is this a good essay? what should I add or change?
Ducks
Intro
My family is allergic to many, many things. Dogs, cats, hay, grass, rabbits, rodents. So when my brother or I want a pet, we have to get… creative. I managed to get myself a crested gecko, and we have a family (hypoallergenic) dog. But my animal-loving brain could only hold out for so long. On Halloween, in the haze of my sugar rush, I found it. DUCKS. No allergies, plus they give you eggs, and they're still adorable! But my parents have asked a lot of questions about the pets I’ve wanted, so I wanted to know everything. That’s when I started doing research. Then, we started our writer's workshop ela project, and I decided to put my skills to the test. If we didn't have such a small backyard, I feel like I would be ready for a duck.
Why get ducks?
Food
Although ducks eat many things, including kale, cracked corn, oats, rice, birdseed, frozen peas, chopped lettuce, sliced grapes, and more, they can settle for pellets, things they forage, and treats as long as they have the proper amount of niacin. As they age, ducks start to need less niacin and more protein, and laying ducks need extra calcium. According to “For the birds”, a bird care website, “For the first 3 weeks of life, feed a starter diet that is 18-20 percent protein. Make sure the pellets are small enough for ducklings to eat (about 1/8"). From the fourth through the 13th week, switch to a maintenance diet with 14 percent protein. After the 14th week, females should be switched onto a laying diet." Ducks also need grit to help them digest food. Serve this on the side so that they can monitor how much of it they eat. Do the same with calcium if that needs supplementing. If the food you give your ducks doesnt have enough niacin, they can get niacin deficiency, so add brewers yeast or nutitional yeast if you need it.
Duck food cost
Duck food can cost a lot of money. One way to fix this is to look for a store near you that sells food for livestock or exotics. Just remember to factor in these costs when deciding if you want a duck.
Water
Ducks love water and need it to survive. Ducks need water near their food at all times as it is how they swallow. Keep it far away enough, though, that it can't spill into the food. Change it daily. Ducks also can have ponds. Some people make in-ground ponds for their ducks, but most just use a kiddie pool. Clean it often if you choose to use this, as ducks love to make it filthy, but can then get sick from it. You can also set up sprinklers or splash pads for them to play with or only set out the pool on occasion.
What to name your duck
If you already have an idea, you can skip this section, but here are some ideas:
Is this even legal?
In most states, yes, but you should check your city and state laws. you may not be allowed to or need a permit.
Ducks and drakes
To prevent the females from getting hurt, have a ratio of 5 ducks to 1 drake. (a drake is a male duck) You also still might just want one, as sometimes 2 drakes try to mate with the same duck at the same time. Female ducks can be injured or even die if there are too many drakes there.
A duck’s space
Ducks need a lot of room to thrive. They need a nice coop to sleep in, plus a run. A run is basically a playpen for poultry. It’s fenced off on all sides, including the top, because hawks can swoop and raccoons can climb. It is recommended that you give ducks 10 square feet, but if you want to make sure that they don't fight, give them 20 each.
Sanitization
You should clean a duck’s coop fully each week, and the pool daily. Clean up after ducklings at least twice a day to prevent illness.
Ducks and your other pets
It might not seem like it, but ducks can actually get along well with many animals. Most livestock don't mind them, and dogs often actually get protective of the ducklings. Cats will be fine once the ducks mature. Cats may hurt ducklings if left alone. Most small pets will never need to meet your ducks, so they should be fine.
According to Kalmbach Feeds, “Ducks and chickens can be kept in the same brooder and in the same chicken coop. Expect your ducks to grow very fast – faster than you chicks. This is okay. They can still be kept together but your ducks may also be ready to move to the coop a little sooner than the chicks. The difference in growth may also require that you have a larger brooder with more temperature zones – larger ducks can move to the cooler zones while smaller chicks can still get to the warmer zones." The same goes for geese. but, when fully grown, only female ducks can safely be kept with chickens - if a male duck is kept with chickens, he may attempt to mate with the chickens, which could harm or even kill them.
Ducklings
As babies, ducks need lots of care. You have to have the proper setup or they could die.
They need a brooder, which is basically a container to hold them and all they need. ideas for brooders are:
-aquarium(must be big!)
-large hamster cage or guinea pig cage (make it safe for their feet!)
