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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

Wild and Domestic Ducks are inherently different, and must be fed appropriately.

You’re the proud caretaker of a new duck, and you face one of the most basic questions of pet ownership. What exactly do you feed a duck?

LiveDucks.com offers a great duck feeding resource, which we’ve summarized here.  This is a compliation of the knowledge of various avian veternarians, wildlife caretakers, breeders, and all around experts.

Make sure your ducks have access to water while they eat. They don't have teeth and use water to soften food.

One of the key things to avoid when feeding your pet duck is any food that is medicated, always use non-medicated foods. Poultry farms and commercial operations will use medicated foods to prevent communicable diseases in waterfowl.  This works for large scale operations, but not for personal pets.

A solid diet should consist of a solid staple food with some vegetable or fruit trimmings to provide complementary nutruition.  Here are some ideas for each of those food categories -

Staples -

• Non-Medicated Duck/Chick Starter for ducklings and growing birds
• Non-Medicated Pelleted Mash for adults
• Cracked Corn

Trimmings –

• Fresh Vegetables like shredded carrots
• Chopped, Hard-Broiled Eggs
• Tomatoes
• Cottage Cheese
• Garden Snails (only if you do not use pesticides or snail bait)
• Worms of all sorts

Ducks need a nutrition packed staple in their diet, like Non-Medicated Pelleted Duck Mash

Protein Levels – Striving to feed your duck an optimum level of protein is important.  At different stages of life, they need different levels.  Too much or too little may cause feathering problems.

• Duckings (0 – 3 weeks old) – 20-22% protein, easily obtained from Duck/Chick Starter
• Adolescents (4 weeks – fully grown) – 16% protein
• Adults (fully grown) – 14-16 % protein
• Laying Hens (fully grown) – 16-18%, easily obtained from store bought Laying Rations or Mash

Where do I get duck specific foods? A local farm supply or pet store is usually the optimum choice.  It can be expensive to purchase online due to heavy shipping costs, but there are a few places available.

What NOT to feed ducks -

• Bread – it’s NOT okay for wild ducks and it’s NOT okay for domestic
• Seeds and Nuts – these are too difficult to digest
• Fatty, Salty or Sweet Foods
• Chocolate
• Popcorn
• Anything that will fill up your duck without offering nutritional value

Bread is NOT okay for wild ducks in the park or domestic ducks, as it will make them fat and lazy.

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.