Indoor Duck Questions...

[Kevin565]

There was a lady on youtube who keeps her scovies inside. They had their own room which was full of old towels everywhere. She would just wash off the towels then put them back in.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I used diapers for my indoor duck

and i totally agree with you OB, ducks especially drakes are not suited to being house pets.

 

[HappyPlace]

Thank you everyone for responding to my questions. Duckdad and Lovesgliders, I truly appreciate your honesty over the duck mess and pens. Your details certainly gave me things to consider...

For those that are expressing concern about an indoor duck: I have no delusions about this. I know that if I have a house duck, it is just that - a duck. I am not expecting anything more than what a duck would give. I would, however, like to know what I can/should do if I have a duck as a pet - whether it be an indoor or outdoor animal. My plan is to do every bit of research that I can and get every bit of advice I can and then get the duck(s). I plan on building an outdoor pen and setting up an indoor pen. Regardless of which pen the duck(s) end up in as adults, they will be starting out in my house just the same as my little bantam chicks did. If I realize that having indoor ducks isn't working out, they will be transistioned into outdoor ducks by the time they are 5 weeks old (same as my chicks and weather permitting). Ideally, I would love to have a couple house ducks, but I'm not going to be stubborn or stupid about it. I truly respect your opinion on the matter and appreciate your input. Please do not think, though, that I am doing this because it is the "in" thing, or I think it will be "fun".

ducks especially drakes are not suited to being house pets.

Miss Lydia, you actually bring up something that I've been wondering... If I have a drake and a duck in the house, is this going to go horribly bad? I know that drakes can be very possesive of their females and I don't want my cats, me or the ducks being injured because of a fight. Does anyone have any thoughts over whether it would be safer to have two females rather than a pair?

If anyone else has an opinion on this, advice, etc., I would love to hear it. Please, share.

 

[duckdad]

I'm not an expert but I believe you would have less hassles with 2 females. I also have an adult m/f that are a couple and act as a couple. Partners for life the way it looks. Very conscious of where and what the other is doing. 2 females are a little less rattled by brief separations. I can't go around the corner with the male, or the female has a tantrum.....or vice versa. As soon as one is out of sight....the other freaks out. The male will climb out or escape his enclosure to follow and see where his girl went. Real insecure...I've talked to him about that but he ain;t listening. She's actually worse. They're pretty much joined at the hip...keel?
The 2 young females are not nearly so worried over each other. Its kinda strange. They (M-F) are a lot like jelous people.

A kiddie pool works well to help contain ducklings when they are small yet give them some play room and them move it outdoors for a pool when they get larger. Mine learned to swim in the bathtub then got to know the pool and finally the pond when big enough. I used the old towels in the kiddie pool when it was an indoor duck pen and now use the same towels in the pipe pen. The pipe pens shape is always determined by the space available, and so that the towels fit well...like now, the pen is wide enough to have about 2" of towel on both sides. Then 3 laid end to end so the length of the pen is covered. Each afternoon, I simply roll up towels, lay down fresh "linens" and replace the food/water bin. Sometimes I'll throw a couple rags in there for them to cuddle up with. I have seen Bug wrapped up like she was in a blanket. Don;t let the lack of hands and fingers fool ya....that beak is very helpful and a duck is fairly resourceful.

As far as an inside temporary pen, the PVC frame that I made cost less than $20, is expandable, can be reduced, made square or rectangle, and can be disassembled for storage after a wipe down. I use the plastic garden fencing around it...that seems like was around $25 for about 20ft IIRC....it was'nt bad. The home made pen was lots cheaper than other things they sell for inhouse small animal containment. I think my 3 tier kiddie pool was $12...and I would inflate one ring until they could step out, then I'd inflate the 2nd ring until all 3 had to be used. The pool was good for about 6 weeks indoors until they out-grew it. Once they could fly over the 3rd tier which was about 12-15" high I knew it was hopeless and had to then build the pvc pipe pen which was as tall as I needed it to be and I could cover the top to discourage "adventures" when I was away. I was quite shocked the first time the drake flew up and out of the pen in the house and TO me where I was sitting across the room..! Impressed as well...I had no idea that he had been taking lessons. He'll do that when we're at the pond....if he gets too far away, he'll take the short cut and fly to me and try to land on my shoulder.

