Keeping ducks and geese as pets

If you're thinking of keeping ducks or geese as pets, find out how best to look after them to ensure you can keep them healthy and happy. As with any pet, keeping ducks or geese is a big commitment, so read our advice to understand their needs and assess whether you have the time, resources, knowledge and facilities to care for them.

Take a look at our guidance on providing the best surroundings for them, including indoor shelter, outdoor space and open water.

Always contact a vet if you're concerned about the health and welfare of your pet ducks or geese.

Food and water

Ducks and geese need feed that's suitable for their species, age and breed. Ducks spend much of their time feeding in and around water, whereas geese spend far more time grazing, so you'll need to give them plenty of grassy pasture.

These birds also need plentiful access to clean, fresh water at all times. Water facilities should be designed to allow young birds to get out of the water easily to stop them from drowning. In winter, you'll need to remove ice from the water, but don't use chemicals to do this as they could be harmful to your birds.

Don't forget to clean food dispensers and drinkers regularly. If you change the type of drinker, make sure you also provide the birds with some of the old type until they've got used to the new ones.

Introducing new ducks and geese to the flock

We recommend that you keep at least three birds who get on well together. You'll need to be careful about introducing new ducks and geese to the flock when they don't know each other. It's best not to mix birds with very different body sizes, as this can lead to bullying.

Health care for ducks and geese

Healthy ducks and geese are bright-eyed, alert and interested. Signs of poor health can include:

Hunched posture
Erect feathers
Head tucked under the wing
Reluctance to move
Hiding in corners or dark areas

Always contact a vet as soon as possible if you're concerned about the health and welfare of your ducks or geese. And make sure you take them to the vet for regular health check-ups.

For more advice, read our guidance on creating the best indoor and outdoor environments for pet ducks and geese.

Registering with the Great Britain Poultry Register

If you're planning to keep 50 or more birds, you'll need to register with the Great Britain Poultry Register. Defra requires you to do this in order to help the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency get in touch if there's a disease outbreak.

From 1 October 2024 in England (and 1 September 2024 in Scotland), new measures will be introduced which require all bird keepers, no matter the flock size, to register their birds. This will ensure you receive disease alerts and guidance that will help you look after your birds' wellbeing. Always contact a vet if you're concerned about the health and welfare of your birds.