How to convince my mom to let me get ducks

[CarleeAnn]

Thanks for asking @lomine . Some died unexpectedly. I suspect from eating a mushroom or something? And my uncle took the rest to his farm because mom didn't want to have to pay someone to watch just 2 chickens when we were out of town. I honestly don't know what could have killed them. They got a wormer regularly, their food was clean, the coop and run were kept clean, water too. It was unexpected and very disturbing.

Perhaps mention this incident to your mom along with a solution to ensure something similar won’t happen again.

 

[Bridger Davis]

Ok first @lomine I do not have a plan but I have ideas. I know a lot of people in the area and probably could find someone. And also, good idea @CarleeAnn

 

[lomine]

I think just asking a few of those folks if they would be willing to ducksit in the future would be good enough. It's not like you can fully plan it right now but letting your mom know you have a few folks lined up is good.

 

[lcwmt]

I'm a teen though and I've had pets in the past. It's not like I'm going and buying a Jeep to go four-wheeling in the mountains. I have experience in the area and I'm not stupid. I realize my brain is not fully developed but I'm smart and I'm not going to be irresponsible when it comes to my pets. I agree with @chickensreally . My pets would teach me how to be more responsible. And I mean come on! I own a photography business, I can carry a bundle of red oak flooring, IM NOT A 3 YEAR OLD! I made this thread hoping for support but it's turned into (1) a diet conferentation and (2) criticism about why my effort s are not going to work. If you don't have anything nice to say, I i request that you not say anything at all. Thank you.

Dear Bridger Davis, You sound/write, seem like a thoughtful, intelligent person, passionate about a number of things. It's too bad your thread got hijacked (at least 3 different ways).
What ou were asking for was support in convincing/persuading your mom to allow you to add ducks to your life. She hasn't said "no" yet. Why not ask her to write down her concerns/hesitations/issues so you can see what you might need to do going forward. If people write stuff down there's less opportunity for off the cuff remarks and misunderstandings. When we write we usually give more thought to our points. (but as on-line communication proves, this is not always the case <G>)
So, ask your mom to write down her concerns about you having ducks. Meanwhile, you write down what you want and why, how their needs will be met without her direct involvement, how you will pay for their expenses and so forth. What breed and how many do you want and why? Get really specific....
After you've both done the writing (assuming she agrees to), get together to figure it out. Maybe she'll absolutely say no, maybe she'll say yes, with conditions. Maybe you'll become more invested in your duck plans, maybe you'll decide to wait...

FWIW, and off topic slightly, when my daughter was 14 she wanted to get involved in an activity that required her to be up and out of the house and functional by 6 a.m. She was never a morning person. I didn't think it was a good "fit" and said so but also asked her why she wanted to do this. She made a convincing statement, I said yes, she stuck with it for 4.5 years and never slacked. Moms can be persuaded sometimes <G>. go for it!
good luck.

 

[Ducksforlife1]

You could always ask to visit a place with ducks and then go "see mom arn't they adorable, you know you want to have them too. *Puppy Dog Look** And flutter those eye lashes and make some fake tears! Look her dead in the eyes.

Ok first @lomine I do not have a plan but I have ideas. I know a lot of people in the area and probably could find someone. And also, good idea @CarleeAnn

 

[Bridger Davis]

Dear Bridger Davis, You sound/write, seem like a thoughtful, intelligent person, passionate about a number of things. It's too bad your thread got hijacked (at least 3 different ways).
What ou were asking for was support in convincing/persuading your mom to allow you to add ducks to your life. She hasn't said "no" yet. Why not ask her to write down her concerns/hesitations/issues so you can see what you might need to do going forward. If people write stuff down there's less opportunity for off the cuff remarks and misunderstandings. When we write we usually give more thought to our points. (but as on-line communication proves, this is not always the case <G>)
So, ask your mom to write down her concerns about you having ducks. Meanwhile, you write down what you want and why, how their needs will be met without her direct involvement, how you will pay for their expenses and so forth. What breed and how many do you want and why? Get really specific....
After you've both done the writing (assuming she agrees to), get together to figure it out. Maybe she'll absolutely say no, maybe she'll say yes, with conditions. Maybe you'll become more invested in your duck plans, maybe you'll decide to wait...

FWIW, and off topic slightly, when my daughter was 14 she wanted to get involved in an activity that required her to be up and out of the house and functional by 6 a.m. She was never a morning person. I didn't think it was a good "fit" and said so but also asked her why she wanted to do this. She made a convincing statement, I said yes, she stuck with it for 4.5 years and never slacked. Moms can be persuaded sometimes <G>. go for it!
good luck.

GOOD IDEA!!! thanks so much for your post these seem like great ideas and I appreciate your concern! Support really feels a lot better than criticism! Thank you!!!

 

[Bridger Davis]

Here you go @Sara Ranch !

