How to Raise Ducks at a Suburban Home

Ducks can make good pets at a suburban home and great entertainment for the kids.

Ducks may not be the obvious choice of pet at a suburban home, but they are increasingly popular. They are moderately easy to raise and provide a constant supply of eggs for the breakfast table. Ducks are friendly and can be affectionate pets that will entertain the kids. Ducks are waterfowl and enjoy splashing in ponds, but they can be raised on land as long as the proper care is taken for them.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ducklings
• Starter feed
• Heat lamp
• Layer pellets
• Pine shavings
• Cardboard box
• Plastic sheet
• Cloths
• Small bowls
• Water
• Paddling pool
• Chicken wire
• Wood

1. Ducklings can be purchased from local farmers, pet stores and feed stores. Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images

   Buy ducklings from a local feed shop or farmer. Ducks are seasonal pets and most breeds hatch in spring. Three or four female ducks will provide more than enough eggs for the family. Buy only female ducks to keep the eggs unfertilised and flock size small.

2. Give your new ducklings a warm and safe resting place. A cardboard box is ideal either in the house or shed as long as it is warm. Place a plastic sheet inside and cloths on top as lining. Set a heat lamp over the box to keep the ducklings warm. Use bulbs that are lower than 40 watts to avoid overheating. Keep the heat lamp on for seven to 10 days and reduce the temperature as they become fully feathered.

3. Feed the ducklings with starter feed in a small bowl. Prevent choking by mixing a little water with the feed. Ducks are messy eaters and enjoy playing with their food, so it is important to change the lining of the box every day. Place a small bowl of fresh, clean water in the box. The bowl needs to be deep enough so that the ducklings can submerge their heads but not their whole bodies, as their feathers are not yet waterproof.

4. Bathe the ducklings every day in a sink or shallow pool to introduce them to swimming once they have grown their adult feathers. Increase the depth of the water daily and provide a ramp so that the ducklings can climb out and to prevent them from drowning. Once the ducklings are swimming confidently, they are ready to move out and explore the backyard.

5. Build a shelter for your ducks in the backyard. Use chicken wire and wood to construct a simple shelter or convert the shed into a duck house. The shelter must be predator proof with a bolt on the door to keep the ducks safely inside during the night. Use pine shavings as bedding to provide a warm and comfortable place for the ducklings to sleep. Provide the ducklings with water to bathe and swim in, if you don't have a pond use a hard plastic paddling pool and change the water regularly.

6. Introduce the ducklings to their new home and allow them to explore a small section of the backyard to familiarize themselves with it. Lead the ducklings to the pond or paddling pool and let them play. Herd them back into the shelter at night and bolt the door to keep them safe. Provide them with fresh drinking water and layer feed.

7. Collect the duck eggs from the shelter or duck house. Inspect the shelter and backyard each day as duck breeds lay at different ages. Sell the excess eggs at the market or surprise friends with a fresh batch.

Tips & Warnings

• Ducks do not need water to swim in as long as they are given plenty of fresh water to drink and can submerge their heads.

• Signs of panting and drooping wings mean that your ducks are too hot and need additional shelter and water to cool down.

• Cats and dogs need to be trained not to attack ducks if they are to be kept together.

References

• Grange Co-op: How to Raise Your Baby Ducks and Geese
• University of Minnesota | Extension: Raising Ducks
• LiveDucks.com: Duck Care and Feeding