WPFarmstead
Songster
First things first, you'll need to have more than one duck at a time. That is rather nonnegotiable. It's rather unlikely they will imprint on you unless you hatch them yourself and spend time talking/singing to the eggs as they develop. Ducks tend to be tame at a young age, then wild as they age out. And female ducks of all breeds are noisy, unless they are a muscovy. Muscovy are quiet, but they can fly. As can mallards. Most domestic breeds can't fly, so you'll be fine there.
The downside to ranging them in the backyard is that ducks compact whatever they are walking on, so all that nice grass will become mushed down rather quickly, especially if they decide they like a certain spot. You may want to ensure there are no covenants for your neighborhood, too.
As for raising them, most of their time should be spent in a brooder until they feather out. Getting chilled slows down their growth as they have to use calories for warmth instead. And they must have constant access to food and water.
We eat our males. The khakis are smaller and don't have a ton of meat like a pekin, but they still dress out nicely.
