Ducks can be great loving and quirky companions. There are lots of people on here who have house ducks. But they are a huge commitment. If you plan on having yours in the house, forget about house training and prepare for duckie diapers!
you will also have to check your state or city regulations regarding barnyard fowl, and figure out how to register it as a therapy animal to ensure that you can keep it regardless of the regulations. If you plan on imprinting it, you must have it from the moment it hatches.
Be aware that if the duck turns out to be female, she will be loud, and if you have cranky neighbors like I do, they may not appreciate her chatter lol. Also, she will lay an eggs when she is older (which are delicious!) but keep in mind, she will lay her eggs in her diaper if you keep her diapered, and then will poo all over them lol. Males, on the other hand, will be much quieter. But when they come of age, they are very, ahem, horny. And if you are the only other "duck" in their life, they will be very interested in you, if you know what I mean, lol.
All that in mind, ducks are wonderful pets. They really are. They will make you laugh guaranteed, and lighten your mood and spirits. You'll have to be committed, but in return, they will be just as committee to you for the rest of their ducky lives
I have successfully integrated imprinted ducklings into existing flocks, and they socialize with the others fine. I've had hand raised ducklings imprint on me and follow me around everywhere (omg the stares you get when you walk down the sidewalk with ducklings toddling along at your feet are hilarious!) These ducks are now living happily with larger flocks. They were never lone ducklings tho, they always had a single sibling to grow up with. I imagine a lone imprinted duckling would have a more difficult time socializing with other ducks than two imprinted ducklings raised together, if it could even socialize at all.
