Raising quackers in quarantine
Many people are looking for new ways to be productive and entertain themselves during quarantine, and raising ducks may be the perfect solution.
Quarantine has left many people feeling alone and unproductive and raising ducks can provide companionship and cross an item off the grocery list. Before attempting to raise a quacking companion there are a few things to learn.
According to the RSPCA, one duck needs a minimum of nearly two square yards and it needs a place to hide from the sun.
Apart from the open space the ducks need, they also need a pen at night to protect them from predators and allow them to roost.
Feeding ducks is fairly low maintenance because they can eat grass, dig for worms and can be fed duck feed pellets.
Your new companion can also turn into your new gardening assistant by letting them follow behind you and eat worms as you dig.
Now before running to a local home improvement or gardening store to buy what may seem a low maintenance pet remember ducks do not use toilets.
Due to the amount of waste ducks produce, their swimming area and nesting area must be cleaned and replaced daily.
This means new wood chips put in the roosting area and refilling their water.
Be prepared to clean, clean and clean again.
In regards to the swimming area of the waddling residents, a kiddy swimming pool or makeshift pond will suffice.
If you are wanting to raise ducklings to ducks for eggs you may have an important question.
How do I know the gender of a duckling before buying it?
The gender of common ducks, like Pekins, can not be determined until they are more than six weeks old.
Once the duck is mature enough, the owner can attempt to decipher the duck’s gender by listening to the quack. Males make a grunting noise and females make a generic quacking sound.
If you are willing to tackle the challenge ducks may be the perfect addition to your backyard during the quarantine.
