The idea of owning a duck as a pet may sound like a fun and unique adventure, but are ducks good pets? Before diving into the ownership of this unlikely companion, there are several questions that you may want to ask yourself, such as the following:
- Are ducks loud pets?
- What are the easiest ducks to keep?
- Are ducks allowed in city limits?
- How do ducks show affection?
Today, we’ll cover the answers to these questions and more to help you make an intelligent, informed decision about keeping a duck as a pet. Let’s get started!
Ducks as a Pet Breakdown
Owning a duck can be a lot of fun, as they are very smart and emotional animals. Ducks can be trained to perform various tricks, and they’re always down for a good snuggle session. These social creatures love to be around people and other animals, especially other ducks. They even enjoy fun activities and games!
But like other pets, such as dogs and cats, ducks are also a huge responsibility. You must learn the proper care that a duck needs to give it a happy and healthy life.
Duckling Care
Most individuals will choose to get their ducks as ducklings. This is usually the best option, as you can socialize them early on and get them comfortable around you and your family.
During the first three or four weeks of its life, a duckling must be kept warm and dry. They do not yet have the necessary feathers to protect themselves. You can keep them in a box or a cage with some kind of heat supply, such as a light bulb. Be sure to keep the temperature between 80 and 85 degrees F.
If you use a bulb, be sure to place it on one corner of the cage. Ducklings need to be able to move from the warmed spots in the box to the cooler spots as needed.
During these first couple of weeks, you mustn’t leave a water bowl in the cage. While ducklings do need water, they’re a little clumsy and can fall into the bowl. Not only could they possibly drown, but the water could make them too cold.
At the four or five-week mark, you will notice that your ducklings have their full breast feathers. At this point, they’re ready to head outdoors. Make this transition easy for them by slowly leaving them outside for longer and longer periods.
Housing
Ducks are considerably low-maintenance when it comes to shelter. In fact, many people actually choose to use a simple dog house to offer a place for their ducks to get out of the wind and rain. You can keep your ducks extra comfortable by bedding the house with straw or wood shavings.
Both fencing and housing requirements are typically minimal, but you also need to consider where you live and your surroundings.
Ducks only need chicken wire fencing about three feet high, but you should aim to make it higher if you have a serious concern for predators (including dogs and cats).
Likewise, if your area experiences extreme cold weather, you will want a house with a door that closes. You may even consider getting an insulated house, though that’s typically not necessary.
And as far as size goes, aim to give ten square feet of space per bird. So, if you have two birds, you need 20 square feet.
Of course, if you have a fenced-in yard already, you can choose to let them roam as they please without chicken wire.
Nutrition
A duckling should stay on a duck starter until it is about seven weeks old, at which point you can switch them over to an unmedicated chicken feed.
On top of choosing a trusted and high-quality chicken feed, you also need to make sure your duck has consistent access to grit. Grit is a ground-up stone that a duck keeps in its gizzards. Since ducks do not have teeth, the presence of stones helps to grind up their food.
Ducks also love to snack on weeds, vegetables, and grains. If you keep a garden, your free-range duck will be very happy. Additionally, you can also feed your duck your family’s leftovers like fruits and vegetables – so long as they are all fresh and free of pesticides.
While it’s not necessary to have a pond for your ducks, you should provide them with an ample supply of water. This water should be stored in a deep container that allows your duck to submerge his head entirely.
Swap out the water regularly. A duck enjoys clean freshwater, so if it’s looking a little murky, it’s time to change it.
Ducks as Pets Pros and Cons
Like any kind of pet, there are both pros and cons to owning a pet duck. Knowing the ups and downs of duck parenthood can guide you during the decision-making process.
Pros
Ducks have a lot of endearing qualities that make them exciting and loving pets. Knowing the pros of ducks as pets might help you decide that they’re the perfect pet for your family.
Ducks are friendly and intelligent
Ducks get along very well, both with humans and with other ducks. Therefore, it’s easy to keep multiple ducks on your property. In fact, your duck will probably like that better than being alone. These waterfowl are not solitary animals; they love companionship and can even become depressed when they’re alone.
Ducks also love people, and, likely, yours will quickly become attached to you. They love to play games, learn tricks, and even cuddle with you and other birds. You can easily teach your bird to give you kisses, play with toys, and perform tricks if you really take your time with them.
In short: they’re much more than just farm animals!
Ducks lay eggs
Just like chickens, ducks lay eggs that you can use to feed yourself and your family. The average duck lays between 200 and 250 eggs per year, with extraordinary ducks laying up to 350. Plus, they continue to lay eggs long into their lifetime.
Unlike chickens, a duck will lay eggs throughout the year. This offers a steady stream of fresh eggs right in your backyard.
Duck eggs are much larger than chicken eggs, surpassing them in weight by a whopping ten ounces. Additionally, duck eggs offer more omega-3 fatty acids and stay fresher longer than average chicken eggs.
