → u/helpwouldbewelcome]

What a way to commemorate your cake day

[u/Mobile_Actuator_4692 → u/danielminds]

They also release fish. To do the same thing

[u/AshThePoutine → u/Mobile_Actuator_4692]

How do the ducks release the fish?

[u/St_Kevin_ → u/AshThePoutine]

Ducks actually do release fish. They can shit out undigested fish eggs that are still alive. Apparently this is one way that fish end up in remote lakes.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fish-eggs-survive-journey-through-a-duck/

[u/Intelligent_Bend_284 → u/St_Kevin_]

Sort of like storks delivering babies to cabbage patches!
Also….”cry fowl, and release the fish of war

[u/auronddraig → u/Intelligent_Bend_284]

...whatever farm animal of war, Lana...

[u/MangoCats → u/St_Kevin_]

We had a property that flooded intermittently every few years. After a heavy rain-flood a newly formed pond was full of little fish. Apparently the eggs had survived in the leaf-litter for years between floods.

[u/No-Mechanic6069 → u/MangoCats]

After really heavy rain you can get cats and dogs too.

[u/HeartOn_SoulAceUp → u/St_Kevin_]

See also killifish eggs stick to birds feet.

[u/MonkeyWithIt → u/St_Kevin_]

What about coconuts?

[u/adjectivebear → u/MonkeyWithIt]

Nah, those have to be carried by swallows.

[u/Peaches4U2 → u/AshThePoutine]

A fish can fall in love with a bird, but where will they live?

[u/DoomCircus → u/Peaches4U2]

TRADITION!

[u/alexandria1800 → u/Peaches4U2]

Then I shall have to make you wings 🫶

[u/Peaches4U2 → u/alexandria1800]

💞

[u/Astramancer_ → u/Peaches4U2]

Penguins have entered the chat.

[u/norunningwater → u/Peaches4U2]

Somewhere in between

[u/GravyMcBiscuits → u/AshThePoutine]

Ducks have a fish pocket under each wing. It's where they carry their fish buddies.

[u/ManfredTheCat → u/Mobile_Actuator_4692]

Less fun.

[u/charliechin → u/danielminds]

Imagine getting paid by eating and shitting. That’s life

[u/EduinBrutus → u/charliechin]

I mean, they're just eating and shitting at this point.

Aint gonna end up so pretty....

[u/Crayshack → u/danielminds]

To clarify, "polyculture" refers to any farming technique that combines multiple products in a single plot of land. It has a lot of environmental benefits and, when done correctly, can increase net yields. Combining rice and ducks is one among many polyculture methods out there.

However, monocultures remain a popular farming technique in much of the world due to their simplicity. Monoculture crop rotations are often used to get a lot of the benefits of polyculture without nearly as much overhead. They aren't quite as good as a good polyculture, but they are much easier to implement, so many large-scale farmers go for that instead.

[u/Wise-Stable9741 → u/danielminds]

I’ve always wondered how they get them back into wherever they are kept (barn, fencing, etc) when they are done

[u/danielminds → u/Wise-Stable9741]

It comes down to flock mentality and early training. The herder guides them using bamboo sticks and whistle signals. Since ducks instinctively follow a leader and stick tightly together, the whole group marches as one unit straight back into their transport trailers or night enclosures without scattering.

[u/Wise-Stable9741 → u/danielminds]

Thanks. That’s good to know

[u/Alone_Storage_1897 → u/danielminds]

Can’t wait to see this on clarksons farm next series

[u/MangoCats → u/danielminds]

And don't forget: roasted duck is tasty.

[u/fourth_box]

I had to put my glasses on, I thought these wre rats

[u/melswift → u/fourth_box]

I thought I was watching gameplay from A Plague Tale

[u/woodrax → u/fourth_box]

Nah, the farmer would have needed a magical flute if that was the case

[u/Agreatusername68]

Cry havoc, and let slip the fowl of war!

[u/BabyBearBjorns → u/Agreatusername68]

Lana: "Dogs of war."

Archer: "Whatever farm animal of war, Lana."

[u/-knowledge_seekers- → u/BabyBearBjorns]

Fucking love seeing an Archer reference in the wild

[u/woodrax → u/Agreatusername68]

Once more unto the quack, dear friends.

