When someone says the word pet; we think of dogs and cats first and then about other animals. This is not strange because this is how things are. Cats and dogs are the norm. People prefer them above other animals. We see cats and dogs everywhere as they have been accepted as pets since the beginning of time. One of the most underrated pets is the duck. Most people think of them as food only but they make exceptional pets. Imagine; when you come back from work and a duck comes waddling towards you at full force, it definitely won’t be like a dog bounding towards you but it will have a certain charm to it nevertheless.

There is the myth that ducks are noisy which is only true to a certain extent. There are noisy only up to a certain weeks after they are brought. All baby animals quack or bark and whine when they are young. After a few weeks when your duckie gets used to its surrounding it will calm down. Never try and keep your duck indoors, they are not meant for staying inside the house and keeping them inside might have adverse effects on them. Create a pen for them outside your house which has a small section with a lock so that they can be safely kept there at night so as to prevent them from being attacked by predators. The floor of the pen can be covered with gravel or mud. Putting a layer of straw is also helpful because when the ducks poop then the straw can be removed without any hassle.

Female ducks continue laying eggs even without the presence of a male duck. These eggs are unfertilized and can be used like chicken eggs. They are also bigger and tastier than chicken eggs. Ducks are highly social animals and love to stay in flocks. They get depressed if kept alone and keeping one duck is just cruel. They live quite amicably with each other and seldom fight. Ducks are very sensitive and feel loneliness , grief and sadness just like humans. Never keep your duck in the cage for a very long time, it can cause depression and it is not emotionally healthy. Never get a duck if you want to be different, get one if you are confident you can keep one.

They might not look like dogs but they are like dogs in many ways. They are sensitive and adorable and if their owner takes the time to train them they can respond to commands, play with toys, give kisses and demand cuddles. Ducks can be very social with people if they are trained from an early age. Observe your duck carefully and soon enough you will also know about the things your duck likes to do.

Most people refrain from getting a duck because they think that they would have to create an artificial pond or water body for them; but this is a myth and nothing else. Ducks don’t need water to swim. Ducks do not even smell like chickens and they are not prone to fleas and parasites. Duckling need to be kept warm for the first four weeks of their life. Keep them in a warm box with a light source. Sometimes ducks like to move away from the heat so keep the light in a corner and not in the centre. Never leave your ducklings near a water source unsupervised, they could drown or freeze to death. After their bodies are covered with feathers they can be allowed to go outside. You can start by keeping their box outside for a little time everyday and once they get comfortable outside they can stay in the pen built for them.

For the first few weeks ducklings should be fed duck starter which is a special feed for ducklings. For the next two months they should be fed duck grower which is for the growth and development of your duckie. From then they can be fed unmedicated chicken feed. Ducks must have access to grit which helps them to grind the food in their gizzard since they have no teeth to help them chew. Ducks like goats can keep your garden free from weeds because they love to eat greens. They can also help you finish your dinner if it is not heavily spiced. Ducks can even munch on bread and pasta. Before feeding anything to your duck make sure it is free from herbicides and pesticides. Ducks need only enough water to submerge their head and if you wish you provide them with a pool get them a plastic wading pool found in toy stores but make sure they can get in and out of it on their own.

Most ducks live for atleast 15 years so make sure you can take care of them until then. If you buy ducks be completely sure that you can take care of them. They are inquisitive and interesting creatures and they sometimes even follow their owners to see what they are up to. They are no dogs but they have their own charm and they make really nice pets. You just have to be patient while training them. Make sure to love them with all your heart. We must always remember that animals have emotions too and they feel each and every thing done to them.

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