Should you get Ducks as Pets?

Please read this advice very carefully and do your own research. Caring for a duck is more difficult than caring for a dog or cat:

• Research which BREED of ducks you would like to have. They are all different: size, behavior, etc. Adult ducks weigh from 0.9 lbs/ 430g to 13 lbs/ 5.9 kg depending on the breed. 

• Ducks are social animals. Don’t keep just one duck ( in some countries and states it’s illegal ) you need at least 2-5 ducklings. 

• You need to build a duck brooder, which has HEATER, LAMP, water, and food.

• Research what kind of food they need. At different ages, they need different types of food and supplements. Niacin is a critical vitamin required for the correct development of ducklings. In fact, waterfowl have a higher requirement for niacin than chickens. Ducklings have to be warm all the time. The ideal temperature for newly hatched ducklings is 90F / 32C. Make sure to clean the place every day. It’s necessary to provide ducklings with heat for the proper amount of time, usually between 2-6 weeks, depending on the weather and how quickly they develop feathers.

• DON’T leave them with deep water they can climb into when unsupervised as they could become too cold and sick (hypothermia) and possibly drown. Baby ducklings are DROWN very easily.  If you want them to take a bath, make sure that they swim for no more than 5-10 minutes then you need to COMPLETELY DRY them with a hairdryer.

• Keep ducklings inside the house in a DUCK BROODER up to 3 weeks old. After that make sure you have land to keep them outdoors. You will need to build a DUCK COOP and POND for them when they are fully grown. Make sure you have land for them. Also, you need to check BEFORE you will buy ducks the city regulations, every country and city has different regulations for keeping ducklings in your backyard or land. 

• Build a duck house and pond before you bring ducks home. Ducks need a safe and sturdy duck house to protect them from predators like foxes, raccoons, coyotes, hawks, or stray dogs. The duck house should be well-ventilated and insulated to keep ducks safe from extreme temperatures—both heat and cold. Ducks are vulnerable to weather conditions and can suffer if they are not properly sheltered. Building a proper duck house takes time, so ensure it’s ready before you bring ducks home.

• Duck feathers are one of the more significant causes of ALLERGIC reactions when compared to other bird feathers. Yes, the duck sheds feathers a lot and sheds a lot of dandruff, which will fall everywhere where the duck goes. Allergies may become apparent after exposure to ducks due to handling them, cleaning their cages, or being in the area where dust is circulated from housing the birds.

• Research a lot before you buy any ducks. It’s a lot of work and not for everybody. Be very careful. 

• Some people have been leaving their domestic ducks in parks because they don’t want to care for them. DON’T DO THIS. This is ILLEGAL, they are raised for generations in human captivity, and will not survive in the wild.

• Please don’t buy any ducks if you are not willing or able to care for them long-term. Ducks on average will live between 7-12 years but they can live much longer, some for as many as 20 years. 

• Raising baby ducklings is hard. You can always help out your community by ADOPTING fully grown ducks from www.petfinder.com by searching the city, name & filter by birds.