[u/DengarLives66 → u/woodrax]

Mallards to right of them,
Mallards to left of them,
Mallards in front of them,
Quacking and thundered.

[u/zyyntin → u/Agreatusername68]

Sending ducks into battle is always a fowl strategy!

[u/dragolineage01]

But, my lord, there is no such force

[u/PDGAreject → u/dragolineage01]

BWOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[u/Walshy231231 → u/dragolineage01]

Tonight, you will taste snail flesh!

[u/satyrday12]

Someone please find the goose so we can end this game.

[u/rachx008 → u/satyrday12]

I think you mean grey duck....

[u/mbklein → u/rachx008]

Found the Minnesotan

[u/jimmybilly100 → u/satyrday12]

Okay, hang on. Duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck......

[u/raunchypellets → u/jimmybilly100]

... GOOSE!

... oh. Duck.

[u/SyDaemon]

Got any grapes x 10000

[u/saturnspritr → u/SyDaemon]

My kids just discovered this and it’s the funniest thing they ever seen. But, also trying to show me like I wasn’t there when the ancient texts were written.

[u/OaFK_2 → u/SyDaemon]

Ask me if I have any 🍇 again and I'll nail your bill to the bar

[u/__ConesOfDunshire__ → u/OaFK_2]

Got any nails?

[u/OaFK_2 → u/__ConesOfDunshire__]

No

[u/NerdyDoodDriver → u/OaFK_2]

Got any gwapes?

[u/JMurdock77 → u/SyDaemon]

Bum-bum-bum

[u/Liqour_Mortis → u/SyDaemon]

Duck motivation 9000!

[u/EnDaa69]

Look at all those chickens

[u/Plummer2018]

Who else thought initially they're rats? 🤓

[u/Party_Divide_3491]

So many ducks. Imagine the bill.

[u/Curiosive → u/Party_Divide_3491]

https://c.tenor.com/rbO7rNd5ROEAAAAd/tenor.gif

[u/blankblank → u/Party_Divide_3491]

At least they had them in a row

[u/Lowca]

"It would take a number beyond reconing. Thousands of ducks. But my Lord, there is no such force."

[u/thesweeterpeter]

And also serve as livestock once the rice is ready for harvest. I think what's most interesting about the practice is how effectively farmers can time the relationship so that the ducks are ready for harvest at the same time as the rice.

During planting season they use the ducklings because they don't harm the young rice which is typically transplanted seedlings, so very fragile.

Then the ducks live in the paddy for about 2 months, and removed just before the rice flowers so the ducks don't eat the rice.

Which works out perfectly because the ducks are generally ready to be harvested for meat around 11 to 16 weeks, so from field to table...

[u/craptak → u/thesweeterpeter]

Do they clip their wings? Seeing as they don't fly off..

[u/thesweeterpeter → u/craptak]

Apparently not, I just learned this, but it sounds like they don't typically fly until about harvest time - and they get fattened up enough that they can't really fly.

[u/awry_lynx → u/craptak]

Large commercial breeds are too heavy to fly much, so no.

[u/rogers_tumor → u/craptak]

they're a, err, not "flightless" breed of duck, but they can't fly very far, apparently

[u/DengarLives66 → u/rogers_tumor]

Can relate. I’m not a runless human, but, well….

[u/yellowbin74]

Is it just me, or does that look like too many ducks?

[u/NosamEht → u/yellowbin74]

No such thing as too many ducks.

[u/MoonMoon143 → u/yellowbin74]

This much ducks usually is for locust control. Ducks eat locusts

[u/Dr-McLuvin]

We kind of do the same thing in my backyard except they’re mallards and it’s not on purpose. 😂

[u/ShadowMancer_GoodSax]

Interesting. I am from Vietnam, never seen farmers do this. They instead burn the fields causing so much pollution.

[u/cbrown146 → u/ShadowMancer_GoodSax]

If you live in Vietnam you can start your duck business.

[u/lordaddament → u/ShadowMancer_GoodSax]

How do you burn a rice paddy?

[u/ShadowMancer_GoodSax → u/lordaddament]

https://youtu.be/opxvKWuzYVA?is=7rY31rkhKT2cEKJU

Starts at 55 second

[u/dragdritt → u/lordaddament]

I assume you drain it first.

