House Ducks? 😍🦆

[Flockincrazy]

Hello fellow duck lovers!

I've read a lot of threads about raising ducks outside, but I haven't seen much on keeping ducks in the house. I realize this isn't a super common occurrence and I may be a tad weird, but I can't be the only one keeping ducks as pets, right?

I'm planning to have my trio of Welsh Harlequin ducks outside and inside whenever my husband will allow it The ducks are only four weeks old right now so they're not quite ready to be outside full time anyway, but the more time I spend with them, the more I want them to stay with me! ❤

Duck diapers aren't an option until they're bigger and I'm having no luck with DIY sock diapers for the ducklings (I'm not much of a craft type) so they hang out on puppy pads inside. They sleep in a clear tote at night... in my room. And also come with us whenever we go on a family adventure...it's not weird, you're weird!!

Can I see your house ducks please?

Do you have any tips for raising indoor/outdoor ducks? What works for you?

Of course I've added some gratuitous duckling photos and their beach video

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My ducks are pets but they are outside water messy pets

 

[raccoonroom]

In the last couple weeks my forearms have been absolutely shredded to pieces, I look like I fought a tiger. I dont know when we crossed from "I dont like this and I will yell about it but otherwise accept my fate" into "SHES TRYING TO MURDER US FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE" but I've taken quite the beating every time they've needed to be handled (which is at least twice a day to go out to the pool, so its not like they arent used to it by now)

Oh my gosh, same! If mine are on the floor or sofa with me they all want to snuggle-bug up like crazy and go to sleep. But if I am lifting them in or out of the brooder? "MURDER! MAYHEM! HUN INVASION! CALL THE POLICE!" SO many dramatics.

I've had the EXACT same experience as you both!

My ducks have a bath every single morning and they know it's coming because they start quacking in excitement when they hear the water turn on, but OH LORD THE DRAMA when I pick them up. Then they quack and honk because they want out, so they are LITERALLY asking for it, but it's like I've betrayed them on a deep level EVERY TIME! And of course, once they're on the ground again, we're best buds

And getting them back in their brooder?? Forget about it. They will follow me so closely outside like I'm about to step on one kind of close, but as soon as I go to put them back in their "home" it's complete anarchy! As they've gotten bigger and bigger it's getting so hard to contain these feather babies and their claws are becoming a real bummer

@LT71689 I'm having a similar issue with my ducks as well. One of my ducklings is constantly challenging me. I thought she was just curious and that's why she nipped, but my "sweet ducky baby" has become an alpha teenager and really pinches whenever she feels like it. I've had to "Cesar Milan Duck Whisperer" her a few times now by pinning her down until she stops fighting and she's only four weeks old!! Where did my sweet girl go??

 

[LT71689]

I've had the EXACT same experience as you both!

My ducks have a bath every single morning and they know it's coming because they start quacking in excitement when they hear the water turn on, but OH LORD THE DRAMA when I pick them up. Then they quack and honk because they want out, so they are LITERALLY asking for it, but it's like I've betrayed them on a deep level EVERY TIME! And of course, once they're on the ground again, we're best buds

And getting them back in their brooder?? Forget about it. They will follow me so closely outside like I'm about to step on one kind of close, but as soon as I go to put them back in their "home" it's complete anarchy! As they've gotten bigger and bigger it's getting so hard to contain these feather babies and their claws are becoming a real bummer

@LT71689 I'm having a similar issue with my ducks as well. One of my ducklings is constantly challenging me. I thought she was just curious and that's why she nipped, but my "sweet ducky baby" has become an alpha teenager and really pinches whenever she feels like it. I've had to "Cesar Milan Duck Whisperer" her a few times now by pinning her down until she stops fighting and she's only four weeks old!! Where did my sweet girl go??

