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WHY DUCKS?
Ducks are the easiest domestic bird to raise. They are incredibly resistant to disease and unlike chicken and other fowl which need to be treated for lice, worms and other disease, ducks seldom seem to be bothered by parasites. 
RESISTANCE TO ALL TYPES OF WEATHER
Ducks are very resistant to all types of weather. They have thick coats of feathers that are well-oiled and provide warmth during cold and wet weather. In extreme heat, they require shade and plenty of fresh water. A small kiddies pool, pond, or lake is necessary for bathing. Small kiddie pools are ideal and are easy to maintain and clean. I use everyday bleach to disinfect and clean the pools.
SERVE USEFUL PURPOSES Ducks serve many useful purposes. They have a fondness for grubs, insects, and snails. They help keep standing water free of mosquitoes. They also eat beetles and other pests which attack plants and lawns.
INEXPENSIVE TO FEED Ducks are easy to maintain and inexpensive to feed. Besides foraging on insects, bugs, etc. and munching on grass, a fifty pound bag of feed is very inexpensive and lasts a long time. You can usually pick up commercial duck feed at a local feed and seed store or most pet shops. Ducks will also eat cracked corn and some scraps from the house such as lettuce and other vegetables and fruit. Ducks love to eat some brands of dried dog food although I would not recommend this as their sole food source. Always provide a bowl of fresh water with meals. Most ducks like to dip their food into the water. I usually give Duck Mesh mixed with water so they are able to digest it easier. For newborn ducks, you can pick up Duck Grower which is finely ground mesh. Older ducks usually will eat the pellets.
GREAT DISPOSITION Ducks are usually shy towards their owners. They are very seldom aggressive and make great pets for children. Some ducks will even imprint on humans if they are the first thing they see moving after birth. If this happens, you will have a companion for life. They will follow you everywhere and come to the sound of your voice. When raised with other ducklings, they will usually imprint on one another and will remain close to one another.
USEFUL FEATHERS AND MANURE
Duck manure is also an excellent fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Their feathers are valuable also as fillers for pillows and liners for blankets, etc. For these reasons and so many more, ducks make excellent choices for pets.
GOOD LIFE EXPECTANCY
Ducks can live a fairly long length of time. Some have been know to live 20 to 30 years although that is the rare case.
DISTINGUISHING MALE FROM FEMALE DUCKS
Female ducks or hens tend to be a little noisier than male ducks. They produce the familiar Quack that we always hear. Female bills also tended to be spotted or freckled with black. Some say this is a sign of their fertileness. Female mallards tend to also have darker beaks than male mallards. The male's bill will usually turn a dull green. This is also the case for Rouens. Male ducks or drakes also have a distinquishing tail feather which will curl. This is known as a sex feather. PECKING ORDER Like most animals, ducks develop pecking orders where one duck will usually dominate the others. This helps create a peaceful co-existence among them. Sometimes a new duck that is introduced into an existing flock will challenge the pecking order. The roughhousing you may witness is not unusual and one should not interfere unless the conflict is causing serious injury, although this is seldom the case.
MATING Ducks will usually pair off although domestic ducks will mate indiscriminately with hens in the flock. Usually it is recommended to have at least three female hens to one male. Ducks prefer to mate on water but will breed on land also. I have raised a 2 to 1 ratio and found that this also works well.
SWIMMING Ducks love the water and are very clean. They will spend many hours bathing and swimming. Ducklings should be kept out of water until they are four weeks old and have lost their baby feathers. They do not have the oils to keep from getting soaked to the bone and can easily get pneumonia. Make sure drinking bowls are only deep enough for a duckling or duck to dip his beak and wash his food. This will prevent accidental drowning.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
Ducks have much sharper vision than humans. Due to the location of their eyes, they can see nearly 360 degrees without moving their heads. This allows them to keep a constant eye out for danger. Ducks are not extremely fast on land and prefer to make their escape from predators in water where they are highly skilled swimmers. The legs of ducks are injured more easily than those of chicken and should not be picked up by their feet, but rather their whole body. When a duck cleans its feathers, also known as preening, they produce oil from an oil gland located at the base of their tale. They will squeeze the oil gland with their bill and spread the oil onto its feathers. Ducks bills are usually long and broad and well suited for collecting food from water. 
Written by Michelle Shames
Background by Michelle Property of Gander Gab 2007 his webset page was assembled on Thursday April 19, 2007 with graphics from the public domain using one of the many auto-scripters | 
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