Poult, Gosling or Duckling AS PET?

[Kaianuanu]

I am new to raising poultry but i am looking for a pet. Maybe eventually i'll get into breeding or keeping for eggs or meat but for now, all im looking to do is buy or hatch a single little baby bird, imprint it on me, and raise it into a hefty pet fowl that will sit on my lap and be affectionate. I'm looking at getting a turkey poult, a gossling, or a Rouen duckling. Which species will suit me best? BTW, i'm a newbie here and i didn't know where else to post this so no duckling bias!

 

[Lute]

Of your list I would say duckling.

Now for personal experience I would have to say get a chicken. I have some pullets that couldn't care less for me right now (I'm a bringer of food and that's about it) but the ones I raised from chicks LOVE me and I consider them to be more of pets. They let me pet them and pick them up and love to be talked to.

This is my dog Carmen and one of "her" chicks; a Rhode Island Red named Wander. Wander is really pet quality and likes to sit on my shoulder while I'm cleaning out their coop.

 

[jessiduck]

Definitely the duck!

 

[zooweemama]

I don't really know much about turkeys. I know geese get much larger than ducks and can get fairly aggressive as they get older (that's a generality not a rule). Ducks are said to be generally non aggressive. I think if you look at what kind of space you have to offer this new family member will help. And if you can meet their special needs. Ducks need water to be truly happy. Even just a kiddie pool. I have always read to get them in pairs (geese or ducks, again don't know anything about turkeys) or they can get lonely. So if you leave to go to work for hours on end- your feathery friend could get pretty lonely if there is only one.

 

[Kaianuanu]

is it safe for mature ducks to swim regularly in a swimming pool? I have a rather large pool that has had wild mallards fly into and hang out in quite regularly.

 

[jessiduck]

is it safe for mature ducks to swim regularly in a swimming pool? I have a rather large pool that has had wild mallards fly into and hang out in quite regularly.

Yes, but mature ducks only! Ducklings need something smaller and should NEVER be left unattended in the water.

 

[Tahai]

Ducks (and geese) are social (flock) creatures. A single duck is an emotionally unhappy duck.

 

[Missy60]

I don't really know about the geese, but I do know or adult duck loves us. She will come for pets and hangs around us a lot, but she does have a mind of her own and when she's done with us she is done. She just waddles away to do her own thing. A friend of mine had a turkey and talk about aggressive people couldn't even get out at their house without them coming out to get the turkey. The turkey didn't even socialize with them much. I'm not sure if that normal or not but I think they are more aggressive.

 

[JasoninMN]

I would say a gosling makes the best pet. They are smarter then both ducks and turkeys. They are very interactive and will talk back to you. They are also not as flighty as ducks. No experience with turkeys.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Your best choice would be a kitten or a guinea pig.

Ducks, geese, roosters,and turkeys raised as pets, cuddled, and treated like lap dogs can grow up to be dangerously aggressive. They are confused about their identity and can think it is proper to try to dominate you.

If you want a bird, hand raised cockatiels seem to do well.

Pet rats are very affectionate and amusing and they are very clean if you take proper care of them.