As a first time duck owner, I thought I'd thought I'd create a post for anyone who is contemplating ducks. I don't regret getting ducks for a moment-- in fact I've ordered a few more-- however, I wish I had known a few things beforehand before embarking on this adventure.
The first thing I'd wish I'd known about is that vet care for ducks is extremely expensive and unless you are willing and able to pay for specific tests, which might or might enlighten the vet regarding your duck's condition, you might go and still not know what your duck has. One of my ducks, Fanny, fell ill recently, and even after shelling out over $600.00 to heal her, she still passed onto to duck heaven. I opted out of one test -- the most expensive one, which was over $300 -- but I'm not sure it would have made a difference. My duck was going down fast. I've visited 3 vets, one of which was a bird specialist and I'm beginning to think that unless my animals have definite signs of trauma (raccoon got them, etc.), the vet might not be able to help me.
Second, sometimes the vet might not know what your duck has, but will suggest a protocol which will be a guesstimate of sorts. As in, I really don't know what your duck has without the $1,500 worth of tests, but it sounds like this, so I'll prescribe this. The protocol will more often than not mean that you can't eat your duck eggs for the duration of the meds, and up to 2 months after that. If you can't tell the difference between one duck's egg or another, the whole lot will have to be tossed. If the protocol doesn't work, a new protocol will be attempted, which means another 10 weeks tossing the eggs out.
Third, prevention is better than cure. I've been told that most ducks can handle most illnesses, etc, a duck with a compromised immune system can fall prey to pathogens. It would have been wiser for me to spend that $600 (it was actually more, since I saw 2 vets for my duck that died) getting the best food, vegetables, etc. I've been slacking on the fresh veggies, which are an important source of vitamin A, since most of the greens I grow in my yard are out of season and my ducks don't like the more bitter taste of some of the greens I am growing. Some days my ducks got lettuce and greens, sometimes they didn't. I know am making sure they must have the nutritional support they need all year round, including daily fresh veggies with Vitamin A.
Fourth is that you might not know your duck is 2 steps shy of passing on, as the duck might not show symptoms until it is too late. Prepare yourself by knowing that your ducks might get sick, and there might be nothing you or your can do about it, as they've passed the rubicon.
Fifth, I'd get more than 3 ducks. I had 3 ducks, and now one is gone, leaving me with 2 ducks. One of the remaining ducks has a foot condition, and God forbid, if she were to some reason get ill and die (not looking like that, at this point...but the point still stands), I'd be left with one very unhappy, stressed duck. That in turn would make me very unhappy and stressed.
I don't regret getting my ducks --I'm a duck person for life -- but having this knowledge beforehand would have prepared me a little better and made my life easier right now. (Instead of making the stressed blob of jelly that I am.)
If you are contemplating ducks, none of this is to scare you off. It's all worth it and then some. Ducks bring absolute joy. I highly recommend them. Just have a clear head before you bring your ducks home and prepare yourself.
The first thing I'd wish I'd known about is that vet care for ducks is extremely expensive and unless you are willing and able to pay for specific tests, which might or might enlighten the vet regarding your duck's condition, you might go and still not know what your duck has. One of my ducks, Fanny, fell ill recently, and even after shelling out over $600.00 to heal her, she still passed onto to duck heaven. I opted out of one test -- the most expensive one, which was over $300 -- but I'm not sure it would have made a difference. My duck was going down fast. I've visited 3 vets, one of which was a bird specialist and I'm beginning to think that unless my animals have definite signs of trauma (raccoon got them, etc.), the vet might not be able to help me.
Second, sometimes the vet might not know what your duck has, but will suggest a protocol which will be a guesstimate of sorts. As in, I really don't know what your duck has without the $1,500 worth of tests, but it sounds like this, so I'll prescribe this. The protocol will more often than not mean that you can't eat your duck eggs for the duration of the meds, and up to 2 months after that. If you can't tell the difference between one duck's egg or another, the whole lot will have to be tossed. If the protocol doesn't work, a new protocol will be attempted, which means another 10 weeks tossing the eggs out.
Third, prevention is better than cure. I've been told that most ducks can handle most illnesses, etc, a duck with a compromised immune system can fall prey to pathogens. It would have been wiser for me to spend that $600 (it was actually more, since I saw 2 vets for my duck that died) getting the best food, vegetables, etc. I've been slacking on the fresh veggies, which are an important source of vitamin A, since most of the greens I grow in my yard are out of season and my ducks don't like the more bitter taste of some of the greens I am growing. Some days my ducks got lettuce and greens, sometimes they didn't. I know am making sure they must have the nutritional support they need all year round, including daily fresh veggies with Vitamin A.
Fourth is that you might not know your duck is 2 steps shy of passing on, as the duck might not show symptoms until it is too late. Prepare yourself by knowing that your ducks might get sick, and there might be nothing you or your can do about it, as they've passed the rubicon.
Fifth, I'd get more than 3 ducks. I had 3 ducks, and now one is gone, leaving me with 2 ducks. One of the remaining ducks has a foot condition, and God forbid, if she were to some reason get ill and die (not looking like that, at this point...but the point still stands), I'd be left with one very unhappy, stressed duck. That in turn would make me very unhappy and stressed.
I don't regret getting my ducks --I'm a duck person for life -- but having this knowledge beforehand would have prepared me a little better and made my life easier right now. (Instead of making the stressed blob of jelly that I am.)
If you are contemplating ducks, none of this is to scare you off. It's all worth it and then some. Ducks bring absolute joy. I highly recommend them. Just have a clear head before you bring your ducks home and prepare yourself.