-store-bought one
-tall kiddie pool
In a brooder, ducks need:
-water
-food
-bedding (to prevent straddle leg)
-toy or 2
-heater
Make sure your ducklings are getting enough niacin by buying special duckling food, and that the feed is unmedicated. Also, pay attention to their protein. Too much can hurt them. Ducklings can have a starter for 3 weeks and then grow from 4-18 weeks old.The difference is protein. This is crucial because baby ducks grow incredibly fast and need less and less protein throughout their lives. You can also buy starter/grower and add fish meal or brewers yeast to up the protein and niacin. At 16 weeks, start easing them into their normal diet.
At around 7-9 weeks, or whenever they are fully feathered, they can finally leave the brooder and go to the coop. Make sure to train them to roost, as the earlier you do it, the more likely they are to, and that makes life much easier.
When your duck starts laying
When a duck lays, they need a new diet, with more calcium. ease them into it to make sure that they eat. In addition, if you want more eggs in winter, put in an artificial light in the coop, but only in those months. Make sure that they aren't too stressed and have enough room.
Ducks and the great outdoors
Believe it or not, ducks can be taken on walks. Many sites actually sell duck leashes that attach to harnesses or diapers. A lot of people enjoy taking their ducks to ponds to play with them. Just make sure to keep an eye on them and keep them away from harm.
Ducks and the great indoors
Ducks should be outdoor pets. Keeping them inside may please you, but to a duck, it's not a good life. But, ducks can be let inside on occasion. Some people also bring them inside at night to keep them safe. To keep ducks inside, you have 2 options: only let them be in some areas and clean after them, or diaper them. Diapering catches poop in a cloth to keep it from going everywhere. If your duck is inside during the day, then you should change it every few hours.
(Non-coop) Shopping list
Bonaweite Pet Cole Duck Outside Walking Harness Leash, Adjustable Outdoor Training Traction Rope for Chicken Goose Hen -13.99
In total, it is $223.21. That’s without layer feed when they start that, so make sure you have a full wallet before you get ducks.
The coop and run
There are a lot of things to consider in a coop and run.
Amount of ducks X 20 = amount of square feet needed in your coop or run.
There are a few options for a coop and run-
So, that's pretty much everything about ducks I can think of. If you have more questions, I would recommend going to backyardchickens.com. They are super helpful.
Thank you for reading. Happy duck keeping!
Bibliography
ZoteroBib: Fast, Free Bibliography Generator - MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard Citations. https://zbib.org/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2024.
Intro
My family is allergic to many, many things. Dogs, cats, hay, grass, rabbits, rodents. So when my brother or I want a pet, we have to get… creative. I managed to get myself a crested gecko, and we have a family (hypoallergenic) dog. But my animal-loving brain could only hold out for so long. On Halloween, in the haze of my sugar rush, I found it. DUCKS. No allergies, plus they give you eggs, and they're still adorable! But my parents have asked a lot of questions about the pets I’ve wanted, so I wanted to know everything. That’s when I started doing research. Then, we started our writer's workshop ela project, and I decided to put my skills to the test. If we didn't have such a small backyard, I feel like I would be ready for a duck.
Why get ducks?
- Eggs. ducks produce good eggs that are high in protein and have other nutritional values. They're creamier and richer than chicken eggs and can produce up to 300 eggs per year.
- Pest control and yard maintenance. Ducks eat many things, including worms, other garden pests, and weeds. Let them into your garden to have tiny little farmhands. (just keep them away from the tomatoes and lettuce.)
- Intelligent. Ducks are very smart and can imprint just hours after hatching. Ducks can learn tricks, play, and learn their surroundings well.
- Fertilizer. Many people collect their duck droppings and use them in their gardens. ducks have very healthy diets, so their poop is very good for plants.
- Low-cost- ducks are very affordable animals, especially for their benefits. A duckling costs around 5-20 dollars. Because of their taste for bugs and plants, they can forage a large amount of food, cutting food costs down, too.
- Ducks are messy. You will have to clean up a lot. There is no way around it.
- Ducks grow up. Do not get ducks just because ducklings are cute. They live for 10-15 years and grow incredibly fast.
- Ducks can be loud. Be ready to give up a bit of popularity in the neighborhood.
