[Update] It is not illegal to raise chickens in San Mateo, California. No word on ducks.
[Update] My current preferred duck species is the Khaki Campbell (pictured below). They are good in the water, are hardy and lay more eggs than a chicken. I do not know how loyal they are.
I want to raise a flock of 5 ducks and keep them in my backyard. This is a surprisingly common suburban practice, although more people do it with chickens than with ducks. There is even a Yahoo group called Silicon Valley Chickens for people doing this same sort of thing in my community. If I raise ducks from chicks I’m told they will fly and swim in my lagoon, and return home at night.
Why I want to do this:
- I miss having animals around. I grew up in rural Minnesota and worked on a sheep farm in Switzerland
- Fresh eggs are yummy
- Being disconnected from our food sources is not healthy
- My backyard is too perfect for ducks not to take advantage of it
- How cool would it be if they swam alongside me at Aquatic Park (file this idea under “amazing pipedreams”)
Things I’ve figured out:
- I want ducks, not chickens. Ducks are quieter, and like to fly and swim
- I want a coop with an enclosed run to keep them safe when I’m not able to watch them
Things I am still working on:
- What species duck? My criteria are #1 loyalty, #2 egg laying ability
- Who will sell me 5-6 duck chicks? Hatcheries sell ducks in 25 chick lots
- If I let them out for a fly/swim how do I “call” them back home?
- My landlord and local ordinances
Stay tuned.