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Most domesticated duck breeds cannot fly.  As breeders have created ducks with certain characteristics, they’ve bred out the ability to fly in many types of farm fowl.

Domesticated Mallards can still fly...most of the time

For example, breeders want to produce a better meat duck, and thus they selectively breed the birds to be larger, which in turn makes them too large to fly.  This is the case for ducks like domesticated Pekins, pet Rouens, and even medium sized ducks like Cayugas.  Other breeds of ducks, such as Runner ducks, are able to fly for short distances, but cannot achieve sustained flight.  Thus for all these types of domesticated ducks, it isn’t necessary to clip their wings in order to keep them from flying away.

However, some of the smaller breeds of ducks can still fly, and wing clipping may be necessary if they are not explicitly trained to stay around their home.  This is particularly true for domesticated Mallards and Call ducks.

The ability to fly is an important consideration when selecting a pet duck.  Most people prefer flightless ducks, as clipping wings can be a difficult process.  If you do select a duck breed that is capable of flight, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will fly away, it will just have the ability to.  Often times when someone has a pet Mallard for example, the bird will bond with it’s owner and never leave, despite being able to.  Clipping wings is usually a precaution people will take when dealing with larger flocks of birds, rather than just a few waterfowl as pet ducks.

Raising poultry such as chickens and waterfowl is becoming an increasingly popular hobby in the United States.  However, many people who want to partake in a pet duck, have no idea where to begin in selecting one.

Breeding ducks has been a pursuit of many devoted farmers and bird enthusiasts for hundreds of years, yielding a wide variety of ducks with varying characteristics and traits.  Some ducks produce more eggs than others, some are excellent birds for their meat.  Which ducks make the best pets?  Meaning which birds are the best behaved, the most adaptable, the friendliest, and the most aesthetically pleasing.

Here is a run down of the four most popular duck breeds, along with their basic Pros and Cons -

Pekin Ducks – are the large white ducks (think Aflac commercials), they have a calm demeanor and relaxed temperament.  Pekin ducklings are the soft, yellow ducklings that you are probably used to seeing.  They are the most popular breed of domestic duck in the United States.

Pekins are the large, white duck people frequently see

• Pekin Pros - calm, sociable, very adaptable, unable to fly, easy to purchase
• Pekin Cons – unexciting coloration, can be loud

Rouen Ducks – are larger cousins of the mallard ducks, having the exact same beautiful coloration.  They are very calm and sociable, and bred to be a pet duck or farm duck.  They key difference between a Mallard and a Rouen is that Rouens are too large to fly, and you won’t have to worry about clipping wings.

Rouens are larger cousins of the Mallard

• Rouen Pros - beautiful coloration, calm, sociable, too large to fly, easy to purchase
• Rouen Cons – Rouens can have a cumbersome stature

Cayuga Ducks – are medium sized ducks (still too large to fly), which have a very unique iridescent green plumage.  They are the quietest pet ducks, and are often the choice for people who live in close proximity to their neighbors.

Cayugas are the quietest ducks

• Cayuga Pros - very cool coloration, great stature, very quiet
• Cayuga Cons – harder to find

Mallard Ducks – are popular as well because people frequently see them in the wild.  However, domesticated mallards will still retain the ability to fly, which makes them somewhat less suitable as pets as it may be necessary to clip their wings.

Mallards will be able to fly

• Mallard Pros - very cool coloration, great stature, very quiet
• Mallard Cons – will be able to fly, harder birds to ship

Do duck get along with other pets?  To put it briefly…not really.

While there are countless people who do in fact keep a myriad of pets together, including ducks, the potential for catastrophe always remains and should be respected at all times.

Scenes such as this are uncommon, but possible. Photo by Dok1

Most dogs and cats, and many other wild animals, instinctively view ducks as a food source.  In most cases, we do not recommend that you have both dogs/cats and pet ducks unless you are prepared to take the utmost care to ensure their harmony.

Many breeds of domestic duck lack the ability to fly.  Thus, they do not have their primary defense mechanism available to them when they feel threatened.  Furthermore, most pet ducks you will raise have been bred to be farm fowl (meat ducks, egg layers, etc.).

Also, ducklings must be protected from other ducks in many instances, specifically from males.  If you’re breeding ducks, do not isolate ducklings from their mothers, but be vigilant around the older male ducks, including their father.

Here are a few pointers if you are ready to travel down the road of duck and dog/cat coexistance -

• Always be vigilant around the animals.  A careful and active owner is the key to success in all aspects of pet duck ownership.
• Never simply allow your dogs and ducks to roam freely together, as animal instincts can surface at anytime resulting in serious injury or death.
• If you feel confident that you can directly introduce you duck to a cat or dog, hold the duck in your hands and be prepared to defend your animals and yourself at all times.
• Keep ducklings in a cage or fully enclosed box which will prevent access to any would be predators.
• Never assume your dog/cat and ducks are trained and conditioned to live in harmony, predatorial instincts may surface at any moment.

If anyone else has any tips to share on this topic, please do.  I am asked about ducks and other pets quite frequently, and I’m interested to hear what others are doing in regards to this endeavor.  Thanks!

Many people ask us how to handle a pet duck during the winter months.  Given the outdoor nature of a ducks and other waterfowl, the winter can pose some threats to your pet’s well-being.  However, with some simple preparation and care, your pet ducks or even ducklings can thrive and love the winter months.