- Ducks aren't particularly affectionate
- You can have duck egg intolerance
Food
Although ducks eat many things, including kale, cracked corn, oats, rice, birdseed, frozen peas, chopped lettuce, sliced grapes, and more, they can settle for pellets, things they forage, and treats as long as they have the proper amount of niacin. As they age, ducks start to need less niacin and more protein, and laying ducks need extra calcium. According to “For the birds”, a bird care website, “For the first 3 weeks of life, feed a starter diet that is 18-20 percent protein. Make sure the pellets are small enough for ducklings to eat (about 1/8"). From the fourth through the 13th week, switch to a maintenance diet with 14 percent protein. After the 14th week, females should be switched onto a laying diet." Ducks also need grit to help them digest food. Serve this on the side so that they can monitor how much of it they eat. Do the same with calcium if that needs supplementing. If the food you give your ducks doesnt have enough niacin, they can get niacin deficiency, so add brewers yeast or nutitional yeast if you need it.
Duck food cost
Duck food can cost a lot of money. One way to fix this is to look for a store near you that sells food for livestock or exotics. Just remember to factor in these costs when deciding if you want a duck.
Water
Ducks love water and need it to survive. Ducks need water near their food at all times as it is how they swallow. Keep it far away enough, though, that it can't spill into the food. Change it daily. Ducks also can have ponds. Some people make in-ground ponds for their ducks, but most just use a kiddie pool. Clean it often if you choose to use this, as ducks love to make it filthy, but can then get sick from it. You can also set up sprinklers or splash pads for them to play with or only set out the pool on occasion.
What to name your duck
If you already have an idea, you can skip this section, but here are some ideas:
- Aflac
- Cheddar
- Waddles
- Jelly bean
- Snowball
- Puddles
- Popcorn
- Periwinkle
- Chicken
- Winston
- Maple
- Goldie
- Duck norris
- James pond
Is this even legal?
In most states, yes, but you should check your city and state laws. you may not be allowed to or need a permit.
Ducks and drakes
To prevent the females from getting hurt, have a ratio of 5 ducks to 1 drake. (a drake is a male duck) You also still might just want one, as sometimes 2 drakes try to mate with the same duck at the same time. Female ducks can be injured or even die if there are too many drakes there.
A duck’s space
Ducks need a lot of room to thrive. They need a nice coop to sleep in, plus a run. A run is basically a playpen for poultry. It’s fenced off on all sides, including the top, because hawks can swoop and raccoons can climb. It is recommended that you give ducks 10 square feet, but if you want to make sure that they don't fight, give them 20 each.
Sanitization
You should clean a duck’s coop fully each week, and the pool daily. Clean up after ducklings at least twice a day to prevent illness.
Ducks and your other pets
It might not seem like it, but ducks can actually get along well with many animals. Most livestock don't mind them, and dogs often actually get protective of the ducklings. Cats will be fine once the ducks mature. Cats may hurt ducklings if left alone. Most small pets will never need to meet your ducks, so they should be fine.
According to Kalmbach Feeds, “Ducks and chickens can be kept in the same brooder and in the same chicken coop. Expect your ducks to grow very fast – faster than you chicks. This is okay. They can still be kept together but your ducks may also be ready to move to the coop a little sooner than the chicks. The difference in growth may also require that you have a larger brooder with more temperature zones – larger ducks can move to the cooler zones while smaller chicks can still get to the warmer zones." The same goes for geese. but, when fully grown, only female ducks can safely be kept with chickens - if a male duck is kept with chickens, he may attempt to mate with the chickens, which could harm or even kill them.
Ducklings
As babies, ducks need lots of care. You have to have the proper setup or they could die.
They need a brooder, which is basically a container to hold them and all they need. ideas for brooders are:
-aquarium(must be big!)
-large hamster cage or guinea pig cage (make it safe for their feet!)
-store-bought one
-tall kiddie pool
In a brooder, ducks need:
-water
-food
-bedding (to prevent straddle leg)
-toy or 2
-heater
Make sure your ducklings are getting enough niacin by buying special duckling food, and that the feed is unmedicated. Also, pay attention to their protein. Too much can hurt them. Ducklings can have a starter for 3 weeks and then grow from 4-18 weeks old.The difference is protein. This is crucial because baby ducks grow incredibly fast and need less and less protein throughout their lives. You can also buy starter/grower and add fish meal or brewers yeast to up the protein and niacin. At 16 weeks, start easing them into their normal diet.
At around 7-9 weeks, or whenever they are fully feathered, they can finally leave the brooder and go to the coop. Make sure to train them to roost, as the earlier you do it, the more likely they are to, and that makes life much easier.
