Q&A for How to Train Ducks

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My four month old female duck laid an egg yesterday. Do I have to make a nesting area? She does sleep in my home at night in a zippered pen.

Community Answer

When your birds start laying, they like to do it in a small dark area. You don't have to make a nesting box, but you should provide an area where she can lay privately.

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Question

Do ducklings need to stay inside until they've grown to a certain age or no?

Community Answer

You need to keep it inside an enclosed warm area for a month or two. Then make a pen outside for them, but I would advise you give them a mother AND father to adopt them if you don't already have a pair.

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Question

I have two 6 week old ducklings who are in with an older goose, but whenever I go to pet them the goose starts to hiss and protect them. Any advice?

Community Answer

Your goose is starting to think they are her group of friends. You will have to pay more attention to the goose in hopes of becoming part of her group. Otherwise, separate her before handling the ducklings.

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Question

Will a duck that doesn't have a mother follow me around?

Community Answer

if you were the first moving thing he/she saw (rather than their mother), yes, this is possible. It's called "imprinting."

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Question

Can you litter train your ducks? If so, how?

Bridget Craghill

Community Answer

No, unfortunately, ducks do not have sphincter muscles and have no control of their defecation or urination. As such, it is not possible to litter train them and they must be kept where they can defecate at any time and not cause problems for you or them.

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Question

Is it possible to tame an adult duck?

Bridget Craghill

Community Answer

It is difficult, but you can get them to follow you around after associating you with food and allowing them to trust you.

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Question

Both mount each other and I think I have a female mallard but she mounts the other white with brown on it. Do I have a female or male?

Bridget Craghill

Community Answer

It is possible the mounting (if a female) you are talking about is a show of dominance to the other duck. I am unable to tell through this description if it is a male or female. The most obvious way to tell is the drake curl, which grows at 8-12 weeks. There are also differences in duck quacks.

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Question

I just got ducklings and I've only raised chicks before. How often each day do I have to tend to them? And will they follow me around because they think I am there mama duck?

Bridget Craghill

Community Answer

You must clean ducklings out quite often (they are very messy) and ducklings must have food and water at all times. You just need to make sure they have access to it, depending on how many ducks you have, it may be multiple times per day. Ducklings will imprint on humans before 5 days after hatching; however, it is rare for them to do that afterwards. If they are under five days they may, especially if there are no other ducks around.

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Question

How can you tell what type of duck you have while it is still a baby?

Bridget Craghill

Community Answer

It is quite hard to tell a duck's breed when they are young, as they do not have their full plumage. However, some ducks you can, such as runner ducks, which have a unique body type.

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Question

How do I tell my 2 month old ducks apart?

Community Answer

Look for special markings, like spots on the wings, eye-color, feather patterns or formation. One duck be a little bit larger than the other one, or one chubbier. Also, look for personality differences, such as bossiness or shyness.

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Question

I just found a duckling on the side of the road. I have no other ducks, only chickens. What should I do?

Itzveamo

Community Answer

Look for a local wildlife rehab, as ducklings grow faster than chickens. You could keep it near brooding chickens, but ducks need a flock as they are highly social.

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Question

I have a Mallard nesting on 13 eggs next to my garage door behind a flower pot and bush. I have not seen a male at all. What will happen after the ducklings are born? Anything I can do to protect them?

Itzveamo

Community Answer

Ducks are protective of their ducklings. If you want, you can keep an eye on them while their mother is getting food so predators don't get to them.

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Question

I would like to have both chickens and ducks (free range). Do I need separate pens? I read ducks should not eat medicated chick feed. Does that mean they cannot be fed together?

Community Answer

Yes, separate pens, but both can be free-range near each other. Just make sure to keep the pens closed (when they're penned) so ducks don't get in with the chickens and vice versa.

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Question

I purchased a female and two drakes. I brought them home and kept them in a coop for 6 days. I took them to the pond nearby , ate dinner, and 45 mins later the female was gone. Why would she leave her males?

Itzveamo

Community Answer

You need at least 3 females for every drake. If you have only one female for two drakes, the drakes will gang up on the female.

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