New Duck Owner

[Kvla]

Hey!

I'm new to this forum and I've been learning about caring for ducks, specifically Indian Runner. I'm not interested in keeping lots of ducks for meat/eggs. I was interested in keeping them as pets almost. I've read that unless you give the ducks lots and lots of attention they can get lonely so I plan on getting two. I think most people seem to keep their ducks outside. Is that normal? Do you raise your ducklings inside with a heat lamp and everything and then at a certain age keep them outside permanently? (With bringing them in to swim in the bathtub instead of the kiddiepool all the time.) Is there a setup or a way I could keep the ducks inside or would it just be better outside. I live up north and our winters in Wisconsin are pretty harsh too.

Lot's of questions but I'm just really eager to learn all that I can about raising them. haha

 

[Chickenlover2017]

Hi welcome to byc it's a great place to be it's very informative as you have probably discovered I just want to give you a warm welcome to you and I hope you feel welcome here we are glad to have you!

 

[Kvla]

Hi welcome to byc it's a great place to be it's very informative as you have probably discovered I just want to give you a warm welcome to you and I hope you feel welcome here we are glad to have you!

Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Kvla Welcome to BYC

Here is the best info we have on raising and caring for ducklings.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/

 

[Kvla]

@Kvla Welcome to BYC

Here is the best info we have on raising and caring for ducklings.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/

Thank you! I actually recently just got that book too

 

[DanielleInUro]

Welcome. I started keeping ducks in January. I LOVE my little yard-angels, but I would not let them into my house. They are yelling, pooping, humping, splashing, mud-grubbing, panicky, flappy, food-throwing little a-holes and I cannot imagine them doing anything but wreaking joyful havoc in any space. Which is AWESOME in the yard. It would be less awesome in my living room.

Also, "pets almost" is a very good description for ducks. They aren't like dogs and cats and parrots--ducks only love you for what they can get from you. When you have ducks, your job is to love the ducks and give them things. Their job is ALSO to love the ducks, AND take things. They are clowns, NOT companions. Important distinction to make, especially since the babies are cuddly and lovey.

 

[traceyj]

Everything danielleinuro just said!
Ducks don't poop, that's not an adequate description for the rocket ship force half fart half s*** they randomly explode with at regular intervals. We call it sharting and they will wall paper any enclosure with it daily!

They also cannot bear clean water (it seems!) every time I rinse out the kiddie pool with gallons of water I have lovingly hauled from my well they hop right in and shart. Even their waterers get clogged up with mud within minutes.

Also currently looks like a massacre has occurred because moulting

I'm in central bc and I've had ducks for about three months, so no winters yet but I've learned a lot from friends who reminded me they are wearing feather duvets, they can keep warm on their own they don't need to be indoors.
They need shelter, food and fresh-ish non frozen water just like chickens. But with no combs and wattles frostbite is less likely.

Ducks are awesome, they'd have to be or nobody would put up with all the sharting, mud, mess and noise!

 

[DanielleInUro]

I would like to approve traceyj's corrections. I am amazed at how people think that having a duck is going to be similar to having a parrot. I have both, and I wish I could tell every single duck-considering person on earth that it is nothing alike. My parrot follows me around, asking me for my breakfast and curling up into the letter "O" to demand head scritches and knowing not to bite and being really good about not biting unless he's in a really terrible mood and I ignore what he's saying. Because he is a pet.

My ducks would eat my face and poop on the rest of me and then starve to death and never feel a thing about it if that seemed fun and possible, because they are wild animals. They are sweet, fun, funny little sociopaths and the fact that they have rounded bills and zero harmful tools at their disposal is what makes them so wonderful instead of the things of nightmares.

 

[traceyj]

yes whenever people ask me the horse sized duck or 50 duck sized horses question I go with duck sized horses, a giant duck would be terrifying.

And we aren't trying to put you off, ducks are amazing and some people even keep them indoors
But eyes open is a good way to go into duck keeping

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Been raising ducks from april this year. I have two blue swedish ducks. But i highly reccommend reading many books on the subject before diving into the world of ducks. They are awesome though. They are like every one said some what pets mine just like treats from me then run away.

I live in saskatchewan canada so are winters are brutal. But i have a heated coop for them.

Also to note i read that ducks are flock birds being happy with more birds so this fall am getting 2 geese and another duck.