My dummies like to stand in the shower stall and honk. They do NOT want the water turned on (I tried. It was practically an assault) and they get kinda worried about me when I shower (they wouldn’t let up *screaming* one day every time I shut the door so I had to have an audience ) they just want to sit in the dry shower just...honking.

one of them laid in some messy poop the other day and I plopped them both in the tub to clean up cuz it wasn’t time for pool swims yet, that was also an all out attack. They haven’t been in the tub since they were little fuzz balls. They wanted to eat the stopper but they’re also terrified of the noise the drain makes so it was a constant fight of trying to keep them from pulling it out, keeping them from freaking out when they did, and trying to wash the big ones belly. We only lasted about 5 minutes and everybody needed a nap when it was over

 

[raccoonroom]

My dummies like to stand in the shower stall and honk. They do NOT want the water turned on (I tried. It was practically an assault) and they get kinda worried about me when I shower (they wouldn’t let up *screaming* one day every time I shut the door so I had to have an audience ) they just want to sit in the dry shower just...honking.

one of them laid in some messy poop the other day and I plopped them both in the tub to clean up cuz it wasn’t time for pool swims yet, that was also an all out attack. They haven’t been in the tub since they were little fuzz balls. They wanted to eat the stopper but they’re also terrified of the noise the drain makes so it was a constant fight of trying to keep them from pulling it out, keeping them from freaking out when they did, and trying to wash the big ones belly. We only lasted about 5 minutes and everybody needed a nap when it was over

OMG!

What breed do you have? I feel like that probably plays a role in how they react to things right?

My Welshies are obsessed with the tub, the shower, the pool and of course the beach (if it's not too wavy, they got tossed a bit on a windy day and now they won't go near the water when it's wavy haha).

If I run the shower, they start honking and crying because they WANT to come too. So, I have also had a shower with an audience When you're a mom, you're just used to it, so you know babies, toddlers, kids that don't knock and ducks are all invited to the show

I tried to socialize Runners in the same way and that did NOT go well at all. I was pretty sure they were going to have tiny duckling heart attacks if the cat even walked by the door. I tried handling them often, they hated it. The best I could do was have them eat by hand, but even then they would take the treat and run They live a happy life on my sisters property, free range all day and no one ever touches them. I'm sure they like it much better that way.

 

[LT71689]

OMG!

What breed do you have? I feel like that probably plays a role in how they react to things right?

My Welshies are obsessed with the tub, the shower, the pool and of course the beach (if it's not too wavy, they got tossed a bit on a windy day and now they won't go near the water when it's wavy haha).

If I run the shower, they start honking and crying because they WANT to come too. So, I have also had a shower with an audience When you're a mom, you're just used to it, so you know babies, toddlers, kids that don't knock and ducks are all invited to the show

I tried to socialize Runners in the same way and that did NOT go well at all. I was pretty sure they were going to have tiny duckling heart attacks if the cat even walked by the door. I tried handling them often, they hated it. The best I could do was have them eat by hand, but even then they would take the treat and run They live a happy life on my sisters property, free range all day and no one ever touches them. I'm sure they like it much better that way.

Two Pekins. They LOVE their pool (not so much if I have to put them in it, but they've freaked out about that a lot less than they did with the tub earlier this week - maybe because it's bigger and they were actually trying to get in the pool when I've helped them along, they didnt want to get in the tub) and they know the kitchen sink running means they're getting their drinking water refreshed (which means they get to make a brand new mess of it). They love the shower spray or mist setting on the hose, they try to bite the water like dogs but they're TERRIFIED of the little fountain I have in the bird bath, tried putting that in the pool once and as soon as it turned on they flew out the sides. I thought theyd love the fountain and was so excited when I remembered I had it and could give it to them. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to what they like and what they're deathly afraid of.

 

[Animal family]

Awe they are so cute!

So cute! Of course your not crazy! And your not the only one. All animals want to be loved! My 2 Swedish ducks come in the house all the time, they do have diapers if they hang out for a long time. Usually it’s just in the winter on a cold cold day.
Check out Tyrant Farms. I follow them on Instagram and they have a top notch blog. They have the same ducks as you and have excellent advice about house ducks, diapers, food, safety, you name it!

 

[raccoonroom]

Two Pekins. They LOVE their pool (not so much if I have to put them in it, but they've freaked out about that a lot less than they did with the tub earlier this week - maybe because it's bigger and they were actually trying to get in the pool when I've helped them along, they didnt want to get in the tub) and they know the kitchen sink running means they're getting their drinking water refreshed (which means they get to make a brand new mess of it). They love the shower spray or mist setting on the hose, they try to bite the water like dogs but they're TERRIFIED of the little fountain I have in the bird bath, tried putting that in the pool once and as soon as it turned on they flew out the sides. I thought theyd love the fountain and was so excited when I remembered I had it and could give it to them. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to what they like and what they're deathly afraid of.

