Duck as Pets

Considerations before Purchasing a Duck(s)

A Duck is an interesting pet and can be rewarding with the correct attitude and energy as the owner.

1. Legal and Housing Considerations

For a Suburban Duck Pet

Duck as a Pet

Review municipal bylaws for your location regarding Duck/Poultry ownership.

• Many towns/cities restrict or tightly regulate poultry in local neighbourhoods
• Ducks are not indoors pets – ducks require a secure outdoors area for roaming
• Ducks are noisy
• Ducks are messy
• Duck poo stinks

You must take into consideration concerns that nearby neighbours might have objections.

2. Ducks are Outdoors Pets

Duck as a Pet

Ducks cannot be house-trained:

• Ducks are at home walking in mud near their water hole and must be cleaned before going into your house
• Duck bedding gets wet – may create a smell in your house
• Ducks are messy eaters and spread food about
• Duck frequently poop – wherever they are standing
• Cleansing of your pet duck’s indoor area is a daily routine for cleanliness and safety
• Hand washing with soap and water is essential whenever you have handled anything with your pet duck.

3. Water Pool is Mandatory

For Your Pet Duck’s Well-Being

Duck as a Pet

Water for your duck is a constant necessity.

• Regular drinking access
• Bathing their feathers
• Swimming exercise
• Cleaning their nostrils and eyes – submersible depth of water
• Dabbling possibilities as a natural behaviour
• Have two separate water sources – one for swimming and fresh water for drinking

A clean water filled kiddies pool can function as pet duck’s pond.

4. Common Duck Pool Risks

Duck as a Pet

Water must be clean and fresh daily.

1. Stagnate water will cause eye and nostril problems
2. Stagnate water will cause painful infections
3. Stagnate water will cause will cause communicable illnesses
4. Frozen water must be heated for use
5. Area around the duck pond/kiddies pool with become very muddy and requires management

Ducks are water fowl.

5. Social Needs

Duck as a Pet

Ducks are sociable water fowl:

• A single duck without companionship may become stressed, lonely
• A single duck may become very vocal calling for companionship
• Two ducks are the suggested social combination for contentment

Some single ducks do bond with a human care-taker.

6. Pet Duck Time Commitment

Basic Needs to Be Done Daily

Duck as a Pet

A duck pet is a daily time consumer:

1. Feeding correct measure proportions at determined times
2. Providing clean water in a cleaned bowl
3. Cleaning any indoor areas daily
4. Letting your pet duck out and back into your house at regulated times

Ducks are an attention needy pet – are you committed.

7. Predatory Protection

While Your Duck Pet

Is Outside and Expose to Attack

Duck as a Pet

Ducks are vulnerable to ground attack:

• Raccoon
• Coyotes
• Foxes
• Weasels
• Minks
• Snakes
• Snapping turtles
• Dogs – even neighbourhood pets

Ariel predatory birds-of-prey attackers:

• Bald eagles
• Golden eagles
• Owls – Great Horned, Barred – being nocturnal hunters – catch ducks in roost at night
• Hawks
• Vultures
• Hawks
• Falcons – peregrine
• Crows – eggs and small ducklings
• Ravens– eggs and small ducklings
• Magpies– eggs and small ducklings

Predatory-proof fencing, locking systems and a secure enclosure or coop is necessary.

8. Weather and Climate

Duck as a Pet

Ducks are a heady fowl but do have needs:

1. Shelter from extreme cold – a heated environment
2. Shelter from winds of power and big gusts
3. Shelter from extreme heat – shade
4. Ice free water in winter – may require heating for comfort

Cold winter areas require serious commitment for your pet Duck’s comfort, security and health against freezing conditions.

9. Feeding Your Pet Duck

Constant Costs

Duck as a Pet

Your pet Duck must be fed daily at regular times;

1. Socialized feed recommended by your veterinarian
2. Supplements as recommended by your veterinarian
3. Specialized duck pellets
4. Poultry feeds as recommended for your duck

Duck treats to be given in moderation:

1. Vegetables = frozen peas, sweetcorn, lettuce/romaine best, kale, Swiss chard, cucumber, broccoli
2. Grains – oats, wheat, and cooked rice
3. Protein – meal-worms, earthworms, cooked fish
4. Fruits – blueberries, watermelon, strawberries

Foods not to Feed your Duck:

• Bread and crackers
• Onions and garlic – toxic
• Raw beans – toxic
• Citrus fruits – can hinder calcium absorption

Suggestions for Duck feeding:

• Avoid choking – chop fruits/veggies into small/bite-size pieces
• Avoid over-feeding
• Do not leave uneaten food in drinking water – can cause harmful bacteria
• Always have fresh water available

Allow your pet Duck to forage for grass, weeds and bugs – often these are natural supplements.

10. Travel and Lifestyle

Duck as a Pet

1. Ducks are not easily boarded out
2. Ducks do not travel well for vacation trips
3. Necessities for taking and maintaining a duck on travel would be over-whelming
4. You will require a reliable poultry sitter
5. Spontaneous trips are difficult if not impossible to entertain
6. Child/Children Considerations

Owning a Pet Duck

Duck as a Pet

A pet Duck creates an opportunity under supervision to teach a child/children pet responsibilities:

• Feeding, water and cleanup
• Gentleness or the duck may nip the child
• Teaching reasonable expectation with pet

Ducks are not a cuddle pet.

12 Veterinarian Care

Duck as a Pet

You will be required to find a bird/duck Specialist Veterinarian:

• Specialist in farm animals
• Specialist for exotic animals

A veterinarian specialist may be quite costly – consider an injury/illness contingency.

Ducks Require

Lots of Attention

But their Friendship

Can be Rewarding

 

Your Emergency Photos/Video on

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Made it Easier to Find

And Quicker to Reunite

Your lost Pet Duck

To You Safely