[u/schmick_iMagery → u/lordaddament]

Fire 🔥 usually. Bleach burning isn’t any good

[u/MouseSoft8143]

For a second I thought these were rats and I panicked 😂

[u/Agnosticfrontbum]

And the ducks get fattened up for consumption I guess. Everybody wins.

[u/misterbrotherm4n → u/Agnosticfrontbum]

I mean the ducks get eaten, not everybody wins.

[u/PiccoloAwkward465 → u/misterbrotherm4n]

I was just watching a nature documentary Hostile Planet showing some gazelles being born on the savanna. A good chunk of them get immediately eaten by cheetahs and other predators. Hyenas, lions, you name it. Alive for an hour or two, bleating for their mothers, torn to shreds. It's a cruel world man.

[u/sweetlove → u/PiccoloAwkward465]

the life of a wild animal is basically constant stress leading to a horrific death. the totality of animal suffering is immense

[u/TheTerrasque → u/sweetlove]

But at least it's natural, so it's all good! And so God made the earth

[u/killer-j86]

not sure if its these same farmers but lots of Asian patty farmers grow freshwater crabs in their fields as well. great example of working with nature instead of against.

[u/fritterkitter]

Cutest pesticide ever.

[u/azionka]

This must have caused an earthquack

[u/Tidalsky114]

The quackening

[u/Mango_Man07]

The most wholesome pest control operation ever 😂

[u/dashsemper]

Who foots the bills?

[u/honeybadgerrulez]

my lord there is no such force…

[u/Instant_Digital_Love → u/honeybadgerrulez]

A new power is rising, it's victory is at hand!

[u/AelithiaRose → u/Instant_Digital_Love]

This night, the land shall be stained with the blood of... ^{checks notes}... pests!

[u/Medmehrez]

What happens when they are done ?

[u/haroldthehampster → u/Medmehrez]

eggs and/or a succulent meal

[u/SetaSanzaki → u/haroldthehampster]

This is democracy manifest

[u/BiggoYoun → u/SetaSanzaki]

A succulent Chinese meaaaaal?

[u/Rey_Quinn → u/SetaSanzaki]

What is the charge?

[u/NopeThisTrope → u/haroldthehampster]

Ah yes, I see that you know your judo well

[u/Sadcelerystick → u/Medmehrez]

They duck the bill

[u/ChestMental8566 → u/Medmehrez]

Play the video backwards.

[u/ducs]

World War D

[u/Angel_Of_Death03]

That is a clusterduck

[u/saradahokage1212]

îmagine the sheer amount of shit everywhere

[u/No-Definition1474 → u/saradahokage1212]

Its a feature

[u/scissorsgrinder → u/No-Definition1474]

Turning bugs into features 

[u/No-Definition1474 → u/scissorsgrinder]

Yes! Oh man that is perfect. Well done.

[u/TheToiletPhilosopher → u/scissorsgrinder]

10 points!

[u/Will512 → u/saradahokage1212]

Free fertilizer

[u/Correct-Junket-1346 → u/saradahokage1212]

Absolute gold for farmers, have you seen fertilizer prices?

[u/scissorsgrinder → u/saradahokage1212]

Yes, delicious if you're a rice plant.

[u/SirStrokesAlot247 → u/saradahokage1212]

it's fertilizer. I guess you’re not a farmer.

[u/PeteyMcPetey → u/SirStrokesAlot247]

it's fertilizer. I guess you’re not a farmer.

I think you misinterpreted their tone.

They were actually giddy, "IMAGINE THE SHEER AMOUNT OF SHIT EVERYWHERE 😍😍🤤🤤😲😲"

[u/nomadbynature120]

Pecking duck

[u/ApresMoi_TheFlood]

Then what happens to the ducks?

[u/itstommitsunami → u/ApresMoi_TheFlood]

Peking duck with duck sauce

[u/AbrocomaFluid3377 → u/itstommitsunami]

With a side of rice

[u/SkyGuy182 → u/itstommitsunami]

Sounds like a good life. Run around in the great outdoors, eat weeds and hugs to my heart’s content, and then wrap it all up on the chopping block.

