Should I Gift A Duck To My Friend?

[quailheart]

Hello everyone! I didn't really know what topic to put this thread in so I just picked Games Jokes and Fun. Our family friends live up in Wisconsin and we either go up to see them or they come down to Missouri to visit us once a year. This past year, our plans to see each other have been canceled because of the pandemic. I am afraid we aren't going to be able to visit them this year either, so that is why I wanted to give them a little something to sort of replace us. Ok, I want to give them a duck. Why a duck? When me and my husband met these friends we were in an overnight retreat center and we became close friends. My friend, Elizabeth, thought I left a toy duck behind (I didn't. Why would 30 year old me bring a toy duck to a retreat center ) So when we met up about a year later she gave it to me because she thought it was mine. Anyways, this became a game that we did every time our families visited each other, to leave the toy duck behind and bring it back to the other family's house when we saw each other again.
At first, this sounded like a hilarious and amazing idea but I am starting to second guess it. In case you were wondering, it would be a Pekin duck and I would NOT be mailing it. My husband is going on a business trip to Wisconsin around June/July so I would have him bring it to our friends.
I was wondering if you guys thought this was a bad idea.... Thanks!

 

[Anne02]

Hello everyone! I didn't really know what topic to put this thread in so I just picked Games Jokes and Fun. Our family friends live up in Wisconsin and we either go up to see them or they come down to Missouri to visit us once a year. This past year, our plans to see each other have been canceled because of the pandemic. I am afraid we aren't going to be able to visit them this year either, so that is why I wanted to give them a little something to sort of replace us. Ok, I want to give them a duck. Why a duck? When me and my husband met these friends we were in an overnight retreat center and we became close friends. My friend, Elizabeth, thought I left a toy duck behind (I didn't. Why would 30 year old me bring a toy duck to a retreat center ) So when we met up about a year later she gave it to me because she thought it was mine. Anyways, this became a game that we did every time our families visited each other, to leave the toy duck behind and bring it back to the other family's house when we saw each other again.
At first, this sounded like a hilarious and amazing idea but I am starting to second guess it. In case you were wondering, it would be a Pekin duck and I would NOT be mailing it. My husband is going on a business trip to Wisconsin around June/July so I would have him bring it to our friends.
I was wondering if you guys thought this was a bad idea.... Thanks!

You should never just give an animal to somebody. Ask them about it, and see how they feel. If they like the idea, then sure, go for it.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

I think the one issue with that is the fact that ducks need to be in groups, ducklings are fun and cute to raise but they grow fast, eat a lot and need a little more maintenance from chickens. Do they have space for a few ducks? Pekins get quite large. Do they have time to care for a few ducks? Extra money for feed, housing, bedding, fencing etc. Do they have dogs that may pose a threat to them? Animals don't usually make the best gift, even worse when it's a surprise, maybe talk to them about it first? or maybe hunt down a REALLY big stuffed duck : D

 

[Henrietta 65]

ducks like any animals are a commitment not just a gift they should be planned and researched first make sure you have a suitable area etc.. and ducks should be kept in groups so I don’t think any animal should just be gifted

 

[FrankieDoodle]

You should never give animals as gifts, especially as a surprise. One of my neighbors recently gave me a few surprise chicks, and even though I’ve been raising birds for a while, it took me off guard and left me scrambling for food, water dishes, a place to house them, etc. It wasn’t fun.

Ducks, especially pekins, can be really big, loud, and messy. They need lots of water they can bathe in, and often splash poop and dirty water everywhere.

If your friends don’t already have ducks, they would need a lot of supplies, such as a predator proof coop and run, large water buckets, food, food dishes, medical supplies for any emergencies. It can get expensive really quickly.


I like @Northwest_Wannabe ’s suggestion about getting a large stuffed duck instead. I think it would be cheaper, and easier for everyone.

 

[quailheart]

Ok! Thanks so much guys! I guess it was a bad idea after all. A baby duckling sounds cute, but the amount of time and resources you need for just one duck is not worth it in my opinion. I'll hopefully think of a better idea that is not a live animal! Hahaha!