- 1). Set up your mallards' accommodation. Ducks need a house to roost in, which are available ready-made, a large run, or a predator-proof yard and a place to swim. If you don't have a pond, a child's paddling pool is a good alternative and easy to clean. Use straw or wood shavings in the house as bedding. You can keep ducks free-range, providing your neighbors do not object, but remember to lock up their house each night to keep out predators.
- 2). Feed your ducks twice a day. Experienced duck owners usually develop their own diets, but a basis of pellet mash, available from agricultural and pet stores, supplemented with fresh vegetables, corn or wheat and fresh hard-boiled eggs should provide all they need. They will also find plants and insects to eat when they are out. Overall, your ducks' diet should be approximately 16 percent protein. Ducklings need a little more and should be fed a commercial starter food specifically for them.
- 3). Clean the house, pool and food dishes at least once a week. The used bedding is fine for home-composting and the used water for watering lawns or flowerbeds.
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