how do i convince my parents to let me get a duckling?

[Aunt Angus]

um, guys i just want a duck...
All you guys are doing is repeating what you have said in other parts of the conversation...
i just want somone to say straight out "ok heres what you need in order to take care of ducks" I have money and stuff ready. recently ive been doing my chores without them asking me to do it so stop harassing me about that. if your going to tell me something pleaseeee just tell me what i need.
thats all i want at the moment.

Well...

Ducks need a big brooder. I started with 4 ducks. Within 4 weeks, they went from teeny fuzzballs to almost full sized. I changed brooders 3 times because they kept outgrowing them. My final brooder was 16 sq ft.

Their brooder needed changing 2x a day. I took out all of the bedding, scrubbed everything down, and replaced it all twice a day. As they got older, it was 3x a day. That means before I went to work, as soon as I got home, and once more before I went to bed.

They will need duck/chick starter (unmedicated) and added nutritional yeast at first.

Ducks need water 24/7. They don't just drink it. They have to bathe in it. For the first 5 weeks, I took my duckies swimming in the bathtub every day. At first, the water needs to be, like an inch deep, and it needs to be warm because ducklings aren't waterproof and can get chilled easily. That's why the brooder needed constant changing.

Once my ducks were fully feathered and ready, they moved outside into a duck house that is adjacent to my coop. That needs changing daily. They also need their waterers changed daily, sometimes twice.

They also get illnesses/injuries. I spent an hour every night for 2 months straight soaking and treating bumblefoot. I have a duck vet. It costs money to care for them.

My ducks have a kiddie pool that I empty and scrub every 2-3 days. I also skim it 2x a day.

I also want to point out that I haven't been on vacation in ages because my ducks need care. My chickens I could leave for a few days if a neighbor would check on them. My ducks I can't. They are too messy, eat too much food, and need fresh water every day. Every. Day. Rain, shine, snow, hail. I was out there in a blizzard a couple of weeks ago, filling buckets and mucking out duck mess.

I am all for folks getting ducks. I love ducks. But I wouldn't recommend them for beginners who don't have experience with chickens or quail or some other birds. And ducks live several years. You will go off to college at some point. My Pekin, Julep, ended up here when her owner left for college and her parents didn't want to take care of her anymore.

Take a good hard look in the mirror and make sure you are the kind of person who can commit to that level of care. You may well be, but your parents seem doubtful. I wouldn't let my kids get ducks if they asked. They're very responsible, but they are too busy, and I know I'd end up doing the work.

 

[STACEYH]

ok so, I am trying to convince my parents to let me get a duck. They're very stubborn and are saying no but I really really want a duck. I am a teenager and they do not think I am responsible enough for a duck, though if I got one I would be so happy and very responsible, but they just don't believe me.
how should I convince them? I need something really good because there very stubborn!
please help me fulfill my dream life with a duck!!!

First you need good grades in school. Second learn about the needs of the animal/s you really really want. Then start doing odd jobs and save the money to support said animals. This shows responsibility. Then ask them again, telling them what the requirements are for the ducks (food, shelter ect.) and how you plan on being responsible for them.

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

I agree with the above answers. You have to be prepared to cover 100% of their cost, care, and housing setup if they will belong to you and not your parents. I keep my ducks on my parent's property. I have been taking care of my dog and cats' costs and care since I was a young teenager, and so my parents knew I would do the same with the ducks and didn't worry about that. Some reasons I also gave them as to why ducks could be beneficial were bug/fly control, and the higher selling price of duck eggs. So if you or your parents value entrepreneurship, you could turn it into a small business either selling eggs, hatching ducklings, or selling fertile eggs. I'm making a profit of around $15 a month selling duck eggs, which isn't much but sure isn't bad for the fun of keeping ducks. My parents even mentioned getting rid of their chickens and switching to ducks, though I don't think they're serious.
But even with you doing all the work and paying for everything, the ducks' mess and noise will still be on your parent's property, and if they say don't want that, that's the way it goes until someday when you have property of your own.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My parents even mentioned getting rid of their chickens and switching to ducks, though I don't think they're serious.

If they kept a calendar, they wouldn't be. Unlike chickens, who lay pretty regularly, my experience with ducks has been that they lay a clutch - roughly one a day till they are happy with the number - then stop laying for a while. Even with 9 laying-aged hens, I'm either getting 1-2 a day, or 7-8 a day, with no in between. Hard to make a stable business on that sales model.

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

If they kept a calendar, they wouldn't be. Unlike chickens, who lay pretty regularly, my experience with ducks has been that they lay a clutch - roughly one a day till they are happy with the number - then stop laying for a while. Even with 9 laying-aged hens, I'm either getting 1-2 a day, or 7-8 a day, with no in between. Hard to make a stable business on that sales model.

Yeah, I get a steady 4+ dozen a week from 12 hens, but I'm sure they won't be laying like this every year. This is the first year for most of them. It may not be a stable business but still a fun one that could make a little profit. I think selling fertile eggs would be much more profitable too, since they go for around 4 times as much.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Wish my ducks would learn from yours - they all seem to be on the same cycle. Either almost all are laying, or almost none are. (Pekins)

 

[raingarden]

OK @AuntAngus. It's all true. I've seen the light and may have to quit this duck stuff.

But ducklover, would your parents be able to let you have ducks even if they wanted to? It takes a lot of space and you can't keep them in the house. What are you working with here? How much yard or field is there and what is already taking up space there? A detailed drawing or photo would help.

 

[Aunt Angus]

OK @AuntAngus. It's all true. I've seen the light and may have to quit this duck stuff.

Sorry? Just sharing my reality.

 

[Sara S]

well I just had a doctor's appointment and on the way there I was like "dad, what do you think about ducks?" and he said very bluntly "no" He's very stubborn. So I'll have to work with my mom on this one! I will make sure to show her those pictures!

Is anyone persuasive willing to write me a letter as to why my mom should let me get ducklings. I'm not very good at it or else i'd write it myself. I just really wanna get a duck and name one waddels and the other james pond or jackie chan (if its a guy) if its not a guy then probs just puebe (pwebay)

Lol do you know anyone with baby ducks, because my friend got a kitten from someone and she couldn’t keep it. So she gave it to me if I wanted it and I said ofc but my moms husband isn’t big on anything. She asked me to just ”watch it” until her cat and babies. As soon as she saw him she said we’re keeping him. as long as you show them you can keep it clean then you should be good to go but ur parents are proly different from mine.

 

[PopoMyers]

Lol do you know anyone with baby ducks, because my friend got a kitten from someone and she couldn’t keep it. So she gave it to me if I wanted it and I said ofc but my moms husband isn’t big on anything. She asked me to just ”watch it” until her cat and babies. As soon as she saw him she said we’re keeping him. as long as you show them you can keep it clean then you should be good to go but ur parents are proly different from mine.

Kittens are way different in the intensity of care needed, versus ducks. And all these cute babies grow up.