Pet Duck Care in the UK: A Friendly Guide for New Duck Keepers

September 29, 2026

Pet Duck Keeper’s Guide – For UK Duck Lovers

Whether they’re waddling around your garden or paddling on a pond, ducks make wonderful and engaging pets.

This guide introduces the fun and quirky side of duck keeping before covering the essential care, housing, and safety advice to keep your ducks healthy and happy here in the UK.

Meet Your Ducks: Fun Facts & Friendly Behaviour

Do Ducks Have Friends?
Yes! Ducks are social animals that thrive in groups. Keeping a minimum of two ducks is recommended to avoid loneliness and behavioural issues. A group of ducks on land is called a waddling, and on water, a raft or paddling.

Can Ducks Fly?
All ducks can fly, but most domesticated breeds (like Pekins or Aylesburys) are too heavy to get off the ground for long. Lighter breeds, like Call Ducks or Mallards, may take to the air — especially if startled.

Where Do Ducks Sleep?
Ducks don’t roost like chickens. Instead, they sleep in a duck house, on the ground or on water if it’s available. Some ducks may float together on a pond overnight, while others prefer bedding down in a dry, secure shelter.

Will They Lay Eggs in Winter?
Unlike chickens, many domestic ducks will continue laying eggs during winter months — though you may have to search to find where they’ve laid them!

Duck Breeds: Which Is Best for Pets?

Pet ducks come in a variety of breeds, each with its own charm:

Indian Runner Ducks – Energetic and upright walkers. Great egg layers.

Call Ducks – Tiny, talkative, and full of character. Child-friendly.

Cayuga Ducks – Beautiful black-green sheen and a calm temperament.

Silver Appleyard – Larger ducks with friendly temperaments and decent egg-layers.

Welsh Harlequins – Attractive markings and good laying capacity.

Domesticated breeds are usually descended from Mallards (except Muscovies) and have been kept by humans for thousands of years.

Housing for Ducks: Land-Based and Floating Options

Whether your ducks are on dry land or paddling in a pond, providing the right shelter is essential.

Land-Based Duck Houses

Dry and sheltered: Protect ducks from wind, rain, and damp.

Ventilated: Ducks produce moisture and mess — good airflow is essential.

Spacious: Allow floor space rather than perches (ducks don’t roost).

Accessible: A low, wide doorway prevents crowding and injury.

Floating Duck Houses

Ideal for ponds, especially with wild or semi-wild breeds.

Provide security from land-based predators.

Ensure they're tethered for easy access when cleaning or checking inside.

Still need ventilation, weatherproofing, and enough space for the flock.

Hygiene & Mite Control

Ducks are less prone to red mite than chickens because of their oily feathers, but housing can still become dirty or attract parasites if left unchecked.

Clean the house regularly to remove droppings, mould, and organic matter.

Use Smite Red Mite Liquid Concentrate for sanitising and degreasing surfaces.

Follow up with Stalosan F Powder to absorb moisture and neutralise odours.

Even floating houses should be cleaned frequently — use a tether or island walkway to access them easily.

Fencing & Predator Protection

Ducks need protection from predators like foxes and badgers

Electric fencing is highly recommended to keep predators out.

However, ducks can walk into electric wires, so use an internal non-electric barrier (e.g. wire mesh) just inside the electric fence for a safe buffer.

Avoid poultry netting with electric current — ducks can become entangled.

A 1-metre high fence is often enough to contain most breeds, but a predator-proof system should be taller or double-layered.

Feeding Your Pet Ducks

Ducks are omnivores — they enjoy grains, insects, greens, and water plants.

Use waterfowl or duck-specific layer pellets that suit their bill structure.

Avoid chicken feeders with anti-flick grids; ducks scoop food, so need open-topped troughs or dishes.

Offer occasional treats like mealworms.

Ducklings should only be given feeds without coccidiostats, which can be harmful in high doses.

Never feed ducks bread or processed human food — these offer no nutritional value and can cause health problems.

Drinking & Bathing Water

Ducks need access to clean, fresh water at all times — both for drinking and bathing.

Ideal setups include:

A pond or large container for bathing and head-dipping.

A duck-safe drinker (such as auto-fill or raised water bowls) for clean drinking water.

Change water regularly to avoid contamination from mud and droppings.

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