What breed?
Magpie, Cayuga, and Pekin
How many?
6. 2 of each breed.
Where would you get the feed?
Tractor supply Co.
How much (on average) does a bag of feed cost?
$16
Who's paying for the feed?
Me(Bridger)
Is there a vet within reasonable distance that treats ducks?
Yes. West ridge animal hospital is an avian vet as well.
How often and how much are they feed?
They will have 2 1 gallon feed containers and they should always be full but put away each night.
How much is a duck visit?
$40.70 for overall exam and $85.40 for an emergency visit
What's your plan if a duck needs medical attn?
Take them to West Ridge Animal hospital if I evaluate that the state of the duck is critical.


How much do vitamins cost for the ducks?
Brewers yeast ( or niacin ) is $13.
Do you have feed dishes? (Don't use mom's BEST dishes!)
I will be getting feed dishes soon from TSC.


How loud are the ducks? (Pekins are VERY loud while other breeds are much quieter.)
The pekins will be loud, while the Cayuga and magpies will be docile and quiet.
How big do the ducks get? (Pekins are LARGE ducks where Calls are tiny.)
The pekins are a heavy weight breed weighing up to 9 lbs. The Cayuga is medium and the magpie is a lightweight breed.
How friendly are the ducks? (Some breeds are friendlier than others.)
All ducks should be relatively friendly.
How long do they live for?
9-12 years
What if they have babies????
This is not an option because they will all be ducks.
How nutritious is a duck egg compared to a chicken egg?
A duck egg has 4-6 times more vitamin D, up to 1\3 less cholesterol, 2-4 times more omega-3, and a higher fat and protein level than chicken eggs.
You talked about modifying the chicken run for the ducks. Mention that in the report and outline what you plan to do.
The door to the chicken coop is already very wide. There is plenty of ventilation in the coop as well. The main adjustment is getting ready to put the kiddie pool in the ground.
Will you use sand or hay or pine shavings for the floor?
I will use the deep litter method with pine shavings.
Where will you get it?
Tractor supply Co.
How often will you change it out?
I will add shavings monthly still using the deep litter method but I will turn up the litter and soil and mix it weekly.
Provide a timeline in your report.
This fall, I will be working on preparing for the ducklings, getting material needed and working in the garden area where the ducks will be. This winter, I will go to J And T feed store and order my ducklings. Every purchase I make in these step will be with my own money.


Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[lcwmt]

Here you go @Sara Ranch !

What breed?
Magpie, Cayuga, and Pekin
How many?
6. 2 of each breed.
Where would you get the feed?
Tractor supply Co.
How much (on average) does a bag of feed cost?
$16
Who's paying for the feed?
Me(Bridger)
Is there a vet within reasonable distance that treats ducks?
Yes. West ridge animal hospital is an avian vet as well.
How often and how much are they feed?
They will have 2 1 gallon feed containers and they should always be full but put away each night.
How much is a duck visit?
$40.70 for overall exam and $85.40 for an emergency visit
What's your plan if a duck needs medical attn?
Take them to West Ridge Animal hospital if I evaluate that the state of the duck is critical.


How much do vitamins cost for the ducks?
Brewers yeast ( or niacin ) is $13.
Do you have feed dishes? (Don't use mom's BEST dishes!)
I will be getting feed dishes soon from TSC.


How loud are the ducks? (Pekins are VERY loud while other breeds are much quieter.)
The pekins will be loud, while the Cayuga and magpies will be docile and quiet.
How big do the ducks get? (Pekins are LARGE ducks where Calls are tiny.)
The pekins are a heavy weight breed weighing up to 9 lbs. The Cayuga is medium and the magpie is a lightweight breed.
How friendly are the ducks? (Some breeds are friendlier than others.)
All ducks should be relatively friendly.
How long do they live for?
9-12 years
What if they have babies????
This is not an option because they will all be ducks.
How nutritious is a duck egg compared to a chicken egg?
A duck egg has 4-6 times more vitamin D, up to 1\3 less cholesterol, 2-4 times more omega-3, and a higher fat and protein level than chicken eggs.
You talked about modifying the chicken run for the ducks. Mention that in the report and outline what you plan to do.
The door to the chicken coop is already very wide. There is plenty of ventilation in the coop as well. The main adjustment is getting ready to put the kiddie pool in the ground.
Will you use sand or hay or pine shavings for the floor?
I will use the deep litter method with pine shavings.
Where will you get it?
Tractor supply Co.
How often will you change it out?
I will add shavings monthly still using the deep litter method but I will turn up the litter and soil and mix it weekly.
Provide a timeline in your report.
This fall, I will be working on preparing for the ducklings, getting material needed and working in the garden area where the ducks will be. This winter, I will go to J And T feed store and order my ducklings. Every purchase I make in these step will be with my own money.


Let me know if you have any other questions!

Great job! Keep us posted please.

 

[lomine]

My only concern would be the number of ducks you want. In the pictures the coop and run look fairly small. How big is everything?

(Just a side note, females are called hens and males are drakes. They are all ducks.)

 

[chickens really]

Not sure why everyone is giving this young person a hard time?....Stick to the original post and leave it at that...I'm pretty sure once Mom is on board the Ducks will be well taken care of...This teen sounds pretty mature and if it ends up to not be a good decision the Ducks will find great homes...As I said in a previous post....All young people learn from having pets....I did...I thank my parents and my Husband for all the animals I have in my life...They keep things real.....