picture by @CaliFarmsAR
picture by @SuperDuck
Who Wouldn’t Want A Duckling?
Every spring, feed stores are filled with dozens of bins of cute, fuzzy chicks and ducklings. They are sold for just dollars each (sometimes even discounted!) and are very easy to purchase. Most people will impulse buy, without thinking ahead. Not prepared for when they become huge, messy adult ducks just a few short months later.
picture by @rp riley
The Problem With Impulse Purchasing
Ducklings grow super fast, and will very quickly leave the fuzzy baby stage. In just 3 months they’ll be full grown ducks. Who poop everywhere, dig up the yard, and make a mess with everything. They’ll need swimming water, lots of outdoor space, and more. They’ll can live for 15+ years. So what do you do when you can’t take care of those ducks anymore?
pictures by @3bird
What’s The Issue With Releasing Them?
Many people thing since wild ducks can survive in the wild, so can their ducks. So they will “set them free” in a pond thinking they’ll be happy and healthy. That is unfortunately not true at all. Not only is it completely illegal to release your domestic pet into the wild, but it’s also cruel. Most cannot fly so they’ll easily be picked off by predators, or taken by people with not so kind intents. They’ll be picked on by the wild ducks who already live there, after all it is their pond. And if there is no other ducks, then there is probably a reason for that. The girls will be severely overmated by the drakes, and risk drowning. With no people to help them, they’ll get sick/injured and have no way to get help. They’ll become an even easy target for predators. They rely on humans for food, so will slowly and painfully starve to death. Most people who feed wild ducks give them bread, so if they do eat it’ll be horrible for them. When winter comes, they won’t have the instinct to fly to warmer places. This will result in them freezing to death. If you are considering getting a duck, please do your research and make sure you are committed to caring for them.
picture by @rp riley
picture by @3bird
So... What Should I do If I Want A Duck?
Research! Always make sure to know how to care for any animals you have, and know all about their specific needs. I know some people use their birds as livestock, but remember they still need proper care. The most important thing to consider when bringing home a new animal, is if you have the ability to care for it. What will you do with them when they get big? What will you do with them when you go on vacation? What about if you move? And remember... if you don’t want a duck, then don’t get a duckling.
