Are Mallards a tame animal? PLEASE ANSWER!?

Question

Yes i was wondering if the the mallards are a tame animal and if they would be good as a pet, i would like to purchase some eggs from a hatchery and was wondering if they make as good pets. i do not have a pond but do they need water, and if so is a kiddy pool ok? Im only going to have around 3 or 4. I want my children to experience new life, and would also enjoy some quakers. THANKS!

Answer 1

Yeah, theyre great pets. A kiddy pool is great (but you must clean it out every/every other day. They make really friendly pets and are really social. Mallards in the wild can't become tame, but if you hatch them as babies they are. The biggest problem with ducks is that they physically can't be potty trained. its no big deal though. Here are some hatcherys i recomend.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/category/duck_eggs.html



http://www.metzerfarms.com/



Most hatcherys dont sell 3 or 4 ducks (when shipped, they get too cold and can die.), so make a deal with your local feed store, and im sure they will take or buy the extra ducklings. Or you can find someone else looking into ducks or a current duck owner, and im sure you can sell the ducks to them. Don't buy the ducks before you have plans for all of the ducks, because if you want a duck you want to be well educated. I recomend this book for first time duck owners.

-Storey's guide for raising ducks



Also This site will give you lots of information on raising ducks, owners storys, everything. I totally recomend this...

http://www.liveducks.com/



They are great pets, but like i said, knoledge yourself before you get ducks. It will make the expirience much more easy and enjoyable. i hope i helped. =).



P.S. it is NOT inhumane to keep 3 or 4 ducklings in a kiddy pool. They just need acess to clean water everyday. You will need shelter for them too, (a coop, shed, hut... check out the books+websites they have LOTS of info.)



P.P.S. Peking ducks are domestic ducks but theyre feathers are more likley to get mites (still an unllikley chance if they have clean water.) Yet the peking duck is more tolerent to temperatures than the mallard. They are sometimes considered a better family duck than the mallard, but its not a fact. Mallards actually do happen to be domesticated ducks if you know where to get one. check out my websites, they have domestic mallards available.

Answer 2

I believe they could make okay pets if you handle them from ducklings all the way to adulthood. I have 3 mallards that I got from my friend. She used them to train her dogs, and they are VERY mistrustful of people. I don't blame them though. I don't have a pond either. I will put a smallish kiddie pool in the ground it the spring, and they will be fine. (It is too cold out to do it now...)



I would way rather get chicks. They seem much friendlier, and they don't need a pool. Or, get a different breed of ducks. Mallards are usually considered a game bird, so in some places you need a permit to own them. Also, they are a pain in the butt because you need to clip their wings all the time.



I like chickens more because they are cleaner too.

Answer 3

Nearly all domesticated ducks are bred from Mallards. As long as they're captive-bred, they will be just as "tame" as any fowl. Those reared from chicks will be far more tame. Only experts should hatch eggs, and be prepared to change the pool water out just about every day.

Answer 4

I would suggest getting a domestic duck, such as a Peking duck, as opposed to a mallard. Mallards are wildlife, and they should remain so.



That being said, ducks are cool. But do your research first! It would be tragic if your kids learned about death instead of life.

Answer 5

If ANY animal unquestionably would desire to be tamed and be happy as a relatives animal, i could say a penguin. i could build an icy wonderland in my outdoors to maintain it happy. I only love penguins - they are the wonderful.