Just joined today...Looking at getting some house ducks. Advice?

[vinnidee]

Hello everyone. Just found this forum today, and it looks like it's the place to get all the best answers

I've been contemplating the idea of getting a couple of ducks as house pets. I remember many years ago having some ducks as a kid, and I loved them. But that was different, as I was young, and they were kept outside on the farm. But I'm hearing many people really enjoy having them as house pets. I have no desire for a dog or a cat, but have wanted some ducks for some time.

So I guess I should start with the very basic questions, so here are a few just to begin with:
-What would I need to get started?
-What would I expect as far as challenges in having them as a pet (time commitment, costs, availability of supplies, diapers, etc.)?
-Am I being fair to them as pets by having them live inside?
-Do they do well if I'm gone throughout the day at work?
-What happens if I'm gone for a few days or how long can they be left alone (a few hours, days, a week, etc)?

I'll start with those questions and look forward to any advice you can give me!
Thanks

 

[jak2002003]

I don't honestly think that ducks make good pets to have live indoors on a permanent basis. Most people start with the cut ducklings and then they diaper them when they get bigger, and finally give up and either re home them or put them outside. Do you really want to be changing stinking duck diaper many times each day for years to come? Ducks do make fantastic pets, but its much easier, and enjoyable for them, to keep them outside. I will answer you question as best I can.

-What would I need to get started? If you are getting ducklings you need: brooder box and heat lamp, bedding, foot and water containers, thermometer, cleaning products safe the birds, and special food for ducklings (or UNMEDICATED chick starter with Niacin vitamin supplement.
-What would I expect as far as challenges in having them as a pet (time commitment, costs, availability of supplies, diapers, etc.)? They are VERY MESSY and the brooder box and all the food/water containers need cleaning every day. They produce so much poop and throw their water and food about so you need to change the bedding every day also as they grow. Diapers are for the ducks only when they reach a larger size.
-Am I being fair to them as pets by having them live inside? My ducks live outdoors and I am sure they prefer that. They love to make a mess in muddy puddles, and swim about on a small pond, splashing and diving. The love dabbling in the shallow water for food and finding vegetation and small animals to eat, sunbathing, making nests with vegetation, etc. I am sure they would miss out on a lot living inside.
-Do they do well if I'm gone throughout the day at work? Once they are adult there will be now problem. However, the duckling need to be checked quite often to make sure they still have water and food.
-What happens if I'm gone for a few days or how long can they be left alone (a few hours, days, a week, etc)? You need to ask someone to come feed and water them every day! Few hours is OK if you leave enough water and food for them. If they are wearing the diapers they can not keep them on more than a few hours!!!!
I'll start with those questions and look forward to any advice you can give me!
Thanks

 

[veronicasmom]

x2

 

[Amiga]

There are a number of people who keep indoor ducks. They do need special considerations and infrastructure, but it can and does work out, for small numbers of ducks.

I have what I feel is the best of both worlds. My eleven ducks spend their nights in the walkout basement pen,which is a room with plastic poultry fence instead of drywall. I do room service each day for about 15 minutes, then one big one hour clean out after seven to ten days.

There is also an outdoor Day Pen with attached house and porch for daytimes when I am not home. They used to sleep in the duck house at night, and I felt they were safe, with loads of security features. But lately raccoon reports have increased, and the 'coons seem to be getting bolder. So rather than just have them in the basement for wintertime nights, I have kept them indoors at night for extra safety. More my neurosis than a certain threat, but I am learning to go with my gut. Also, some neighbors like firecrackers, and the ducks do not.

Time commitment is big, especially if you want pets. Once you socialize them, they will expect to continue to have the benefit of your company. But with multiple ducks, say two or three, they should be happy to be with each other in your absence.

If you get the water situation under control (it can be done . . . ), much of your cleanup with be reduced and simplified. Ducklings do like to play in their food and water. Design their room accordingly. Washable, wipeable surfaces, mold and mildew resistant materials, that kind of thing.

