Ducks

Ducks You may think of them as farm animals, but ducks make surprisingly good pets.  These adorable animals are friendly, companionable, and unlikely to fly away.  They’re social and talkative, cute to look at, and they’ll also eat up your kitchen scraps.  Think you might be ready to raise ducks?  Read on! How Many Ducks? Ducks are happiest living in groups, so be prepared to raise a small group.  In a pinch, you can raise a solitary duck, but in that case it’s crucial that you spend a lot of time with your duck so it doesn’t get lonely.  If you’ll be gone during the day at school or at work, it’s best to get a few ducks to raise together. Adopt-a-duck? You can buy ducklings at most feed stores, but ducks can also be adopted from shelters and rescue organizations.  After Easter every year, a number of unwanted ducks are let loose, and these adorable critters often end up at shelters, looking for homes.  You can change the life of some of these ducks if you take in ducklings from a shelter. Handling Your Duck If you want your adult duck to enjoy petting and contact, start by handling it when it’s a duckling.  You’ll need to spend time every day, gently holding and petting your ducklings.  You should keep ducklings inside for the first four or five weeks, until they’re old enough to survive cool nighttime temperatures.  Ask your shelter or local feed store for more advice on raising ducklings. Living Quarters Ducks can live in the house, but they’re happiest outside.  If you’re camping or want to have a mobile duck pen (that wild predators can’t get into), you can build a duck box that’s open on the bottom and has stiff netting on all other sides.  Two people can move the pen from time to time with ducks inside, and in this way you’ll trim and fertilize the grass across your whole lawn!  The pen system will also work when you’re camping. Ideally, ducks will have plenty of space.  Ducks need to have a pond or place to swim.  You can sink a kiddie wading pool in the ground or create a more permanent pond with native greenery.  To protect your ducks from predators, lock them in an enclosure (similar to a chicken coop) at night.   Food and Feeding Ducks eat a wide variety of things, which is great if you’re trying to cut down on kitchen waste.  In addition to duck feed and cracked corn, ducks can eat chopped vegetable scraps, hard-boiled eggs, and any dark, leafy greens.  Make sure your ducks always have plenty of water to go with their food.   Ducks will also eat a number of garden pests.  Many gardeners are delighted to learn that their ducks will eat slugs, snails, and other yard bugs.