Raising ducks as pets can be both an enjoyable and profitable endeavor. Although the primary reason ducks are reared is for meat production and for their egg-laying capabilities raising ducks has also become a very popular hobby. Ducks are very sociable and likeable animals that make very loyal, friendly companions. It is these traits that are fast increasing their popularity as pets. If you are considering raising ducks as pets there are a few things you should know before beginning.

Ducks are found in most parts of the world, living in wetlands, forests, lakes, and ponds. They come from the Anatidae family of birds which also include geese and swans and are the smallest of the family, with a shorter neck and stout body. They are mostly aquatic…not being very mobile on land…and can be found on both fresh and salt water locales. Although similar, they are not related to loons, grebes, coots or gallinules.

A duck is designed for its life in the water. Their webbed feet act as paddles and have no blood vessels or nerves which enable them to still exist in cold, icy water. They have a gland that produces an oil which covers their feathers making them waterproof. Underneath this waterproof layer is another layer of soft, warm feathers…called down…that keeps them warm.

Domesticated ducks are all related to the Mallard duck; which is a wild duck that has a distinctive green head with a yellow bill. Ducks are social birds and should not be raised alone as they are not partial to isolation. They spend the majority of their time in the water where they feed on aquatic invertebrates, aquatic plants, worms and insects. On land, they eat grass, seeds and fruit.

Ducks As Pets In A Domesticated Habitat

Pet ducks are not meant to be raised or kept inside your home as they can be very messy and their “bathroom” is wherever they are standing at the time.
Ideally, you would raise them in an environment as close to their natural habit as possible. This would be a pond or other body of water that would provide an ample supply of natural food.

That, however, is not an option for most people so the next option is building a coop or other structure for your ducks to live in. The floor should be covered with straw or other absorbent, removable covering like wood shavings or peat moss, and should be secure enough to keep the ducks safe from harm. You also want to provide proper drainage and ventilation.

If you live in a colder climate some form of heating, such as a heat lamp, may be necessary.

You will also need to provide containers to provide water and feed for your ducks. As mentioned earlier, a nearby body of water is ideal to provide exercise and a natural food supply.

Feeding Ducks As Pets

If you are able to provide a pond or other body of water for your pet ducks they’ll very likely have a good source of their natural foods. Being that they eat a variety of plants there can be a ready, easily accessible supply. The grass at the edge of a pond or in your backyard is a good source of food as is the aquatic plants in a pond. Insects and snails are another good, natural food supply.

Probably one of the most common sources of food people think of as food for ducks is crumbs of bread or crackers, or even pieces of doughnuts or bits of popcorn. However, what most people do not realize is that feeding ducks these tidbits is potentially dangerous to them. Bread, if fed in moderation, is acceptable but it is very difficult to monitor the amount of their intake if more than one person throwing them these morsels. This kind of food for your pet duck is the equivalent of junk food, and an excessive amount can lead to malnutrition and weight gain.

A healthy snack one can give them is chopped hardboiled eggs complete with the shell on, vegetable greens, or tomatoes. Feeding them snacks should be kept to a minimum just like other pets such as dogs and cats. While you may think you are “treating” them, ultimately, you may actually be harming them.

Unmedicated mash pellets are a highly recommended staple food for your pet duck. It can be supplemented with vegetable trimmings, tomatoes, boiled eggs with the shell or even some cracked corn. Cracked corn should not be used as a staple though as the proper amount of protein is not supplied which could lead to health problems. Reading labels to ensure the proper level of protein is crucial to a duck’s growth.

Advisable levels of protein for ducks according to their age requirements:

- Ducklings to three weeks: 20-22% protein
- Adolescents (3 to 6weeks): 16% protein
- Females over 6 weeks (laying): 16-18% protein
- Females over 6 weeks (not laying) or Males over 6weeks: 14-16% protein

Always ensure that your ducks have plenty fresh drinking water. They have no teeth, so water is essential for them to enable then to swallow their food. Pellets and crumbles are ideal because they are very simple to use and do not make much of a mess.

A quick summary on what to feed your domestic duck:

- Staple foods: Mash, crumbles or pellets
- Supplements: Vegetable greens, tomatoes, carrots -> chopped hardboiled eggs with shell on -> worms, snails, slugs, insects
- Avoid: Bread, seeds, nuts -> fatty, salty, and sweet foods

To provide your pet ducks with the best care possible be sure to talk with your veterinarian. They can provide you with the proper instructions on how and what to feed your ducks together along with other directions in the proper care that is needed in having ducks as pets.