I want to thank you guys so much for your advice and things. I am not 100% sure if I'm getting a duck, but I'm just stable enough to have one. After all this though, it's up for consideration. Perhaps if I explained more of my situation for you guys?
Well I'm 18. I live in central Pennsylvania with my parents. We have a dog that isn't really animal aggressive but she definitely takes time to warm up to other pets. I do have a basement for the person that asked. The pros of my basement is its secluded and spacious, nobody would bother the duck. The cons are it smells like mold, it's all concrete and gets pretty chilly. As for my yard, I have a very spacious yard, it's not fenced in and we do have neighbors with dogs that bark but you can't see them. Which is why I commented about the harness or walking a duck simply because my yard isn't fenced and if a neighbors dog ever got loose, I would need to get the duck and head for the house.
In my opinion I don't think it's a good idea for it to be in the basement. 1) the mold can lead to sickness, 2) ducks need companionship, I have one Muscovy duck whose about 8 weeks old. Right now he's an inside duck but will be moved outside when we get a house built for her. Ducks poop A LOT, Quackers is un diapered because diapers aren't something I'm comfortable with having her in her own mess. Then having to constantly change it. We have hardwood floors so I'm constantly moping up. If you have carpet you'd definitely need to have diapers on hand and change them frequently.
I have a door in my bedroom that leads outside, so it's really easy access to let the duck outside when I need to. I just wanted one for right now because I get lonely in my house. My dog is really old and she doesn't pay attention to me. I don't have a job yet, but when I get one, I'm hoping to get a job during the nightshift simply because pets sleep at night. So if I put the duck in a crate before I headed out, it would be awake when I got home in the morning and because the max amount of hours I ever sleep is 3-5, I would still have time to play with the duck. So I'm not really sure if getting a second duck right away is good with my situation.
You may sleep only 3-5 hours now, but once you start working you'll probably sleep longer. So that's 8 hrs away working, plus the hours you'll be sleeping. The duck will get bored and lonely. I can't even take a shower without Quackers quaking at me, and muscovies are supposed to be the quietest lol. I'm also not the only one in the house and she has full range of the house and 8 cats to play with. I think she'd go crazy locked up in a room all day lol.
I'm not really sure if its necessary to get a second duck with the first one .. Especially since its my first ever duck and I have no experience with it. Would it be okay or still the same if I waited a year and got a second duck for the first or is it truly recommended to get two at once?
I only have one, but like I said I'm not the only one in the house and we have cats that she plays with.
My duck would only be outside long enough to get its daily exercise in swimming/walking (however long that may take) and then I would walk it straight back into my bedroom.
Since Quackers has been an inside duck since she was a week old she doesn't like being outside. At first she'd just sit at the door and quack. Even with me being outside with her. She's slowly getting use to being outside. I just have to have patience and take baby steps with her.
Unfortunately, I do feel for the comments about winter. My main concern is swimming in the winter and the weather. I'm not really sure. I'm not a cold weather lover myself, so I can't understand the ducks thoughts either. If the kiddie pool is covered in snow or something, will the duck still swim in it and is that safe?
Quackers only stays in the water for less than 5 minutes. Just enough to bathe and jump out. Winter wise, I'll probably just fill a pool twice a week. Just so she can get cleaned up.
As for The duck diapers thing, someone told me that making your own diaper is a lot more cost effective considering your duck does grow quickly, so she sent me a link to making your own duck diaper which was really cute.
Mind sharing the link?
So based on my situation, I can almost guarantee most of you probably won't think this situation is good for a duck. Keep in mind, I won't get it until April which gives me a good amount of prep time.
One more thing ..I'm moving to the south with my boyfriend in about a year or two. We've been planning it for a while, so it won't be as cold in the winter then, if that changes any more advice.
I would suggest waiting till you get situated in your new place when you're settled. Then you could give it your utmost attention and will know if you'll have enough time for it.
Thank you guys so much. Sorry it's kind of lengthy. I really do appreciate all comments and thoughts. I'm kind of excited to get a duck because I've wanted one for 7 years now.
But I am willing To wait a few more in order to get the perfect living situation for my pet.
I highly recommend waiting, if you haven't already then I'd look into the different breeds.
Hope you don't take my opinions the wrong way. It of coarse is totally up to you when you decide to get your baby.