I bet I've changed the shape of that indoor pvc pen 20 times...whenever furniture gets rearranged the pen does too...to a shape that fits the space they will take over. I used 1/2" pvc and got a collection of elbows and T joints and DO NOT glue any of the pieces so it can be taken apart later.
They just got relocated to a nice long space behind the couch in front of windows with a great view of the pond...before that they were opposite a window where the 2 adult birds would sit and look at the 2 ducklings like it was a movie...Its a comedy show everyday, thats why I love 'em.

I'm retired.
Thats how I have the time for a couple duck babies inside. If I were still working...I dunno. But thats not an issue for me, so I can give the "kids" the entire day if thats what it takes. Once they get to adult size they become more independent. For now, They're all happy, I'm happy. I just wish they learn to fold towels........and maybe vacuum. Heck, could'nt get the ex to do that, dunno why I thinkin I'll get a duck to cooperate...

 

[70%cocoa]

I just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying reading your duck stories, Duckdad. You should write a blog about them and your experiences with them.

 

[Lamar Estate]

As for indoor time, I rotate my ducks and goose. There's 2 or 3 inside at a time.

You basically need to surrender an area for them if you are not going to diaper them. I have stamped concrete floors. I do not diaper them. Cleaning up after them is very easy for me. However, if I leave the house and at nighttime, I put them in an enclosed area (basically to make sure the dogs don't harass them).

It's great having a duck or goose follow you around the house, poke your leg in order to get some peas, or to hold while laying on the couch.

As for ducky-proofing the house, I didn't have to do much since I already had dogs. I constantly have to worry about the goose, since he can chew through wires. It's basically similar to having a 2 year old in the house.

I know it isn't for everyone, but it works out okay for us.

Sebastian with daddy:

Cooper and Bunsen:

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
What sweet pics.

My drake who is 6 months old now is acting kinda aggressive, I can pick him up and he isn't the least bit aggressive towards me, but on the ground he is a meanie, bites me and follows me around and acts like he wants to start something. My dh says he wants me part of his harem, but I'm not sure what his problem is. Other than he is just confused as to where I fit into his world. He lives outside with the other 9 ducks, 8 ducks and 1 more drake so it's not like he doesn't have company and he is a part of the flock but it's me he comes after not my dh. so I just don't know what he is thinking. I would say just from experience that females would work out a whole lot better than a drake, Once drakes become sexually active they have a one track mind.

 

[duckdad]

Quote:
My Rouen drake born early May is the same way....although he and I are close friends with him hitching rides on my shoulder every chance he gets, he'll still snap at my fingers and bite when I reach into his personal space, especially if I surprize him or sneak up on him. A lot of this is instinct that we want them to have to protect themselves from preditors that will see them as being lower on the food chain. Ducks KNOW where they are ranked there, and act accordingly to survive. As affectionate as my hen is, her first instinct is to back off and start the "warning chatter" when I reach for her. After a second or 2 she realizes who it is and allows me to lift her up and hold her. She's pretty cute when being returned to her pen.....she won;t step off my hands until I am at ground level, like she were a woman in a long gown that won't allow her to take a large step...she gingerly steps off my hand like she were royalty. That crest on her head is her crown....and she takes it seriously! Buddy however, has learned to fly off my shoulder on command. I'll tell him..."ok, lets go, down Buddy..." and he might hesitate as he looks the landing zone over a bit, but he'll fly down from my shoulder usually with little arguement. Every so often I have to encourage him to get down by a little tap on the back side or I can lean back and that gets him to get off. I used to have to have my hands held out so that he could see that I'd catch him if he slipped or fell. But he has gained a lot of confidence and has become a graceful pilot. He just needs a little work on the landings...

The biting is a two-fold issue I believe....
there is the affection that involves nibbling on "friends"...like a handshake in our world, and there is the constant need to establish or maintain dominance. I have learned to anticipate his bites and slide my hand under his beak where he can;t get his lips on my skin, and at that point he will either try to snuggle by running his head/neck on my arm and hand OR he will back away and take another look at the situation. Sometimes he will take another nip and I'll grasp his beak and hold it closed gently, and play his game for a few minutes. Its pretty easy to tell when a Drakes had enough and he's really angry....you'll know ! Usually, this is our game that we play and I can judge his mood by the frequency of the tail waggle....the faster it goes the happier the bird is. If he's mad and serious about staying out of his space, the tail waggles are few and his posture lowers and his aggression becomes obvious. Thatsn rare. Even when he gets really really P.O.'d I can still pick him up (works everytime) and he'll take the hint and climb up unto my shoulder to survey his domain...sometimes he'll stand there flapping his enormous wings or he will stand real tall for a minute to look around. The tail demonstrates his approval. Once situated, he'll check my pocket real quick, maybe test the button on my collar, then settle his head in his personal headrest (shirt pocket) and wait for me to rub or scratch his neck. If I'm doing it wrong he lets me know by distinctive barks and low soft grunts. If I'm really not paying attention he has also learned that a slap against my head with his hard nose will usually wake me up. Sometimes a nip on the ear but I've actually got him to stop that by a grab/pinch of his leg or a stern NO and he responds....I am amazed everyday at how intelligent this bird is. They DO learn.

