Pet ducks
- Thread starter TopCat
- Start date
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
They need duck friends first and foremost, and a large body of water so they can float all day long.
TopCat
Putin fanboy
The Thames is just down the road. The duck could travel easily that distance.
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
The duck would get swept out to sea if the tide was falling.
It would also start hanging around with bad influences and you'd never see it again.
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
You'd be better off getting a gaggle of geese so they could guard you. Geese are more entertaining than ducks and are very cheeky. 
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
We had a couple of ducks when I was a kid, but then we had a massive drainage pond for nearby fields in the garden, with a duck house on an island that had formed over some years from reeds, plus a little rowing boat.
The ducks used to wind-up the dog no end, he could never swim fast enough to get them. He thought his luck was in one winter, when it froze over, before learning his legs didn't work well on ice, it was funny as fuck.
The ducks used to wind-up the dog no end, he could never swim fast enough to get them. He thought his luck was in one winter, when it froze over, before learning his legs didn't work well on ice, it was funny as fuck.
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
Some info on pet geese vs pet ducks
poultrykeeper.com
poultrykeeper.com
The Beginner's Guide to Keeping Geese
The beginner's guide to keeping geese has everything you need to know to get started with geese: water, grass & feeding, housing & protection from predators.
poultrykeeper.com
Keeping Ducks
Articles about keeping ducks. From our beginners guide to keeping ducks to more advanced vent sexing techniques - there's something for all levels of duck keeper!
poultrykeeper.com
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
My dad used to clip their wings every year, but then they were safe from foxes, and indeed the dog, because of the size of the pond & the island, not sure I would be comfortable doing that if it's a normal size garden & pond.
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
It would fly off - before you know it it'd be robbing people of bread in parks as part of a gang.
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
This is proof that I'm right - urban's duck ambassador speaks. 
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
Steel Icarus
we move
With all due respect, I don't think you've thought this through
nogojones
spelling is overrated
I'd also consider getting a seagul instead. Much more self reliant and they'd face off any foxes.The duck would get swept out to sea if the tide was falling.
It would also start hanging around with bad influences and you'd never see it again.
Get geese if you hate sleeping
muscovyduck
Good IT skills and food hygiene competent
Right, first things first, how much space have you got to work with?
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
It's fairly normal, and does not hurt or cause any pain to the duck. Feathers are made of keratin, the same material as your hair and fingernails.
TopCat
Putin fanboy
I imagine male Mallard ducks pulling feathers out one by one to make their victims quack.
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
Here's a good link for advice, apparently they don't even need a pond. 
www.petassure.com
Ducks as Pets | Keeping and Caring for a Pet Duck
Ducks are wonderfully hardy, inexpensive, and easy to care for. However, before choosing a duckling as a pet, there are several important points to remember.
www.petassure.com
nogojones
spelling is overrated
They just can't take off - like a plane on a conveyor belt. I'd be pretty pissed off if they banned me from Easyjet
Johnny Doe
Well-Known Member
We got ducks last year, and while they were lovely and the kids were really excited up to a day or two after they arrived, our garden was covered in duck shit, and my wife had clearly underestimated how much effort they would be.
Eventually she loaded them up in her car and walked them into the local park and into the pond. Not recommended/allowed, I believe, but they are still living happily there with all the other ducks and geese, 8 months later
Eventually she loaded them up in her car and walked them into the local park and into the pond. Not recommended/allowed, I believe, but they are still living happily there with all the other ducks and geese, 8 months later
muscovyduck
Good IT skills and food hygiene competent
They do need a pond but you definitely have the space for them so that's a good start.
muscovyduck
Good IT skills and food hygiene competent
Apart from the pond you can keep them a lot like how you keep chickens (although they're a lot more destructive that chickens - think of them as tiny pigs). Once they've settled in, if you have their wings clipped you don't have to be to worried about them escaping, especially if you feed them the same times every day because they'll come back for the food like cats will
nogojones
spelling is overrated
You have a nice sized garden and clearly the space, but they might prefer a jacuzzi
TopCat
Putin fanboy
My back is not in the slightest bit hairy. I would not fit in with the jacuzzi community.
