how hard is it REALLY to take care of ducks???

[Kschwartz]

Quote:
No, you CAN'T! First of all, it is illegal. Second of all, the domestic mallard is not as "savy" in the wild as a truely wild mallard. You would just be feeding the local predators.

X2
Kschwartz - You shouldn't have gotten ducks if you are just to release to become prey for predators.

I'm not going to release mine. I just have know OTHER PEOPLE who release theirs.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
X2
Kschwartz - You shouldn't have gotten ducks if you are just to release to become prey for predators.

I'm not going to release mine. I just have know OTHER PEOPLE who release theirs.

Don't stress over it- sorry I sounded so harsh, too, but that's a hot button topic for many duck owners. It happens so often!

You know, we all had to learn over time, so maybe now you can begin to educate the folks who still do it.

 

[missred871]

Well .... sidestepping the whole release issue.... cause it has already been properly addressed and the original statement was removed....

I dont know what all the hubbub is about feeding twice a day, and I tried an auto feeder.... they just wasted all their food, they literally ate a 5 gallon bucket a DAY and there was only 9 of them. So I feed them about 2 gallons of food a day, they get a veggie can of catfish food in their pool and when I have them (which is usually always since it has been so hot) they get thawed frozen peas and sometimes lettuce. They should most importantly ALWAYS have access to water, get them a small kiddie pool if you dont have a pond, they arent high maintainence but they are super messy when they are young! They are still messy as adults but they are great animals. I love my duckies! Just be sure you can take care of them properly if you cant then dont get them. I am a mother and that is what I would say to any teenager or child. Make sure that you know it is like having children in that, you wont be able to go away for a weekend, or spend the night away from home, UNLESS your parents agree to take care of them while you are gone... hahaha. Sorry I just know my mother would have laughed at me if I asked that. Anywho, there are lots of brilliant and experienced people here on BYC that can help you out should you need the advice but getting any animal is going to take responsibility and you will have to stick to your choice.

 

[missred871]

Quote:
I'm not going to release mine. I just have know OTHER PEOPLE who release theirs.

Don't stress over it- sorry I sounded so harsh, too, but that's a hot button topic for many duck owners. It happens so often!

You know, we all had to learn over time, so maybe now you can begin to educate the folks who still do it.

What scares me about people who do release is all the people who go to the pond to "feed the ducks" lethal bread! grrr. I took some chicks and ducklings and a grown duck to my daughters prek class in the spring, I taught the kids and the teachers how bad bread was and gave them happy safe alternatives. I wrote two articles about dumping ducks this spring, though I dont believe the local paper published them.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
You should have reported them. It's Illegal and you can get a very heavy fine for doing so.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
X2
Kschwartz - You shouldn't have gotten ducks if you are just to release to become prey for predators.

I'm not going to release mine. I just have know OTHER PEOPLE who release theirs.

That makes more sense since you explained it.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
YES, ducks will gorge themselves. I have 25 to prove it. Auto feeders are great, just not what we do because I do rescues and I want to be able to check on them so feeding time is great for that. We used to give 2 large feeds a day but now we do 3 smaller feeds a day and snacks like fruits and veggies.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
You should have reported them. It's Illegal and you can get a very heavy fine for doing so.

The person who posted that did NOT know that at the time. As is clearly stated above. Said poster now knows. Please read ALL posts before responding.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
Don't stress over it- sorry I sounded so harsh, too, but that's a hot button topic for many duck owners. It happens so often!

You know, we all had to learn over time, so maybe now you can begin to educate the folks who still do it.

What scares me about people who do release is all the people who go to the pond to "feed the ducks" lethal bread! grrr. I took some chicks and ducklings and a grown duck to my daughters prek class in the spring, I taught the kids and the teachers how bad bread was and gave them happy safe alternatives. I wrote two articles about dumping ducks this spring, though I dont believe the local paper published them.

There is one exception to this rule, and only one! We have an Aunt Millie's store/factory here in town that sells bags or barrels full of bread. We ask specifically for the diabetic bread which has less sugar and calories. That alleviates the fattening part of the issue. Then we laid it out in the sun (in the winter we put it in the oven) and toast it which takes care of the soft being bad. We have been shocked at how expensive feed has gotten lately so we had to do something, so I did hours of research. Also, some stores (here we get it at Sav-A-Lot) will have things like lettuce and fruits or veggies discounted when their new stock comes in and the old is about to expire in a day or two and feed that. But you have to be VERY careful with it. Look at it carefully and make sure there's no mold or anything spoiled and feed it almost right away. We also ask farmers if we can take some of their corn crops before they harvest and most don't care because what we take is nothing compared to what's left over.

 

[missred871]

Yeah ours LOVE corn on the cob lol