Ducks

Ep. 1: Pros and Cons of getting ducks | Duck Keeper’s Corner vodcast

Posted on May 21, 2025

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Last Updated on May 21, 2025 by Susan von Frank

Watch or listen to the first episode of our new vodcast, The Duck Keeper’s Corner! In Episode 1, we cover the pros and cons of getting ducks. Featured guest: Melanie from Ducks of Providence.

Show notes and referenced links are below for additional reading. Also, congratulations to our first giveaway winners, Jo Staley and Michelle F.! Do you want to enter to win a Duck My Life t-shirt or other accessories, or a copy of our book, The Impractical Guide to Keeping Ducks? Enter the Duck Keeper’s Corner giveaway here.

Show Notes, Duck Keeper’s Corner, Episode 1: The Pros and Cons of Getting Ducks

Featured guest: Melanie from Ducks of Providence. As mentioned at the end of the episode, the Duck Keeper’s Corner was originally planned as a collaborative project between us (Tyrant Farms) and Melanie, but Melanie is going to have to step back from that role for personal reasons. She will continue to come on as a guest in some future episodes.

Intro: Any animal you get – or any life decision you make for that matter – comes with pros and cons. Getting ducks is actually a pretty major life decision, and being owned by ducks certainly comes with pros and cons, aka tradeoffs. Here are some key pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to get pet or backyard ducks:

PROS of getting ducks

Hilarious – ducks are some of the funniest, goofiest creatures you’ll ever meet. They will make you laugh every day.
Eggs – Delicious nutrient-rich eggs. Additional reading: Duck eggs vs chicken eggs – how do they compare? Also note that most backyard and pet duck keepers would be advised NOT to try to maximize egg production since that will likely lead to sick and dead ducks and/or expensive vet bills. See: What to feed ducks to maximize their health and longevity.
Connection – Producing your own eggs yields a closer connection to your food.
Poop – Is this a pro or con? Ha! Depends… For us at Tyrant Farms, duck poop and old coop bedding is a huge pro because we use it to build soil and fertilize our gardens.
Joy and beauty – There’s something special about looking out your window and seeing ducks playing in your backyard
Education – You will learn a lot about animals and nature. So will your children.
Emotional support – Ducks and other birds are known to be great for mental health.
Pest Control – They eat bugs, slugs, snails, etc.

CONS of getting ducks

Ducks might be illegal – Your HOA or local city ordinances may prohibit you from owning ducks, even if you tell them your ducks own you.
Noise – Lady ducks can be VERY loud.
“Dirty” – Ducks can be dirty, but they’re only as dirty as their setup allows. Lots of poop, lots of water. See: Are ducks dirty? Top tips for keeping your duck areas clean.
Time and care – Ducks require a lot of time and specialized care. Ducklings are especially time-intensive. So, before you get ducks you really need to take time to research them, plan, and prepare. See: How to raise ducklings, a step-by-step guide | A beginner’s guide to raising ducks: 17 things you should know
No vacation – There is no taking the day off or going on vacation without planning ahead for someone to care for your ducks – unless you have a self-sustaining setup or a good duck sitter. See: How to go on vacation without your ducks.
Water needs – Ducks need a lot more water than chickens. Chickens take dust baths, ducks take water baths. To be their happiest and best selves, ducks need a small pond or kiddie pool to play and clean themselves in. See: How to build a backyard duck pond with DIY chemical-free biofilter system.
Avian vets – Your ducks will eventually need a vet and avian vets can be hard to find, depending on where you live. They’re also expensive because ducks are considered “exotic” animals.
Can’t just get one – Ducks are highly social animals and need other ducks to be their best.
Not your typical house pet – You can not keep them indoors all the time like cats and dogs. They need yard time, sunshine, and water. See: 9 tips and tricks for keeping indoor pet ducks.
Predators – Every predator wants to eat ducks, so you’ll have to plan ahead to keep them safe, night and day. By night: predator-proof coop. By day (possibly) a predator-proof run or other measures. See: How to build a long-lasting predator-proof duck coop and run | 17 tips and tricks to keep your ducks safe from predators
Not a short time commitment – Ducks can live for over a decade, so plan accordingly. See: How long can ducks live – and what to expect as they age.
You will not save money on eggs – IF you think you’ll save money on eggs by producing your own, you’ll be disappointed. See: Backyard eggs economic analysis.
Ducks are addictive – Once you inhale your first duck, you’ll probably be hooked for life and want more ducks.
Heartbreak – Ducks die and they can break your heart. Sad, but true.

Additional helpful links from Ducks of Providence:

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Susan von Frank

Susan is a graphic designer, organic no-dig gardener, plant geek, heritage breed duck mom, and co-author of The Impractical Guide to Raising Ducks: How to joyously produce the world's most expensive eggs from the world's most adorable animals, available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. Susan earned a B.A. in Biology from College of Charleston, worked as an ACSM certified personal trainer, and as a research assistant in addiction psychiatry at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She puts her strong technical research background to work for Tyrant Farms (on the blog and in the gardens). Foraging, cooking, fermentation, and mixology round out her other interests. In addition to their collaboration on Tyrant Farms, Susan and her husband Aaron are cofounders of GrowJourney.com, a USDA certified organic seed & gardening education company. She's also a proud momma to an amazing wild child.