Ducks 101

Mistake #1

JUMPING IN, (WEBBED) FEET FIRST

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There are few people on Earth who can resist the allure of a downy-soft and utterly adorable duckling, peeping and waddling around a cardboard box at the feed store — but try to. This isn’t the time to make a rash decision. People who purchase or adopt ducks on impulse often regret it. They usually walk away with way more ducks than they would ever be able to handle, too.

“I tell people that if they can keep it to a minimum flock number, there’s less mess,” says Alison Leary, owner and operator of Al’s Quackery in Arundel, Maine. “Start with two to four [ducks], depending on the amount of space you have for them.”

If you don’t know what you’re doing, you might get a bunch of male, or drake, ducklings. That could be a problem if their behavior becomes aggressive later due to hormones. Duck owners say it’s best to have one male for every three to six females.

While these animals are generally easy to manage, you have to prepare yourself and your home, figuring out what and how much you want. Putting the duck before the cart, so to speak, is a recipe for disaster.

Do some research first; that is mandatory. Make sure that local ordinances do not restrict or prohibit duck ownership; check for town, city or county codes about animals, pets and livestock.

Read books such as Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks (Storey Publishing) by Dave Holderread of Holderread Waterfowl Farm & Preservati­on Center in Corvallis, Ore. Join online message boards, and talk to experience­d duck owners.

Make a list of your wishes (eggs, meat, companions­hip, beauty) and your environmen­t (large lot, small yard, kids), and look into the breeds that fit these stipulatio­ns, Leary says. The more you know before you dive in, the better the outcome will be.

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