Taking ducks to the park? Bad idea?

[desertdarlene]

I know of people who have taken their ducks to parks, but it's very risky. You risk losing your duck, mostly, in one way or another. Plus, like others have said, there is a risk of disease or parasites from other ducks.

 

[Ducks and Banny hens]

Also, if the ducks Don't come back, you've illegally released domestic animals into the wild, by law.

 

[duckdad]

I wouldn't....

I walk my 2 big ducks around our community pond, but its small, we have the same 'pond ducks' that live there all the time, its a controlled enviroment and there is no risk of a stray dog attacking from the bushes. Even then I lost control of the duckling a couple months ago and had to wade out there to catch the "hairy beast" before she got in trouble with a large turtle or one of the dom drakes...
My big ducks are big enough to deal with the other ducks, so I don;t worry much there. They love the water and I enjoy watching. BUT, if it were a pond that was open to the public or had other wild animals hanging around I would'nt allow my ducks in there just because they could get a wild hair and run off briefly as they DO like to explore, and they DO get distracted easily, and that could lead to trouble if they were too far away from me and something happened.

Your ducks will be just as happy playing with you in your yard with a water hose. When we can;t go to our pond I'll put the big ducks in the bathtub for an hour just so they can float around and relax a little...as long as they can scoot under and splash around a little bit they're tickled pink.

 

[kikidee]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I don't believe dogs are allowed in that park, but the message has been received. The only water my ducks will be seeing is the plastic kiddie pools I bought for them...Although they can touch the bottom so I wish they were deeper

 

[DB_Tex]

It's worth not taking them to a foreign park or lot for the concern of disease alone. If your ducks have a buddy, a kiddy pool and a grassy back yard they have more than many ducks need to be happy

 

[1234duck]

Yikes...I don't know which would be worse, the kids or the ducks not minding at the park.

lol

 

[Dar]

Quote:
they have the pools that have the inflatable ring on the top and they are up to 4' deep... build a ramp so the ducks can get up there

 

[MummyToTwins]

We took Pete to the Boston Public Garden to see the Make Way For Ducklings statue and he was attacked by a Jack Russel who was (illegally) off leash. Pete was okay but we won't do that again.

 

[1234duck]

Inflatable Pool/Top Ring?? I would think that would only be good for 1 swim before you had water all over. How would they get in or out of the pool Without touching and poking holes in the inflatable? Even with a ramp to get in the pool, they still have to get back out.~ Under my kiddie pools the ground is kinda dug out, not like a real deep hole but enough to make the center of the pool a little deeper. I think any amount of water is better than none, couldn't imagine not having swim water in the freezing winter or hot summer. My ducks are in the water ALL the time, day or night, hot or cold weather they even sleep in the pools. ~Julie~

 

[duckdad]

The plastic is tough enough....I used a small 8' inflatable 4 ring (about 6" each) to raise my big ducks while in the house...As they grew so did the walls...until they could easily fly over thats when the moved outside..
Point being, that they walked and pecked and climbed all over that thing and never poked a hole in it.