Ducks as Pets

Ducks are known to be domestic, sociable, and adorable birds. Ducks as house pets are great due to these qualities. Keeping ducks as pets is quite easy and inexpensive. It is better if you get ducklings, so that they become acquainted with the environment, which makes them more sociable and friendly to the people around them, especially kids. If you are planning to keep a pet duck, make sure that you get a companion for it, as ducks can easily feel lonely, and need to socialize just like humans do. Also, before keeping them, make sure you plan everything in advance like the space and food. It is mandatory to have a pond or a place where the ducks can swim.

Ducklings as Pets

As with all other pets, ducklings too need proper pet care. Ducklings need constant care for at least the first 5 weeks. Keep the ducklings in a warm place for the first 3-4 weeks. You can put them in a box or a cage, and keep it in a warm place. You can also put a light bulb in one corner of the cage. Avoid placing the bulb right in the center, as they might need to get away from the heat at times. After 4 weeks, you can place the box outside, so that they get used to the weather. Avoid keeping them near water, because if they enter it, they might catch a cold or even drown. They will get used to the weather conditions slowly.

Feeding Ducks

Ducks love green plants. They can eat the weeds growing in your yard. Kitchen leftovers can also be given to the ducks, but make sure they are not too spicy and are mold free. Always give the ducks clean water to drink. You can also feed the ducks salad greens, chopped eggs with the shell on, cottage cheese and worms. In the case of ducklings, they should be fed with a duck starter for the first 2 weeks, and then with a duck grower from 3-7 weeks.

Types of Ducks

There are different types of ducks, with different characteristics. Let's look at some of the duck types.

Mallard Ducks
Mallard ducks can be easily distinguished, and are found on a large scale in the U.S. During the breeding season, the males can be recognized by their green heads and yellow bills, and the females by their brown feathers. During the non-breeding season, the males can be recognized through their bright orange feet. These are not domesticated ducks, therefore, they come under the category of wild ducks.

Pekin Ducks
Pekin ducks are also known as white Pekin ducks. They are domesticated ducks, and are widely used for the production of eggs and meat. Pekin ducks are very friendly, with a cool temperament. They follow the owners just like dogs, and make excellent pets. They have a white plumage with a yellow bill. So, if you want to keep white ducks as pets, Pekin ducks are the ones for you.

Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy ducks are very popular because raising them is inexpensive and less time-consuming. Muscovy ducks do not like to be over handled by humans, and are less prone to illnesses as compared to other ducks. The average lifespan of Muscovy ducks is seven years. Muscovy ducks are tropical birds and can adapt to extremely cold conditions very easily. Muscovy ducks do not swim much like the other ducks.

Runner Ducks
Runner ducks are compared to the wine bottle due their shape and long legs. They are often trained by exhibitors and give good number of eggs. Runner ducks are quite friendly, but can easily panic if disturbed. They are also more prone to worms, and hence have to be de-wormed twice in 21 days, and then regularly every 5-6 months.

Rouen Ducks
The Rouen ducks resemble mallard ducks but are slightly bigger in size. They cannot be used primarily for production of eggs. Rouen ducks are calm and friendly, though they are heavyweight and bulky. The males have a green head and the females have brownish feathers. This breed originated in France

Keeping ducks as pets when there are dogs in your house, is not a very good idea, as dogs can chase and harm your ducks. You will have to take care of your ducks in case there are any dogs around, by keeping them in large containers, where they will be safe at night.

Raising ducks is quite simple. But you have to take care about cleanliness, as you will find their excreta and feathers scattered all over the yard. You also have to keep the pond water clean to prevent it from pests, which are harmful to ducks.

We have now learned everything about ducks as pets. They are cute and proven to be good pets. So, you can go ahead and get these charming birds home, and have a good time watching and playing with them.