Ducks are natural pest control
While ducks usually eat chicken feed and like to snack on plants and vegetables, they are actually omnivores and will eat tons of pests like insects. These birds love to pick up snails, mosquitoes, ticks, worms, roaches, slugs, and more lurking around your home and yard.
Some ducks also dive into large pests like mice, snacks, and frogs. While not as likely, it’s good to know that your loyal duck has your back and will clean up your property for you!
Ducks are inexpensive
From the initial cost to housing and food, ducks are fairly inexpensive pets to keep. A baby duckling can cost as low as one or two bucks, and chicken feed isn’t expensive either. On top of that, grit lasts a long time, and you can supplement your waterfowl’s diet with leftovers from your own table.
Cons
Even the sweetest, cutest little puppy comes with its own set of cons, such as potty training and long playtime sessions, so it should come as no surprise that a special animal like a duck also has some downsides to consider.
Ducks are loud
Are ducks loud pets? One of the most deterring cons about owning a duck is the significant amount of noise that comes with the territory. If you’ve ever heard a duck quack from afar, try to imagine that sound right in your backyard – all the time.
These emotional animals are quite expressive, so you can expect them to communicate with you and each other frequently. They tend to be little chatterboxes, and the noise is often irritating to many people. If you’re wondering how to keep ducks quiet – you probably can’t.
Ducks poop a lot
If you’re not aware of the fact ahead of time, you may be shocked by the amount of poop that your duck leaves in its tracks. We’ll be frank: ducks poop a lot.
The upside to this is that their poop is great for your lawn and makes an excellent natural fertilizer. However, the smell can be pretty darn potent.
A lot of poop means a lot of maintenance to their living area, so you’ll have to make time to hose down their house every day if you don’t want to suffer the smell.
Ducks might destroy your garden
If you keep a garden, a duck may not be the best pet for you. While these omnivores like to chase bugs, they also love to pick at the green and leafy plants.
It’s not impossible to have both a nice garden and ducks, but you will have to make a few changes. An enclosed garden may be the best way to protect it. Or, you can try to keep your ducks in a fenced-off portion of your property.
Best Ducks for Pets
So what are the easiest ducks to keep with the friendliest temperaments? Well, a duck as a pet should be well-behaved, friendly, and calm. It’s also best to keep flightless ducks who can’t get away easily.
Domestic duck breeds that meet these requirements are candidates to be pets.
For example, Welsh Harlequin ducks are uniquely calm, curious, and unafraid of people. They are excellent foragers, making them easier to feed. If you’re looking to produce eggs (or more ducks), you’re in luck– they breed easily and can lay over 300 eggs per year.
Cayuga ducks are another option, as they’re both docile and relatively quiet. Their heavy body weight compared to smaller breeds results in poor flying ability, and they don’t often wander far from home.
Pekin ducks are hardy, able to endure harsher weather conditions and illness better than many breeds. They’re quiet friendly as well.
As you can see, different breeds offer different qualities that make them more or less suitable as pets. You should diligently research each one to make sure it possesses the right personality traits, docility, and ease of care for your particular situation.
Where Can I Buy a Pet Duck?
There are tons of farms across the country that sell ducklings for very low prices. A quick internet search can bring you to local farmers in your area who sell. While you can purchase ducklings online, be sure to check out the seller to make sure they’re reputable.
If you’re not interested in caring for a duckling, you can also search for local animal shelters to adopt an adult duck.
FAQs
Our FAQs section below contains several common and frequently asked questions that you may find very useful during your preparation and buying process.
Can you keep a duck as a house pet?
While you can keep ducks as house pets, it’s still important to give them plenty of access to the outdoors. Ducks are naturally outdoor animals, and they love spending time outside.
If you’re wondering, “can I keep a duck in my room?” The answer is technically yes. Just make sure that it’s not cooped up for 24 hours a day. Give you a duck the same free-range that you would for a dog or cat.
Are ducks affectionate?
When given the proper care, ducks can be very affectionate animals if properly cared for. But how do ducks show affection? They cuddle and give kisses, of course!
Are ducks friendlier than chickens?
Most ducks do tend to be friendlier than chickens, but this doesn’t mean that every duck is friendlier than every chicken. Several chicken breeds are super friendly and love humans, just as ducks do.
Do ducks get attached to humans?
Ducks can get very attached to their humans, especially if you get them when they’re ducklings. In fact, a duckling can even imprint on you.
What happens if a duck is imprinted on you? This simply means that the duck has decided you are now their new mommy or daddy. The imprint will stay in effect throughout your duck’s lifetime, so it will always recognize you in this way.
How long do pet ducks live?
Pet ducks can live for a relatively long time when cared for properly, up to 10-15 years. Some have even been known to survive for 20 years.
Can I have ducks in my neighborhood?
Every state and local neighborhood has different laws concerning the ownership of farm animals like ducks, so it’s important to check with your local municipality before purchasing one as a pet. For example, some neighborhoods may allow chickens but not ducks. Other areas may not allow any kind of poultry.
But are ducks allowed in city limits? The answer is generally the same, so again – check with your local policies. You can check out some state codes here.