Ducks as Pets – Complete Guide for Beginners

Translated by Nick R

These days having a pet is no longer a choice of whether have cats, many other animals have joined this list and ducks are one of them, enchanting their owners for their particular squawk, the way they wag their tails, or their water splashes. In any case, having one is a new adventure waiting for you. Come with me to know more about them.

Table of Contents

Why have a duck?

Ducks are very sociable, affectionate, and intelligent birds. It’s recommended for them to live in pairs or groups so they can stay together and share. But in some cases, when they grow up with their owners, the bond they create with them is incomparable and often facilitates the training:

If you have a large space at home like a backyard or patio they will brighten it up; it will certainly be a great way to have fun every day.
Any ponds you arrange for them can also be a way of decorating your home space, but don’t doubt that it will get messy in no time because of your new pets.
Ducks are very clean and don’t usually have a strong odor like other pets might.
Ducks are independent and can do fine spending the day grazing until nighttime.
Ducks are one of the bird species that have been domesticated which makes their care easier and less cruel than with exotic or wild birds.

Cons of ducks

Although having a duck can be an attractive and curious idea, you must know above all that a pet is always a responsibility and that their welfare depends largely on the care you give them. Some disadvantages of having ducks are:

Ducks need a lot of space to live comfortably; a house or apartment is not a great option if you want to keep these animals, even though there are ways to care for them.
Ducks have adapted better to live in water and having access to it helps them to be healthy and clean; you need enough room for a pond deep enough for them to take a dip.
Cleaning can be difficult when dealing with a duck, besides being disastrous, their abundant intake of water makes them have frequent and much more liquid stools than other birds such as chickens.
One duck is not enough, it’s important that they live in pairs which may require a little more money for feed and veterinary care.

A short history about ducks

Before learning more about ducks, it’s important to know a bit about why they are considered domesticated bird and their process up to the present day.

It’s believed that the process of domestication of the duck began in China where they are still raised for meat and egg consumption. However, it wasn’t an isolated process since some studies show that ducks were raised in captivity before 500 B.C. and even Egyptians used them for sacrifices and the Romans for food.

Another interesting fact about ducks is their relative, the mallard (Anas platurhychos), domesticated through selective breeding. This species belongs to the order of Anseriformes, which includes other birds such as geese and swans.

Did you know that…

According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), by the year 2020, about 89% of the 1.155 million ducks bred in the world will be in Asia.

Where should your duck live?

As I had told you at the beginning, if you are going to adopt ducks, you must provide them with a lot of space to live in, and just as they need to move and swim, they also need a place to sleep, rest, seek shade, protect themselves from predators or rain, all of which they should be able to do in a custom-made pen. Some aspects you must take into account to make one are:

Try to have a minimum of 3 square meters, although you know that the bigger the enclosure, the better.
Ducks, contrary to chickens, rest on the ground, so they won’t need shelves to sleep and all their things should be at ground level, although if it is not possible, putting ramps so they can climb up to their pen should not be difficult for them.
Make the pen on a sandy floor, which will be easier to clean, and cover it with straw for better cleaning.
Their resting areas can be made with straw or sawdust since they don’t get wet so fast and you can change them easily to avoid the proliferation of fungus or bacteria that could harm your duck.
The entrance to the pen should be big enough for two ducks to enter at the same time since they are not very organized when entering a place and can get trapped or not know how to get in.
The grid or mesh for the pen has to be placed from the ground, which means that it must be buried at least 30 cm, and it must be at least 2 meters high. This way it is also accessible to you and cleaning it will be much easier.
You can use plywood to make the corral, although you can also find pre-designed enclosures in some specialized stores that can be assembled in your backyard.
A temporary alternative while you are making the pen is to use a dog house large enough for a duck to spend the night and have its food and feed without danger of being exposed to the outdoors.

Remember to keep your duck’s grazing area clean of any hazardous items; they are not usually very smart at picking out what they eat from the ground and can hurt themselves.

Swimming is a must for ducks

Something else your duck will need is a pond in which to bathe, swim and cool off. This is crucial so your duck can moisten its nostrils and cleanse itself of any parasites in its feathers.

Ponds may take more space than a pen and be more complex to build and maintain. A perfect alternative for those who can’t afford it, is to use plastic kiddie pools about 20 to 30 cm deep so that they can swim and dip their heads in.

In our blog about how to make a duck pond you can get an idea of how to make one in the simplest way possible.

Remember! Ducks are quite messy and you’ll notice it as soon as they touch the water: it will get dirty quickly and you’ll have to clean it frequently as they will drink out of it as well as poop.

Basic equipment of the duck pen

Feeder

The feeders you use for your ducks must be adapted to the shape of their beaks. Most important of all, the tray (where they will eat) must be wide and ample, so if you use a feeder made for hens, you must take it into account.

Drinker

Drinkers are essential for ducks because they drink about a liter or more a day, so access to water must be constant from any place where they can drink it clean. Although, this equipment should not be a dripper but open places that remain clean and without exposure to contamination such as dirt or soil.

