With spring right around the corner, it’s about that time that people start getting the itch to become parents to adorable, cuddly animals. With the Easter holiday just a few weeks away, many people are considering giving ducklings or bunnies as gifts, and while that can be a great choice for some people, not everyone is prepared to offer these animals what they need to really thrive. And unfortunately, that usually leads to more homeless animals, and the heartbreaking cycle continues. It’s important to remember that those tiny, fluffy ducklings aren’t going to stay tiny forever — whoever takes them in is going to need to be prepared to care for full grown ducks (and probably a lot sooner than you’d think).
Knowing this, one hobby farmer is issuing an important PSA on TikTok. Not everyone knows what’s Involved in caring for these animals, so this video can be very eye-opening.
@the.littlecabinthatcouldWe love our runner ducks, but they take a lot of work and care. It is imortant to be prepared when adding a new animal to your home! #runnerducks #homesteading #hobbyfarm
Recently, farmer @the.littlecabinthatcould shared that even though she loves her ducks, a lot of work goes into making sure they’re healthy and happy, and that work isn’t for everyone.
She pointed out that those ducklings don’t stay ducklings for very long, hitting their full adult size within 8-12 weeks after they are born. And their care requires a lot of attention, whether that’s always making sure they have clean water, and giving them plenty of space to roam around and play.
Since ducks are social animals, she also recommends having more than just one — and shared the important reminder that they can live up to 10-12 years, which is a long time to commit!
Caring for pet ducks
Before adopting ducklings — whether you’ve started your own hobby farm or not — there are a few things you should know before jumping in.
According to Max’s Corner, you shouldn’t plan to keep ducks inside of your house; outside is where they want to be. At first, when they’re tiny, they do need to be kept somewhere warm and dry, and don’t leave water near them, because they could drown. Once they’re around four or five weeks old, they’re grown enough (and have enough feathers) to go outside safely, though they will still need a small shelter available to them.
They also require specialized food — at first, that’s duck starter, and then, they graduate to duck grower. When they’re full grown, they’ll eat pullet grower, and they’ll also need grit.
And of course, remember to check your local laws and regulations, since many residential areas will not allow people to keep ducks (or any other kinds of birds) in their yards at all.
If none of this has scared you off, you might be ready to adopt ducklings… but make sure that plenty of thought goes into that decision. These adorable, funny animals deserve the best.
