Ducks 101

Mistake #5

UNDERESTIM­ATING THE MESS

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Ducks love water and have a special relationsh­ip with it; that’s why they’re called waterfowl. That’s not to say they all adore or require floating in a pond — but they all need to have water as part of their daily rounds for drinking and bathing. That can make things quite untidy, to say the least.

“Trust me: They are way messier than you would ever imagine a tiny duckling could be,” Farrell says. Water management is key to healthy and hygienic ducks and ducklings. Any system for both drinking and playing must be kept clean at all times.

Ducks require fresh drinking water, but their bills do not enable them to politely sip it. Nope. When ducks drink, they do so with a messy gusto more akin to a loose-lipped St. Bernard lapping from a trough. Don’t worry about the splashes, drips and attempts to climb inside the container. Just make sure that the ducks can enter and exit the container safely.

“They are not misbehavin­g. They are being waterfowl,” Hodgson says. “Once someone sets up a watering system that meets their needs without creating an unmanageab­le mess, everybody is much happier and healthier.”

Above all, don’t be afraid to open your home and heart to ducks. These very versatile animals provide their keepers with food and entertainm­ent. With a bit of preparatio­n and research, you set the stage for a harmonious and hassle-free feathered union. ■

Kyra Kirkwood writes articles and books, teaches journalism at a local community college and enjoys time with her family in Southern California.

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