So, try the game. Just be gentle when trying to hold his beak. Try slipping your hand up under his beak first and that will teach him that it IS a game. He'll respond. Something else....every drake or duck that I've raised or held, old or young, LOVES to have their beak gently scratched ! If you can manage to get control over the bird long enough to do this, you can feel them relax and literally melt in your arms. It may only last a few seconds but its a great relaxation technique that I discovered playing around with my kids...Squeek used to pass out when I did that...I could start rubbing her beak with my finger nail and 1 minute later she'd be asleep. Snoring.

Buddy will wiggle and try to back away if I hold his beak and it quickly becomes a game of ruff housing between a drake and his human, tail going like crazy... He also has his "chew toy" hanging from a string so that he can bat it around like a punching bag. I noticed his intense love of plastic bags and tied one up with a wad of rags in the end so its like a bulb, hung it from the patio roof and he bats that around for hours at a time....its kinda funny to see him just walk past it and give it one good smack just to keep going like he was a guy that slaps the wall as he exits a room. His mate, Squeek just stands there like most girlfriends do when the BF is doing "guy stuff"...she tries to be patient until someone gives her some attention that she deserves for being such a good duck all the time. Noisey when hungry or bored but otherwise a great pet. Patient and gentle, she is the opposite of her BF (macho-duck) and fits the saying that "opposites attract".

Now, I KNOW that my drake is holding back a little even when he's chewing on me pretty hard. I give them various snacks and treats, and as soft as grapes are, he can easily bite smoothly thru one and half it like it was cut with a sharp knife...same with cucumber and other semi hard greens...he's got a good healthy bite but he saves that for food. Whats funny to me, is that when I give them both treats, its always better when its in my hand.; if it falls on the ground or I place something in their bowl, they'll ignore that for whatever might still be in my hand....its better when dad gives it to them I guess. Even better is the plastic bag that had some food in it...Buddy will look at it, IN it, and shake it around to make darn sure he ain;t missing a scrape of food !! When he is satisfied he will move on to the food that WAS in the bag.
I bought some lettuce once that came in a printed plastic wrap that had a picture of a head of lettuce and they both tried to eat the picture ! They've learned when they see the small yellow plastic container that something good is in there...my little "to go" package for a treat when we go for a walk around the pond.

I am glad that some of you are enjoying my stories about my ducks....I would never have imagined that I would be father to a couple ducks and become so close. They have defined "cute" pretty much by beating out puppies by a mile !
I guess thats what got me interested, no matter what they were doing they were always entertaining and affectionate. Great companions. I sure did'nt see that coming !

 

[HappyPlace]

Duckdad, besides being entertaining, your stories are very informative. I appreciate your detail. It really helps in figuring this out.

Thank you to everyone still (or just now) responding to this thread. You have all been very helpful - even those encouraging me to keep ducks outdoors.

Besides other research that I've been doing in and out of this forum, you have all given me a lot to consider. If anyone else has any advice or warnings about indoor ducks, I would still love to hear it.

 

[duckdad]

TY...

Females have this duck laughter of sorts....loud, long and .... really LOUD !
Anyone thats got females knows exactly what I'm talking about....like a duck laughing.

its hard to decribe at 4 or 5am when I've just sat down with my coffee.....

But, in their defence, life was pretty boring before they moved in and I would not trade it for anything. When they get loud they just want to be fed or held or played with...or fed...or held...

As a side note, I took my big ducks out for a walk around the pond today and watched my part fish female dive and swim under water for 3 to 4 seconds at a time under water....completely out of sight. Down long enough that I was worried. No problem...she pops back up to take a breath and go down again! She'll do that for an hour at a time.
Once shes totally soaked with her crown flopped to one side, thats when she wants me to carry her back to the house...




of course I did.

Spoiled birds.