baby duck

[harry chickpea]

Where have I heard this before???

[zenjenn]

I don't disagree with many of the responses, but in her defense, there are many people with children who will incubate an egg and watch it hatch and the chick grow as a nature study, and then give the chicken to a local farm or to someone who keeps backyard chickens. I had a baby chick for a bit when I was a kid, and it was a good experience. Usually the bird ends up as dinner, though a hen might be kept for its eggs. Either way, it can be fun, but the reality is, most anyone who wants a duck as a pet wanted to get it as a duckling themselves. Anyone else who might want a duck wants it for meat (and there's nothing wrong with that.) Finding someone who keeps ducks as a poultry project who might let you foster a duckling for a little bit might be an option, but I wouldn't sugar-coat the reality of duck's fate. It is cute and fun but if approached with the right attitude the truth doesn't traumatize. Don't name it (we called our fostered chick "chickie"), and be clear it's off to the farm when the time comes. As a kid, it was very interesting to me to see how fast they grow. I cooed and coddled it as any little girl would, but I didn't shed any tears when farmtime came.

[HB2HSV]

I remember when I was in high school my younger sister had an "egg hatching" project. When the egg was hatched, my sister and her friend was so happy that they wanted to take a picture of the chic. They placed the baby chic on top of dinning table and took the camera, Kodak instantmatic with flash bulb which is the camera of that era, zoomed in and clicked ZAP... and the poor baby chic just keeled over and died!! The flash was so strong that it killed the baby chic.

That was when I walked in to see two stunned girls starring at a dead baby chicken. But they were not deterred by this set back, they got a few more eggs and soon we had several baby chickens following us around in the back yard. I think later the teacher collected the chickens and sent them to chicken farm.

[lizinva]

I would recommend that you find a local farm that has chickens, ducks etc. and go by frequently to see the life cycle of the animals. I think it would be a better option for all involved. There are a lot of places nearby that would probably be happy to help you out in that capacity. You would also get to see other animals besides ducks such as goats etc.

Don't take the responses here negatively, the answers are meant to help you and the future ducks involved!

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by zenjenn

I don't disagree with many of the responses, but in her defense, there are many people with children who will incubate an egg and watch it hatch and the chick grow as a nature study, and then give the chicken to a local farm or to someone who keeps backyard chickens. I had a baby chick for a bit when I was a kid, and it was a good experience. Usually the bird ends up as dinner, though a hen might be kept for its eggs. Either way, it can be fun, but the reality is, most anyone who wants a duck as a pet wanted to get it as a duckling themselves. Anyone else who might want a duck wants it for meat (and there's nothing wrong with that.) Finding someone who keeps ducks as a poultry project who might let you foster a duckling for a little bit might be an option, but I wouldn't sugar-coat the reality of duck's fate. It is cute and fun but if approached with the right attitude the truth doesn't traumatize. Don't name it (we called our fostered chick "chickie"), and be clear it's off to the farm when the time comes. As a kid, it was very interesting to me to see how fast they grow. I cooed and coddled it as any little girl would, but I didn't shed any tears when farmtime came.

I had a blue chick that I bought when I was a kid. Of course, I couldn't keep it long so I took it to my Aunt's house who raised chickens. Turned out my chick was a rooster.. I am pretty sure he suffered trauma by being laughed at by the other chicks. LOL

I think it is a good thing to learn but you also have to be sure you have a place for it to go when it gets big. My chick dimess was from the other rooster who ruled the roost.