Fly Reels

Ducks as Pets?

My friend currently has 4 baby ducks at her house in a crate. She wants to move them to my house this weekend because we have a large yard, a creek behind our house, and a large dam across the road for them to enjoy. I have never had ducks as "pets" before and do not know what there is to learn about them. Could anyone please offer me some helpful insight about ducks, such as:
1. What do they eat?
2. When they get to my house, will I need to keep them inside for a period of time so they can get used to their new territory (I would like for them to be somewhat domesticated)?
3. How can I get them used to being outside without running away?
4. When will they be big enough to be outside, on their own permanently?
5. Once they are big enough to be outside, will they be able to fend for themselves for food or will I need to continue to buy food for them?
6. When winter comes, will the ducks know that they're supposed to leave to fly south and return in the spring?

Yea, I had ducks a couple of years ago...hope this helps
1. you can get duck feed(actually I have a 50lb bag that i dont need...i dunno where you live but...you can have it. but yea duck feed, or if you want to pamper them a little like i did, you can mix up rice, lettuce, peas, and corn.......once they get older ..you can buy fish from the pet store and put in in the creek or wherever they swim. they also eat meal worms and ground worms....
2. it depends how old they are whether you keep them indoors. I started leaving mine oustide once it lost it's baby fuzz. I kept mine in an enclosure outside that had a mini simming pool and a little dog house(for winter weather) and a sprinkler! she loved that. whenever you feel they're ready to live outside...sorta ease them into it....let them spend days outside and then bring them in for night time. do that for about a week or two. Oh and if they're too little right now to leave outside....take them out and close off a little area with boxes or something just so that they can feel grass and start learning how to get worms out of the ground and just get the feel of being outside.
3. that sorta goes with #2. ease them into it. these ducks should after a short period of time, see you as the mother...and they wont be comfortable leaving you.....
4. you'll know when they're old enough to be outside....once they're big, and have all their adult feathers/colors. I'm not sure exactly how long that takes....but its only like 3 or so months. You'll see it. i promise
5. I would leave some duck feed available for them, but if there are fish in the creek they'll know how to get em. same goes for worms....but they wont ALWAYS have that, some days there wont be any fish or worms...so i'd leave stuff out for them just to make sure they're getting nutrition.
6. they wont fly away.....unless you have a duck that already knows how to fly......they'll never learn. Mine didnt at least. they only know how to fly a tiny bit (i mean like get 3ft off the ground and fly for 10seconds) get them a dog house or a shed or something, put blankets/ towels in it and they'll huddle up with each other to stay warm. Oh yea...and I would check that duck-house frequently...not only to change and clean the towels(they'll get moldy) but also when the ducks get of-age. they'll start laying eggs. Depending on the male-female situation, they may or may not be fertilized....but if they arent, they'll rot. just check their living place often.

ps. watch out for predators.....my duck got eaten by a fox..... It'll be hard to watch out for predators if you're letting them roam somewhat free.....but..i guess, be prepared. since they wont be able to fly.....it'll be hard for them to get away.

good luck !!! if you have any more question's I'd be happy to help!

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