FowlBlog.com

Short answer - No, never.

A sign from Waneka Lake in Lafayette, CO

Long answer – You should never feed ducks bread, whether they are wild or domestic. It is very damaging to a flock, and potentially devastating to an overall ecosystem.

Here is the explanation of how feeding ducks bread is damaging, for both wild and domestic flocks

Wild – Wild ducks are not pet ducks.  They do not need to have human interference with their food sources.  Furthermore, they can easily become reliant on humans tossing them bread, and neglect their foraging skills to naturally acquire food.  This has to potential to knock an entire ecosystem out of balance, as the food chain will become altered by the introduction of a new food source.

Domestic – Obviously, your pet mallards are already reliant on you for their food.  While they may have foraging skills, they already depend on you for their sustenance.  Is bread okay then?  No, not at all.  The reasoning here is that bread is not an adequate source of nutrition for ducks.  It does not contain the protein levels and nutritional diversity that waterfowl need to thrive.

Furthermore, ducks have a trait which causes them to stop eating once they are full, they won’t overeat, regardless of how much actual nutrition they’ve acquired (perhaps it would be good if some humans developed this).  Thus, they’ll fill themselves up on bread, and ignore the other food available to them once they’re full.  This will yield an undernourished flock.

Now most of us grew up feeding ducks and other birds bread when we were kids.  It was an engaging and simple way to interact with wildlife.  However, as our conscious evolves to better understand our impact on the environment, it has become painfully apparant just how improper it is to feed wildlife.  We must ignore some of the fond memories that we’ve had with this practice, and learn to love and enjoy waterfowl and other animals through observation, not interaction.

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.

So you’ve decided to raise some young ducklings and you’re looking for some tips on keeping them as safe, healthy, and happy as possible?  We’ve consulted a few experts and compiled 10 Tips on Raising Ducklings for people with limited knowledge of these wonderful animals.

1. First Drink: When you get your duckings or goslings dip their beaks in water.  Let them drink for 5 or 10 minutes then take the water away for a half hour or so.  This is so they don’t die from over drinking when they are too thirsty.  After you have controlled their drinking a a few times, you may give them full access to water.
2. Energy Boost: If they have had a hard trip and seem weak, a bit of sugar in the water will give them quick energy.
   

   Some sugar after a long trip can give a duckling extra energy!

3. Bedding: Do not use smooth paper for bedding as this may cause spraddled legs.  They need a rougher surface to get footing to stand.
4. Feed: Use non-medicated feed. A commercial crumble is best to start them out on.
5. Heated Space: If they huddle together under their heat source they are too cold, but if they are trying to get away or puffing they are too hot.  It is best to give them enough room to get away from the heat if they wish, but not so much room that they can’t find their way back to the warmth when wanted.
6. Dry Conditions: Wet conditions are deadly to young ducks and geese.  If kept on a floor they should have dry bedding sprinkled 2 or 3 times a day.
   

   Ducklings need a way to stay dry.

7. Predators: They must be protected from predators.  Animals like rats, stray cats, coons, mink, dogs, etc., should be kept out of their pens.
8. New Foods: When they get about three weeks old, grain such as cracked corn, oats, or wheat can be gradually added to their diets.  Also, grit or a bit of fine gravel needs to be provided.
9. Grazing: Goslings love grass and as soon as weather permits they should be allowed to graze.  Also, Ducklings are very good at catching insects and get a lot of protein this way.
10. Weather Shelter: Until they are feathered out, they need some protection from long or severe rain showers.

Why would anyone choose to raise waterfowl?

A countless many enjoy participating in this endeavor for a wide variety of reasons including -

• Pets – Waterfowl make great pets as one watches their growth, behaviors, and playful antics.
• Shows – Raising waterfowl for shows and exhibitions is a highly engaging and competitive pursuit.
• Farms – Waterfowl provide excellent farming assistance as they are avid controllers of insects and grass in their environments.
• Food – Historically, waterfowl have been prominent food source. People consume the meat and eggs, yielding exquisite dishes.

Today, the typical reason people have waterfowl is to keep as pets. They provide countless hours of enjoyment through observation and interaction. If one raises a duck or goose from its infancy, they can grow to become excellent companions.

Ducklings are ridiculously cute

Also, Showing ducks and geese at fairs and poultry exhibitions provides fulfillment for the farm hobbyist. These events serves as venues for breeders and hatcheries to showcase their unique flocks and network with other enthusiasts.

On a farm, waterfowl can provide many benefits to the crops and environment. For example, ducks and geese can serve to weed and remove harmful insects from grasses, crops, and gardens through with their avid foraging. Furthermore, many environmentally conscious farmers utilize waterfowl to accomplish this task as it is a natural and organic alternate method as opposed to herbicides and insecticides.

Ducks patrol and maintain their grounds.

Finally, waterfowl are source of meat and other products which provide tremendous quality and functionality. Duck has always been a staple meat to many cultures. Furthermore, feathers offer soft and warm stuffing for pillows and coats. Even the fat can be used to make shortenings and hand cremes!

With such a wide range of uses, raising waterfowl can appeal to many tastes and functions. If you are interested in raising waterfowl, learn some breed-specific waterfowl information and order some ducklings to get started!