Advice about getting a pet Duck.

[katpanda]

Me and my boyfriend want to get a pet that not many other people have.
So we decided since we couldn't have a pig that we could have a duck.
Does anybody else have a duck? Are they good to have as a pet?
Are thy high maitenence? Or easy to take care of?
Tell me as much as you can!

[TheBabyEater]

I personally don't recommend getting a pet duck, for a few reasons. While they are very sweet pets as far as I know of, and are awesome little animals, they're not low maintenance. For one, they need a place to swim. That means you've basically got to have a small lake or pond in your fenced in yard... Plus the water needs to be clean because bad water can be very deadly for little ducks. They need to have outside shelter too that is protected from animals.

Plus they're very social, so you'd need to get two, both at a very young age in order for them to raise with you. And if you're getting them young, you'll need to spend lots and lots of time with them since you're raising them from chicks Feeding is weird and messed up too, you'd have to research that more. They don't make duck food very available

So yeah, I recommend getting a different kind of exotic animal.

[katpanda]

The decision was either a duck or a pig.
My boyfriend and I are weird people sometimes, I love it.
I will definitely research it more, but I just wanted some advice from someone who owned a duck themselves.

[TheBabyEater]

Pigs are probably better, easier to make them happy without restricting their natural habitats, though micropigs are really cute and REALLY expensive

[katpanda]

Micropigs? They exist?!
Well, we are going to be living in a unit. It has two balconies.

[TheBabyEater]

It's the newest thing I suppose http://jesad.com/img/fun/micropig-th...he-world04.jpg

A micropig, while being horribly cute, costs about $2,000. Which is actually really cheap compared to when I first found them a few years ago. Back then they were in the $10,000s

[katpanda]

Wow, I can't believe that! Haha.
I will be saving for awhile for one of those.

[Dream]

My friend had a pet duck. Be careful if there are little kids around (or people who act like little kids) because they can kill the ducks on accident easily. Little ducks are kind of fragile.

[KatNap]

I don't necessarily think it's weird to own uncommon pet animals. It just happens less frequently because people don't have the right environment to house the pet in.

I would have to agree with Marissa. Make sure you will be able to supply the duck with a home it will feel comfortable in ( maintained pond..proper diet..another duck friend..breeding..) Not to mention if you let it in your actual home you'll probably get duck droppings everywhere..so train it well lol.

And though they may seem like an awesome idea now you may change your mind in two years.

[Fairy Poppins]

I personally wouldn't recommend that you get a duck, unless you live on some kind of farm.

As Marissa said, the duck needs to be able to have access to water, preferably a large amount of it. It doesn't sound like where you're moving to is going to fulfill this quota.

My cousin had a pet duck. She probably watched Friends and thought "Hey, a duck looks like fun!" However, it didn't turn out to be such a great idea. Not having access to water and lots of grassy space to wander around in, he soon got frustrated at not being able to do his innate duck things.

They decided to release him into a local park, in the hope that he would be happier there, but quite frankly I think it was a ridiculous idea because he wouldn't have had any of the necessary skills to survive, having been in captivity all his life.

So yeah, as cute as ducks are, I wouldn't recommend them as an alternative to the standard domestic pets. You say you "want to get a pet that not many other people have", but please remember that there is a reason why most people don't have them and, as cool as you might feel with an unusual pet, the animal's welfare should come first.

Good luck with your continuing search to find the right pet!

[Ashes2493]

I'm with everyone else ducks might not be the best idea. Although going by your unusual pet idea. I found sugar gliders are unusual, but they also take a lot of care, but don't need the pond and a fenced in yard.

Here's a site if you really want to look into it : http://sugarglidercare.net/

But they cost about $300 for a common one. That is cheaper than a micropig though.

Best Wishes in your pet search.

[Takeitslow]

I really like birds too and if you're wanting something birdlike but with that domesticated-like bond to humans, I'd recommend some small parrot like a quaker, sun conure, green cheek etc. They are really love people, are great for apartments, and are beautiful (prettier than a duck imo haha)

Micropigs are also pretty awesome... they sound kind of like a hassle though because they need special food only from the breeder.

[Lenaia]

If you want an uncommon but easy to take care of and relatively cheap pet, I would suggest rats. There is a lot of information on them readily available all over the internet and tons of forums dedicated to rat owners. I especially would not recommend sugar gliders. They are cute and all, but they do not make good pets and they cost loads of money to care for properly.

[TheBabyEater]

Sugar Gliders are just about some of the cutest little pets I've ever seen But yeah, they have the strictest diet of ANY animal I've heard of. I heard somewhere that if you mess up their diet by 1% (like a little bit not enough protein) they can die.

[Ashes2493]

Originally Posted by Mr. Gir

Sugar Gliders are just about some of the cutest little pets I've ever seen But yeah, they have the strictest diet of ANY animal I've heard of. I heard somewhere that if you mess up their diet by 1% (like a little bit not enough protein) they can die.

I never heard that.

I took a class on companion animals and I was taught that they just needed lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

[TheBabyEater]

Originally Posted by Ashes2493

I never heard that.

I took a class on companion animals and I was taught that they just needed lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

I can't be sure that it's absolutely correct, but I do know they have a strict diet that shouldn't be changed. You know how dogs sometimes freak out you change their food? I heard they're like that but worse

EDIT: I got curious and actually researched it. http://www.sugarglider.com/archives/ruth/diet.html lots of fruits and veggies ain't exactly...yeah... lol

[katpanda]

They are great suggesttions!
I have an underlying fear of rats, so I can't have one.

[katpanda]

But my cousin reckons he 'conquered' my fear of them