How much does it cost (a year) to keep a pet duck?
Question by Casey: How much does it cost (a year) to keep a pet duck?
Like, the kind of duck you pick up as a hatchling from tractor supply.
What do you think? Answer below!
2 Responses to How much does it cost (a year) to keep a pet duck?
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For a single duck, I would say $ 50 a year.
Bob Loblaw
June 7, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Ducks, much like chickens, are social. You can’t keep just one. You would have a miserable animal. I recommend keeping a trio – that way, if something does happen to one of them, the remaining ones can keep each other company.
Keeping only a couple of ducks costs very little a year. During the warmer months, ours forage for most of their food – they love slugs and snails (and, unfortunately, basil, swiss chard, and mesclun mix – and destroyed part of my crop this year). I always supplement with a good quality feed, which is about $ 12 per 50-lb. bag. One bag would last a trio quite a long time.
In colder months, I also provide them with straw bedding and housing, and a bale of straw is around $ 3.
Overall, keeping a small flock of chickens or ducks makes for very cost-effective pets. I would recommend getting a laying breed, though (I raise khaki campbells). That way, my family is provided with eggs, which helps offset the overhead cost of keeping the birds.
stonefieldhill
June 7, 2013 at 1:42 pm