Q&A for How to Raise Ducks

In ducks, males consistently exhibit more vibrant colors compared to females. For precise distinctions, consulting a field guide is recommended to identify specific characteristics between the two genders.

You need to let them get used to their surroundings for approximately 24 hours. They won't get hungry because they are still soaking up the food the eggs provided while they were still inside. After 24 hours, bring them to a brooder that has been set up with feeder.

Feed them daily and water them regularly. Make sure you never leave them without food or water.

The more you handle them when young and the more attention and affection you give them, the better companions they will be.

Ducks can handle regular cold weather, but if a duck is neglected, they are vulnerable to frostbite, which can lead to the loss of a limb.

Instead of using watering dishes, you can use watering nipples, like some hatcheries use. They won't make a mess, but may take time for ducklings to learn how to get water out because they don't suckle off their mother's milk like mammal offspring. This is a great, inexpensive alternative that hardly makes any mess at all.

No, not at all. There will only really be problems if you have more males then females. And occasionally males can be to rough in the breeding season, but outside that, there shouldn't be any problems.

It would be best to leave it there as the mother will probably be back. If the mother hasn't come back in a day or so, you could try taking the egg to an animal rescue to see if they can incubate it, but at that point it's likely not going to make it.

Male ducks do tend to be aggressive, especially during breeding season (late winter-early spring). If a male duck is being too aggressive with a female, it may be best to remove them.

Yes. If there is any overcrowding, the older ducks would kill (or eat) the little ones.

Generally ducks need to be called home with food or treats, or herded in the house.

Ducklings can be put in with older ducks only when they were are the same size as the older ducks. Otherwise, the older ducks will hurt the smaller ducks.

No, the ducks may get curious and accidentally eat a bee, or get stung.

In my flock of twenty, yes. She will hide her nest of 10-20 eggs and when you finally find her, she'll hiss and defend like crazy!

You would probably want to find a duck breeder somewhere around you to procure your eggs. You could search for local duck breeders on Google.

Unlike chickens, it takes ducks longer to build up the nutrients required to lay eggs.

When they lose all their fluff and grow a full set of feathers, they can go outside. This usually occurs at about 7-10 weeks of age.

Duckling or not, the egg is edible. It's better to get it within a few days of being laid if you're going to eat it (so the embryo doesn't develop). One thing you can do is called candling. After the egg has a while to develop you can put it on a flashlight and see if you can see a little duckling shaped shadow inside!

Yes, but watch for any signs of the chickens picking on the ducks. If you see them picking on the ducks, keep them separated.

A female duck will lay eggs whether a male is present or not. Most people who want ducks keep only females, but if you want fertile eggs to hatch, a male is necessary. Take the eggs out of the coop with the male duck and candle them. If they are alive, incubate them.

Juvenile mallards will begin to fly once they have reached 3-4 months of age.

Yes.

That happens to ducks in ponds all the time; they simply lay their egg and keep swimming. They will be fine in filthy water, but if they come out covered in muck, gently rinse them off.

It really depends on the species of duck. Khaki Campbells start mating as early as four months, while Muscovies start mating at around 6 months of age.

You can either wait until it has dried and scrape it up, or put on gloves and clean the area immediately with a thick rag.

It depends on your experience. Hatching eggs actually takes a lot more effort than people realize. You need to provide sufficient heat for a sufficient amount of time (wrong temperature and wrong duration will cause birth defects). The eggs may also encounter unexpected failures, such as bacterial infection, poor ventilation or bad humidity. When the egg is hatching, it might also require intervention if something goes wrong. However, it is extremely rewarding to see a baby duck be brought to life right in front of you. If you've raised ducks before, then buying eggs would be good. Otherwise, just stick with hatched ducklings.

There's not really any way to know for certain, unfortunately.

Keeping a duck as an indoor pet is not a good idea. It is not possible to toilet train ducks and they will poop anywhere and their poop is smelly and messy. They may also bring pests inside on their feathers. Moreover, ducks don't snuggle up on the couch with you. Keep your ducks outdoors, with a coop or similar structure for overnight safety.

Most likely not, that is too long a time and the duckling will have imprinted on you. You may have to raise them as your own children!

You can raise chicks and ducklings together but you have to make sure that they are all getting the right care and nutrition specific to their breed.