I would consider indoor ducks if I did not have so many.

Ducks hide illness well, so you need to be attuned to them and recognize early when they are feeling off.

Keep exploring the Duck Forum posts, and you will know much more.

 

[vinnidee]

Great. Thanks for the initial responses. Helpful indeed, and I'm also going through the other threads trying to learn as much as possible.

I'm certainly not sold on the idea yet, as I'm very much against the idea if I'm not going to be able to do a good job, so again, I appreciate the honest answers.

A few more thoughts/questions:
My thought on how I would go about doing it would be that I have one room, about 10'X15' that I was going to use for them. Basically prepare it with a floor that could easily be cleaned, have their water, a small pool, food, etc in it. Maybe spice it up with some plants and things, and then spread hay or something on it. So they wouldn't be diapered at all unless I was home and wanted to allow them to roam the entire house. Is this realistic?

I would want to get two ducklings, as I agree, I wouldn't want to leave just one alone for any extended time.

I've read many threads about them getting sick. Obviously I don't want to contribute to that likelihood, and would do my best to take care of them, but do ducks just seem more sensitive to illness or is the number of threads about that just because that's a natural thing to come here seeking advice for that? Are ducks generally pretty hearty and healthy?

Will they overeat if I don't have the proper amount of food out for them, meaning do they just eat when they are hungry or do they not know when to say when?

If I went ahead with this, and have those times where I needed someone to watch them, how do they react to me being gone for a few days and somebody else watching them? Is that a problem for them?

This is a stupid question, but I haven't seen any discussion on it before so I don't know. Ducks fly...What do you do about that if you have ducks inside your house?

Overall, how tough are ducks? Sorry for the poor wording, but do they generally adapt well to things or are they extremely sensitive creatures and very high-maintanence to every little thing (food changes, illness, temperature changing a little, etc.)?

 

[Amiga]

Great. Thanks for the initial responses. Helpful indeed, and I'm also going through the other threads trying to learn as much as possible.
I'm certainly not sold on the idea yet, as I'm very much against the idea if I'm not going to be able to do a good job, so again, I appreciate the honest answers.

I think it is realistic unless you feel you can do it all quickly and perfectly

Ducks are, indeed, generally healthy and hardy and many times what brings us to the forum is research on how to deal with a sick duck. Duck vets are few and far between, so remember that as you make your decision. We are often the vet tech and veterinarian for our ducks. And the pharmacist, and nutritionist . . .

With pelleted food and grains and such, they seem to know when and how much to eat. My ducks will overindulge in peas, though. Once, I heard Elfie moaning a little after a pea party. Her tummy was SO FULL! She was fine. Maybe she was just sighing with satisfaction. I leave food with the ducks 24/7, by the way. Runners are prolific layers with small bodies, so I want them tanked up. And my buffs were rescues, so I don't want them feeling any unnecessary anxiety.

Start finding a couple of duck helpers. Get them well trained and familiar with the ducks (and vice versa) so that when you go away, it is not trauma, just a play date.

Not stupid. Some ducks do fly, such as Muscovies and Mallards. But many, if not most of the mallard-derived domestics do not do more than wing assisted hopping.

Ducks take time if you want a good relationship with them, and I am guessing based on your thoughts so far you would appreciate this kind of thing. I have found that giving proper attention to the ducks, really spending time with them, changed my life. For the better. Once I got their infrastructure done (I am the labor force for my ducks and gardens), I was able to rejoin human society to a much greater extent. The ducks have been therapeutic for me, and I did not even realize I needed therapy! My runner ducks prefer routine and adapt quite well to changes. They communicate well except for hiding illness. They are sensitive to dust, toxic fumes, some toxins (botulism, nightshade), will eat metal and die of metal toxicity sometimes (sweep the area of all metal and sharp plastic and string and plastic wrap), but I have had only two losses to serious illness in 2.5 years. Mine are indoor/outdoor.