Newbie City Duck Owner!! Need advice!

[DisneyGal25]

Originally Posted by DisneyGal25

Hello-

We are getting 3 Cayuga ducklings in less than two weeks!!!! This is our first time ever raising ducks! We live in the city so unfortunately we can only have 3 w/o a permit..

We are getting one male and two females... Planning to raise them as pets with our dog and two cats... Wanting to get eggs from them... Any tips you all can give would be amazing!

The ducklings will be indoors till they are full grown and then in a pen with a brooding house... The dog could care less about other animals and the cats will be kept from the ducks as they are indoors only.

Yes we are for sure raising in the city so please no anti city raising comments...

I am thinking of getting a kiddie pool for them... Any constructive tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[Kimarie411]

I live within city limits. I have a fenced yard. 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 5 ducks, 2 adults who are outdoors and 3 week old ducklings in the brooder. We have a kiddie pool out back and plenty of places to lay eggs or just hide.

 

[DisneyGal25]

Any tips on keeping ducks safe from Cats? I'm just thinking in a tub with a wired top...

 

[Kimarie411]

We have tons of strays and nobody has bothered my ducks yet. We've had them almost a year

 

[DisneyGal25]

Awesome thanks!

 

[Kimarie411]

I think they all know dogs live here lol.

 

[DisneyGal25]

Lol! I'm hoping the animals get along!

Any other advice would be appreciated!

 

[DisneyGal25]

Bump

 

[Richb353]

Welcome,
Definitely the kiddie pool, even if you don't keep it filled all the time, it makes for good entertainment. About that, there will be much mud and splash area, still fun to watch. Same around their waterer. I am in Central Florida (about 45 min from Disney

), so I am still in the process of planting more trees for shade against the Florida sun. I also put the duck pen downwind! My "Quack Shack" is on wheels so I can move it around the pasture to a fresh patch to grass as needed. I let my flock roam the pasture all day, but put them in their Quack Shack before dark.

If you have a crate for your dogs, it doubles nicely as a "sick bay" for injured ducks. Twice I've used mine for ducks that hurt their foot or were "mishandled" by an overly aggressive (read: horny) male. Not sure how other breeds compare, but my Cayugas are "chatty" but not loud. It's like they are constantly talking among themselves, but with an indoor voice if that makes sense. Except when it's feeding time, then they make a racket.

You will absolutely enjoy them. Post pics when they come in.

Rich

 

[DisneyGal25]

Rich-

Thanks so much for the fantastic advice!!

I'm so Jelly you live near Disney!! (I'm a Disney Blogger in Kansas)

I love your term Quack Shack! Do you have any advice for keeping ducklings indoors till they are grown? I don't anticipate the cats being an issue as I think I can keep them at bay...