I completely agree that there's no rhyme or reason to what they're deathly afraid of!

Today I set the sprinkler in the front yard instead of just using the hose on the garden and they FREAKED out. It's the same sprinkler they like in the backyard, but on the front yard? DEATH MACHINE!!

 

[raccoonroom]

So cute! Of course your not crazy! And your not the only one. All animals want to be loved! My 2 Swedish ducks come in the house all the time, they do have diapers if they hang out for a long time. Usually it’s just in the winter on a cold cold day.
Check out Tyrant Farms. I follow them on Instagram and they have a top notch blog. They have the same ducks as you and have excellent advice about house ducks, diapers, food, safety, you name it!

Thanks so much for your help! Swedish Ducks are gorgeous. How do you find their temperament?

I just followed Tyrant Farms on Instagram! I remember reading their blog a while ago and totally forgot what it was called. They're actually the people that inspired me to raise WH as pets.

Quite a few people have mentioned my house ducks should have their own Instagram, but oh man, between the ducks, the kids, the gardens, the house and my other fur babies I highly doubt I'd find the time!

 

[AlyssaB4]

I waited until my two were big enough for the adult diapers and by that point they did NOT want to wear them. I managed to find someone who was selling 4 packs of progressive sizes but by the time they got to me, they'd grown out of all but the biggest size and I figured I'd just wait for their adult ones at that point. That was a mistake, they should have been handled and at least tried diapering a lot more as babies because if I put the diapers on them now (8 weeks) they practically hang themselves trying to pry them off. I imagine they'd EVENTUALLY get used to it....if all three of us didnt suffer heart attacks first

I forwent the diapers and bought a big king sized fluidproof sheet for the carpet and one for the couch. We have concrete floors in the kitchen/dining/bedroom/bathroom so they can just run around all they want and I follow with some paper towels, upstairs in the living room they have to be on the sheets. They were pricey but my god do they work, and they just go in the wash. If i had a clothesline a plastic tarp would have worked too for a fraction of the price.

I'd caution that duck poop/urine can be quite caustic, so if you do have any accidents on your wood floors, clean it up fast, otherwise it might eat the finish right off.

Hi, I just came across this thread, and I made the same mistake with my 2 ducks so they do not want to wear the diapers. I was wondering if you were able to get them to wear them eventually or still no?

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I am in the same boat. We lost our one girl a few weeks ago and now I’m overprotective of my other two. I live in Alberta Canada and our weather can get very cold. In the summer and warm spring and fall days they spend the days outside with the pond and yard. At night in a duck house I built that sits under the covered deck for extra protection from weather. But now that it’s cold I have set up a room in our basement. We had taken the carpet out a year ago so it’s just cement. I laid down tarps and taped them up the wall a bit and to the floor I have a smaller house I put in that area and I used a pet pen to block off the area. The tarp makes cleaning it very easy. I do. This several times a day if they are in all day and night my laundry room is next to it and has a floor drain so I set up the kiddy pool in there so they can still have pond play time and and water they spill goes into the drain. I have a heater in the outside pond so it doesn’t freeze over so if it’s nice enough out in the day time they can still go in it stays about 65 degrees
My girl has decided the little duck house inside is her nesting box and only lays eggs in it so I added a bit of hay in a corner for them to sleep on in the indoor pen.
Here is some pictures of my set up.
yes my boy has angel wing. We tried so hard with the help of a vet to keep his wing in a bandage long enough to correct it but he kept getting them off no matter what we did. It doesn’t seem to affect his daily life and they are well protected in a fenced in yard with our dogs and cats to protect them
When I got close to taking pictures of her eggs in the duck house my drake ran in to get between me and the eggs while my girl sat back lol only time I have ever seen them in that house.
we used it for my drake when he was a baby before he could be with the other ducks
I always say nobody truly understands the love for ducks until you own one. They are truly the best pet ( minus the poo) I have ever owned