I live in the Macon Georgia area and would like to have a duck for a pet. None of the pet stores in this area carry ducks and I am not having any luck searching the internet. Is it hard/expensive to hatch a duck from an egg (although I can not find eggs for sale either) Where can I find a duck and which type make the best pets? Thanks in advance... chris

-- chris (chris135@animail.net), April 01, 2002

Answers

Try a farm store. Tractor supply usually has ducks about this time of year.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), April 01, 2002.

Chris, you might try posting an ad in your local paper or put up a note at your local farm store. (If they have a bulletin board). You can get ducklings by mail, but you have to order several. You might check out eggbay.com too. maybe some of the sellers on there are close to your area. Good luck, I hope you find one, they are so much fun!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.

Get at least 2. They will be so much happier.

-- kate (Kate@sheepyvalley.com), April 01, 2002.

Chris, Check feed stores who probably are carrying chicks around now. Most usually get some mixed variety ducklings in too (meaning several breeds in one batch, not meaning cross-bred). If they will only special order the ducks, find out if they will inquire with a customer who is ordering, if they will part with one baby (or two!) when their order comes in. A friend told us years ago "girls are loud, boys are quiet". Not scientific, but it's quite dependable if you're trying to sex new ducklings and aren't a pro. Listening to each one as it is separated out from the others works pretty well. If you get more than one, try to get a hen/drake pair. Trying to hatch a duck egg is probably a difficult if not disappointing way to get yourself a pet. If you know someone with a flock of chickens and broody hens (especially banties as they set so willingly) and can even get ahold of (assumably) fertile duck eggs, sneak duck eggs under her and she will hatch them never knowing the difference. The only thing is, the duckling will bond (imprint) with the hen that it thinks is it's mother, so you'd have to appropriate the baby quickly or never get yourself a pet. Breed-wise, Khaki Campbells are just wonderful (my favorite). The babies are all brown, as are the adults. They're gentle, mild- mannered, and not loud. Indian runners (we have the Fawn variety, which is just the color, I think) are a close second choice for me. (They stand up straight, and run instead of waddle; some call them "bottlenecks".) Pekins (white) are predator-prone if they are ever loose (no protective coloring??) so we haven't kept them since losing some, and don't know about pet quality. Rouens are the domestic version of mallards and aren't known to be flyers, though we have had rouens that apparently never heard that rule. (Something to consider.) There are plenty of other breeds, too. Ducks are so companionable with other ducks (if you ever go that far) they are a joy, and those that are hand raised will stay buddies with you (in our experience)-- unless they have babies of their own, then they are very protective no matter who you are. Hope this helps.

-- teddy in NE (millerfam@panhandle.net), April 01, 2002.

Look in your yellow pages under FEED for your local farm supply stores. I agree that this time of year is when you will find them carrying ducks. If they don't have them, you may put a wanted ad on their bulletin board. I've also ordered just a couple at a time from Ideal Hatcheries along with a chick order. You, of course, couldn't get just a couple of ducklings by mail, though, you'd have to order something else with them. We tried to hatch duck eggs in an incubator once, and, in my opinion, it's tricky. Anyway, we failed.

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), April 01, 2002.

If you want it to be a real "pet" just get one so it will bond with you, if you won't have time for it every day get two, if you get one give it a mirror so it won't be as lonely while you are at work etc. And the younger it is the more it will like you.

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), April 01, 2002.

Ducks and chicks are everywhere here right now... at pet and feed stores, but also there was a truck selling them in the parking lot at Wal-Mart!! I know this because my friend bought two on Saturday and then brought them to me today; she was already tired of them. But my kids are happy we have two new ducks....

Good luck finding some ducks!

-- Leighanne T. (robertt@click1.net), April 01, 2002.

Chris, how about doing it right and going to a breeder in your area that can sell you a nice, well bred duck or ducks? They will instruct you in proper feeding and care. Check out www.poultryconnection.com and click on General Waterfowl Forum. Lots of people there raise many breeds of ducks and can direct you to a breeder in your area. You will also find LINKS there that will take you to sites(like Feathersite etc.)that have wonderful pictures of ducks. Ducks need completely different care than chickens. No medicated food! They require more Niacin than chickens. Get a good book to start. have you decided what breed? A Bantam? A light duck? A heavy Breed? The best book on the market is "Story's Guide to Raising Ducks" by Dave Holderread. It covers everything you need to know to make an intelligent decision in choosing a duck or ducks. How to feed and care for them. Also some nice recipes for duck eggs. I got my used copy from Amazon.com for 4 bucks. Can't lose. Have Fun, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 01, 2002.

I have not found that hatching duck or goose eggs are any harder than hatching chicken eggs. The difference is that you spritz the waterfowl eggs with warm water once a day. Either that or give them a very brief dip in a bowl of warm water. Think about it. The hen goes swimming when she is off the nest, then returns to sit the eggs. The water is needed to soften the shell and keep the chick from dehydrating. But unless you already have an incubator running, I would also suggest the feed store.

-- Robin Downing (Southpawrobin1@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

Thanks so much for all the responses! I found a feed store in my area that is carrying ducks for the Easter season and I am going there in just a bit. Thanks for all the helpfull information, I am going to check out some of those references to learn more about caring for 'Quackers' as my girlfriend has already named him... 8P Thanks again!

-- chris (chris135@animail.net), April 02, 2002.