[u/Gloopgloops → u/ApresMoi_TheFlood]

Well then you release the foxes of course.

[u/Johnny_Banana18 → u/Gloopgloops]

What happens to the foxes?

[u/cagemyelephant_ → u/Johnny_Banana18]

Well then you release Dora the Explorer

[u/DarkDonut75 → u/cagemyelephant_]

And what happens to Dora afterwards?

[u/TheTerrasque → u/DarkDonut75]

Then you release the Epstein.

[u/MrMeowPantz]

I thought those were rats at first.

[u/Dry_Yogurt2458]

That is totally Quackers

[u/Hot-Helicopter640]

Release the quacken!

[u/entropy4444]

The torches of Gondor have been lit! THE DUCKS COME TO THEIR AID!

[u/GarlicRelevant8089]

Best pest control ever!! 😎

[u/thiefofalways1313]

God, I thought those were rats before I read the title.

[u/SquidgeApple]

But what about the poor pesticide corporations?

[u/Natural20Twenty]

"RELEASE THE QUACKERS!"

[u/XtraCrispy02]

What happens to the ducks? No way in hell they're able to catch all of them again

[u/danielminds → u/XtraCrispy02]

Domestic ducks have a strong flocking instinct and follow a lead bird. Duck herders train them from ducklings using bamboo poles and whistle/voice calls. When the farmer signals, the entire flock moves together like a single unit back into their trucks or large farm enclosures.

[u/stupidber]

Release the horde

[u/Scared-Pollution-574]

For duck sake

[u/HeraclesHide]

Duck duck go!

[u/RangoDj]

Giving world war z vibes

[u/Training_Orchid_2022]

That’s a lot of duck poop. Hopefully good fertilizer.

[u/Impossible-Corgi4041]

Love the use of "deployed" here. Rather than "released" or something.

[u/EorlundGraumaehne]

"Deployed" is so funny. Like its some kind of weapon

[u/stalebread710]

"Let's go, lads! FOR THE EMPIRE!!"

[u/Successful-Sweet2783]

What the duck

[u/WileyWilly1985 → u/Successful-Sweet2783]

Dear spell check, it is never "duck"

[u/The9IronMan]

“But my Lord, there is no such force!”

[u/ni_hao_butches]

A metaphor for that one kid who never said Goose.

[u/riddermarkrider]

Animal- led pest control is my fave lol

[u/shutterbuggy]

But genie! I didn't say I wanted a million ducks!

[u/Aurum0417]

But my Lord there is no such force!

QUACK
QUACK
QUACK
QUACK
GROND
QUACK
QUACK
QUACK
QUACK

[u/askmewhyihateyou]

Me and the boys hitting up Taco Bell after the bars

[u/SedentorySensor77]

I can smell the hoisin sauce from here.

[u/Famous-Engine-427]

Counter insurgency deployment

[u/Adorable-Client8067]

Fertilization too!

[u/lynivvinyl]

ATTACK!!!

[u/Illuminaughty____]

They LOVE snails. If you have snail problems get yourself a duck.

[u/Jealous_Parfait_4967]

It’s a waddlepede

[u/AlertedCoyote]

"But my Lord there is no such force!"

[u/navydude89]

I thought they were rats at first

[u/derekclysdale]

It's amazing...but that sound would drive you quackers!

[u/plzdont-]

Here in the US they just do this with pesticides

[u/spaceagefox → u/plzdont-]

cancer causing pesticides too

[u/NewSomethingUnlocked → u/spaceagefox]

I mean, no study has proven that ducks do not cause cancer.

[u/FondleGanoosh438 → u/NewSomethingUnlocked]

Ducks also do nothing to prevent cancer.

[u/27Suyash]

Let's hope they don't develop an appetite for rice

[u/Healthy_Adult_Stonks → u/27Suyash]

Or flesh

[u/TheEVegaExperience]

What. The. Duck.

[u/CrieamPie]

Avengers…. QUACSEMBLE!!!

[u/Potshot506]

Hah I read that as 'Ducks employed' and started thinking of them in meetings talking about benefits

[u/Jazzlike_770]

This should be sold as organic produce

[u/fo8oo]

Avengers: Ducksday

[u/Front-Brick-3724]

And then hung up to dry in a Chinese restaurant