When your duck starts laying
When a duck lays, they need a new diet, with more calcium. ease them into it to make sure that they eat. In addition, if you want more eggs in winter, put in an artificial light in the coop, but only in those months. Make sure that they aren't too stressed and have enough room.
Ducks and the great outdoors
Believe it or not, ducks can be taken on walks. Many sites actually sell duck leashes that attach to harnesses or diapers. A lot of people enjoy taking their ducks to ponds to play with them. Just make sure to keep an eye on them and keep them away from harm.
Ducks and the great indoors
Ducks should be outdoor pets. Keeping them inside may please you, but to a duck, it's not a good life. But, ducks can be let inside on occasion. Some people also bring them inside at night to keep them safe. To keep ducks inside, you have 2 options: only let them be in some areas and clean after them, or diaper them. Diapering catches poop in a cloth to keep it from going everywhere. If your duck is inside during the day, then you should change it every few hours.
(Non-coop) Shopping list
- Manna Pro Poultry Grit with Probiotics | Insoluble Crushed Granite | 5 LB (Packaging May Vary) (Pack of 2)-$19.98
- Manna Pro Chick Grit Digestive Supplement for Young Growing Poultry & Bantam Breeds-10.99
In total, it is $223.21. That’s without layer feed when they start that, so make sure you have a full wallet before you get ducks.
The coop and run
There are a lot of things to consider in a coop and run.
- The amount of ducks
- The size of your yard
- The size of your ducks
Amount of ducks X 20 = amount of square feet needed in your coop or run.
There are a few options for a coop and run-
Just a place to sleep put inside of a run
A coop with a small run that connects to a bigger one for times they need to stay in a smaller space
A coop with a run under and/or attached to it
So, that's pretty much everything about ducks I can think of. If you have more questions, I would recommend going to backyardchickens.com. They are super helpful.
Thank you for reading. Happy duck keeping!
Bibliography
- Aid, Farm. “HOMEGROWN 101: Raising Ducks.” Farm Aid, 13 May 2020, https://www.farmaid.org/homegrown-101/homegrown-101-raising-ducks/
- .
- Annie. “How to Raise Baby Ducks.” Strong Animals, 3 Aug. 2023, https://www.getstronganimals.com/post/how-to-raise-baby-ducks.
- Care and Feeding of Pet Ducks — For The Birds DVM — Avian Vet. https://www.forthebirdsdvm.com/pages/care-and-feeding-of-pet-ducks#:~:
- text=For%20the%20first%203%20 weeks,with%2014%20 per%20 cent%20 protein. Accessed 7 Jan. 2024.
- Downsides to Ducks, The 100% Honest Truth about Owning Ducks - Home in the Finger Lakes. 9 Mar. 2021, https://homeinthefingerlakes.com/downsides-to-owning-ducks/.
- “How Much Feed Should I Need per Duckling?” BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens, 4 Jan. 2013, https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-much-feed-should-i-need-per-duckling.733998/.
- kat. “What to Know About Raising Chickens & Ducks Together.” Kalmbach Feeds, 6 Mar. 2022, https://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/blog/mixed-flock-101-can-you-raise-ducks-chickens-together/.
- Keeping and Caring for Your Pet Duck | Ducks as Pets. https://www.petassure.com/new-newsletters/keeping-and-caring-for-ducks-as-pets/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2024.
- Lark, Rachel. “What Are the Benefits of Keeping Ducks?” Environment Co, 10 Feb. 2023, https://environment.co/benefits-of-ducks/.
- Liz. “Ducklings 101.” The Cape Coop, 18 Apr. 2016, https://thecapecoop.com/ducklings-101/.
- Raising Ducks. https://www.mannapro.com/homestead/raising-ducks. Accessed 7 Jan. 2024.
- Smith, Pam Goldberg. “How to Care for Egg-Laying Ducks.” Pets on Mom.Com, https://animals.mom.com/care-egglaying-ducks-2071.html. Accessed 12 Jan. 2024.
- The DOs and DON’Ts of Feeding Ducks. 9 Mar. 2020, https://friscolibrary.com/blogs/post/the-dos-and-donts-of-feeding-ducks.
ZoteroBib: Fast, Free Bibliography Generator - MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard Citations. https://zbib.org/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2024.