Here are some guidelines to follow-

• Shelter – Even in the harsh winter months, ducks are capable of being outside.  The key is that you must provide them the heat source which will allow them to get warm if they need to.  Essentially, you should either provide a shelter that the ducks can freely move in and out of (such as a Rubbermaid Shed), or you should bring them in every night into a garage or shed.

• Insulation – Any shelter you create should be well insulated, have adequate duck bedding , be windproof, and be waterproof.  Also, if you have a pen or shelter that the ducks will have free access to, the doorway should not be open.  A rubber flap or something in line with a doggie door works great stop heat loss due to draftiness.
• Shelter Size – Depending on the size of your flock, the size of the shelter should be small enough that the collected heat of the ducks will warm it, but large enough to provide the animals with freedom of movement and the ability to escape the heat should they get too warm.
• Heat Lamp – An artificial heating source such as a heat lamp works wonderfully to provide the ducks and other farm fowl with warming spot.  However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using this method -
  • LiveDucks recommends a 75-100 watt of the standard variety, ceramic type, or infrared type.
  • Ensure the heat lamp is out of all animals’ reach, and is not near any flammable materials.
  • Make sure the ducks can escape from the heat lamp area (without going outside), should they get too warm.
• Dryness – Even though ducks are inherently waterfowl, it is vital that they are capable of drying themselves to stay alive.  This is especially true during the winter time.  Again, it is key to make sure there is adequate, clean and dry bedding available for them.  You should change this often (once / day) to prevent mold buildup which is especially hazardous during the winter.
• Breed Hardiness – Many of the types of ducks that are available as pets are domestic breeds that are very hardy during harsh winters.  The Pekin Ducks or Rouen Ducks, for example, are large enough such that they will survive quite well.  If you have a smaller breed such as Call Ducks or Mallard Ducks, you may need to take extra winter precaution in colder climates.
• Ventilation - Make sure the air inside any shelter doesn’t become trapped or stagnant.  If you are using a smaller shelter this can be hazardous.  Small air holes combined with good insulation are key to achieving the right balance of heat and fresh air.
• Ponds – Pet Ducks will still enjoy bathing and splashing in ponds just like during the Summer.  There are some deicing solutions available which will keep your pond area liquid if you would like to provide this comfort.  Also, for small ponds, a pond heater may work wonderfully.  LiveDucks.com recommends a company called Pond Solutions for small pond heating and deicing.

Ducks still love the water in the cold, and they will love access to ice free water

Ducks and other waterfowl are like other animals in that they have adapted to their climate and to all weather that they are naturally exposed to.  However, keep in mind that your pet duck is most likely a domesticated breed.  Much of their survival characteristics have been bred out over hundreds of years to make them a strong farm fowl.

Finally, do not let a harsh Winter intimidate you or keep you from ordering a pet duck.  One of the main hatcheries eFowl.com uses is near the frigid Winters of the Canadian border, and the ducks still thrive as healthy as ever.  Like most aspects of pet ownership, simple research and preparation will trump any extreme conditions that you may encounter.

Yes, your pet ducks need housing.  They need an escape from weather, predators, and general stress…just like a human does.  If you take some relatively simple steps to ensure you pet ducks have adequate shelter, it will go a long in promoting their well-being and happiness.

Once again, we turn to the pet duck experts at LiveDucks.com for advice on how to house ducks.  Also, a lot of the general waterfowl knowledge for this article comes from the section on keeping ducks and geese at PoultryKeeper.com .

Here are some guidelines for providing your ducks with excellent shelter -

• Roaming – Ideally, you’ll allow your ducks to roam your entire yard.  If this is not viable, give them as large of an area as you can, ensuring that it is clean and safe from predators.  Also, use and area that is accessible to you for feeding, cleaning, and socializing.
• Cages and Kennels – Do not fully cage your adult ducks unless it is to provide protection from predators.  If you must cage your ducks,  have the floor covered with bedding as a wire frame cage or even a flat metal surface can damage your ducks’ legs.  Also, make sure the gaps in the wire frame aren’t too wide so the ducks don’t stick their heads or wings through them, as this can result in injury.

If you use wire framing of any kind, ensure the floor has appropriate bedding and the wire gaps aren't too large.

• Nighttime – Ducks should have access to a sheltered area for bedding and protection at night time.  If you bring in your ducks at night you greatly reduce the liklihood of an attack from predators and weather hazards.  A pen with a sheltered area usually works great.
• Size – Avoid cramped enclosures that do not allow the duck to flap their wings and move around.  If you buy ducks at eFowl.com, their instructions suggests that ducklings need ½ square foot of floor space the first week, 1 square foot the second week, and 3 square feet after that.
• Bedding – It is important that you use appropriate bedding to provide your ducks with adequate comfort and insulation.  Also, change bedding regularly to prevent mold from building up.  This can be hazardous to you and to your ducks.
  • Recommended Bedding Materials – hay, straw, fleece, newspaper strips (but not for the long term)
  • Materials to NOT use – wood chips, litter, anything that presents a choking hazard

Hay or Straw makes the best bedding. Be sure to change it often.

• Ducklings – Keeping ducklings in a cardboard box for safety and warmth reasons is perfectly acceptable.  However, be sure that their bedding is not a flat surface, as this can cause spraddled or splay legs.
• Heat – Even when conditions are mild or warm, ducks of up to about 4 weeks old need a steady heat source.  Usually this is a heat lamp placed high enough such that ducks will not burn themselves.

Great all-around duckling housing - note the heat lamps providing ample warmth

By being careful to avoid potential harzards, and providing your ducks with basic comforts you can create a safe any happy environment for your pets.