The type of drinkers you choose depends on the number of ducks you have since in poultry farming it is common to have drip feeders or cups for better hygiene. If there are only a few ducks, a common and open one will not be a big problem as long as you clean it periodically and change the water daily.

Duck grooming

Ducks are a hopeless disaster so if you have one, be prepared to face frequent cleaning, since the good health of your winged friend will depend on it.

Keep in mind that ducks will be clean as long as they have access to a pond with clean water or whatever can replace it, however, whether you will have to clean their pen and pond frequently depends in part on how many ducks you have.

Cleaning the pen

The pen will get dirty from your duck’s wet feet, duck droppings and traces of liquid food. If you keep the floor covered with sand and straw, cleaning will be much easier, just use a broom to remove all the dirt and replace it with new, clean dirt.

Try not to let moisture accumulate on the floor as this will allow fungus and bacteria to grow, which can harm your duck’s health.

Cleaning the pond

The pond will get dirty from the moment your ducks use it but don’t neglect cleaning because as I said before, your ducks may drink water from it, which could harm them if the water is too dirty and stagnant.

An alternative to delay cleaning the pond is to install filters, which will allow water to be moved and cleaned constantly. This can be very expensive, however, so another alternative for those who have a pond or want to do it, is to make sure that it is not so big to make it easier to clean and refill it. Remember that you can use the water you are throwing away for your plants or garden.

Remember to clean the pond walls with a brush and water. In addition, you can use a little bleach, which should be mixed with water according to the instructions on the label.

Finally, if you use a paddling pool, you can do the same procedure as above, but be careful not to damage the plastic material they are made of and make sure to rinse them thoroughly.

Duck feeding

Ducks are omnivores and despite having flattened beaks, they can eat various foods that you must tailor for them. The main source of food or staple food is duck feed, which you can find in specialized stores.

Duck feed is the most complete and suitable food for poultry or wild birds since it is intended to supply all their nutritional needs; however, it is also advisable to supplement the diet with other foods and daily exercise.

To have an exact idea of the feeding of your duck, it must eat between 18 and 20% of protein and a good amount of fiber, about 15 to 20% as well, which you can do with foods such as fruits and green vegetables. Some of them can be:

Corn.
Carrot.
Cucumber (high water content).
Broccoli.
Rice.
cabbage
peach
Apple.

Parallel to the food you feed your duck, it is likely to eat some insects or worms while grazing during the day.

Be careful with fruits because the sugar (fructose) can affect their health!

Supplementation

Your duck may need some supplements to stay healthy, but this is to be determined by your veterinarian based on your pet’s condition and needs. One supplement that is always indicated for a large majority of birds is calcium, which can be given in the form of cuttlefish bones sprinkled on fresh food or finely crushed eggshells.

Additionally, the use of specialized poultry grit will help them better process food in the gizzard.

Prohibited foods for your ducks

Needless to say that a great majority of foods that you consume are not suitable for your ducks, especially processed foods with a lot of sugar, fats, caffeine, and other additives that can be lethal for your duck. Some foods that you must not give them are:

Avocado is toxic for any bird due to the presence of persin.
Milk or dairy foods.
Energy drinks, juices or alcoholic beverages.
Processed foods such as fried foods or candy.

Duck health care

Most diseases in ducks and some other pets can be prevented to a great extent by the care we take of them and if they have contact with other animals that may carry viruses or bacteria.

Common diseases in ducks

Disease	Warning Signs	Treatment
Botulism	It’s a disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, whether ingested or contracted through wounds. Some symptoms are: ∙ Weakness. ∙ Difficulty in moving the legs or standing.∙ Closed eyelids. ∙ Sagging in the neck (drooping neck and head).∙ Anorexia.∙ Green diarrhea.	Fortunately, amidst the severity of the disease, the treatment is successful in most cases as far as the bird has access to water, food, and shade. Treatment for more advanced cases may require an injection of antitoxin, but this is something to be determined by your veterinarian.
Aspergillosis	It’s a chronic respiratory disease caused by mold fungus spores accumulated in your duck’s waste. Some symptoms include: – Shortness of breath.- Panting.- Weakness and lethargy.- Loss of appetite.- Inability to fly or move.- coughing- Wheezing.	It is best to prevent this disease by ensuring that your ducks’ pens are always clean of excrement and humidity. However, if it does happen, the best thing to do is to go to the veterinarian to perform the pertinent tests and provide antifungals, nebulization, or surgery.
Lameness	Ducks’ feet are sensitive to injuries, especially due to their thin and weak membrane. Some symptoms of lameness are difficult walking or swimming, and in some cases, they may not even be able to do it at all.	As soon as you notice that your duck is lame, check its legs for any wounds so that you can clean and heal them avoiding infection and causing further problems. The duck needs rest until it heals and can start exercising again. Lameness can also be due to niacin deficiency; if you think it is due to this, consult your veterinarian for supplements.

Conclusions

Learning about ducks is not a one-day task, many times even reading reviews on the internet will not be enough to discover everything they can offer. However, I’m sure they will be a good companion for you, with whom you can share, have fun and appreciate them in the most beautiful way possible. I hope this new journey with your pet will be full of memorable moments; remember they can live up to 15 years!