Raising Ducks for Beginners and Beyond: The Dunkin Ducks’ Guide to Breeds, Ponds, Nutrition, and All Things Duck!

Get started raising your own ducks with this approachable guide by duck-fluencer Kristine Ellis (@dunkin.ducks).

Raising ducks may seem like all fun and games thanks to the adorable and silly birds, but what most people don’t realize is just how much work it takes to successfully keep them healthy and happy. The truth is that it’s not difficult, but it does require time, effort, and knowledge. Through her social media channels, Kristine shares many different aspects of her experience with raising ducks. She shows the good, the bad, and everything in between. In Raising Ducks for Beginners and Beyond, Kristine takes the same honest approach and covers it all:

• When and how to start: When is the best time to start raising your ducks? What are the pros and cons? Are there any specific requirements in your state regarding keeping ducks? How should you set up when bringing your ducks home? And everything you should know before welcoming your ducks.
• How to choose your ducks: Different types of ducks, male-to-female ratio, size of the ducks, and more. There are many considerations when it comes to picking which ducks you want to raise.
• ...and what about chickens? Kristine covers the key differences between raising ducks and chickens.
• Ducklings to ducks: Learn how to raise ducklings, let your ducks hatch their own eggs, transition your ducklings to the outdoors, and more.
• Nutrition and feeding: Make sure they’re receiving the right nutrient ratios and that they’re surrounded by duck-safe plants, flowers, and more.
• Keeping your ducks healthy (and happy!): What is the right bedding to keep your ducks comfortable? What about coop and/or pen size? What are common illnesses among ducks? And more on how to keep your ducks in good shape and content.
• Pools and ponds: One of the key differences from chicken-keeping, ponds are absolutely vital for ducks. This chapter helps you make sure your ducks’ pools and/or ponds are the correct size and that they are kept nice and clean.
• Ducks through the seasons: Learn how to treat your ducks according to season. What seasons affect ducks, and why?
• Predators: One of the most important parts of keeping ducks is keeping them safe. Know what their predators are and how to keep them at bay.
• Duck eggs: What’s the difference between a duck egg and a chicken egg? Is one better than the other? What can you use duck eggs for? Learn all you need to know about the nutritional value of duck eggs and how you can use them.

Kristine Ellis received her first duck as a birthday gift when she turned five years old. In her freshman year of high school, she joined a local 4-H poultry club where her love of ducks flourished. In 2017, she purchased her first miniature duck from a member of the club. That duck, Munchkin, became the star of Dunkin Ducks the next year! The Dunkin Ducks Instagram page was initially created to connect with others who raise ducks and share duck pictures for fun. To this day, education and community remain important parts of all Dunkin Ducks pages, where millions of followers subscribe to follow along. Dunkin Ducks has been featured in dozens of media outlets including the New York Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Boston Globe. Krissy also remains involved in 4-H, where she now teaches kids about raising poultry.