Dogs, cats, rabbits, even fish — countless studies have shown that having pets can improve your mental health. But I recognize that not everyone is a dog person or a cat person, and a tank full of aquatic creatures doesn't always light any kind of internal spark for many of us.
So, allow me to make the case for ducks.
A few years ago, I was in the midst of taking care of my mom, whose health had taken a nosedive over the previous few years, and I realized I was at a point where I would have to pretty much cancel or postpone most of the plans I had for my life at the time. I resigned myself to the fact that she needed round-the-clock care, and I'd be by her side for as long as she lived, but I wasn't ready to give up everything. So, I started planning out the little farm or homestead or whatever you want to call it that both my mom and I had dreamed of having for many years.
As her physical health declined, so did her mental health, and about four or five months before she died, I was doing everything I could to perk her up. She'd always oohed and ahhed over the ducklings at Tractor Supply every spring, so I decided that maybe this would give her a boost. I called my local feed store and put in an order, and on April 1 of that year, they called me to let me know my ducklings were ready.
I'd raised chickens before and still do, and while there are some similarities, I learned early on that ducks are a whole new ballgame. Don't tell them I told you, but the chickens are not particularly high up on my list of favorite animals. I fell hard for those ducklings, though. Unfortunately, I couldn't dote on them the way I wanted —bringing a new species of animal into your house when you're taking care of another human 24/7 probably isn't the best idea — and my mom rarely got to see them as babies because of her mobility issues.
But when they got a little older and it got a little warmer, and they moved outside, she, too, fell in love with them. She would take time each day to slice up fresh fruits and vegetables to take to them like it was her job. That's exactly what I was hoping for: that it'd give her some sense of purpose. Some of the last pictures she took with her phone are of those ducks. Unfortunately, that didn't last long.
When I finally got around to building a big pen for them so she could see and interact with them on her terms, she ended up in the hospital. During those weeks she was in the ICU, I remember praying that, if nothing else, she could home for just one day and somehow finally see the ducks thriving in their new habitat. That day never came. She never made it back home.
While they didn't help her mental health the way I'd hope, I have to say God's timing was everything, because they sure did help mine. All of my animals are probably what kept me going after my mom died, providing me with purpose, but the ducks gave me something else I needed: an escape.
They must be the most entertaining creatures on the planet. The way they swim, waddle, explore, and run around the yard is better than any TV show or movie. Not only do they bring me joy, but they're also a little mischievous. You can't leave any snacks lying around or they'll find them, and if I have snacks and do not hand them over immediately, a couple of my bossy girls will sit at my feet like anxious puppies watching someone eat a steak. If I'm barefoot or wearing flipflops, which I usually am, they'll nip at my toes until I toss them some peas or lettuce. They're quite demanding. Some will eat right out of my hand.
My days are usually pretty busy lately, but unless the weather is bad or I'm not home, I make a point to go sit with them for at least half an hour every day while they enjoy free time outside of their pen. That's how I destress. Usually. Some days I'm ready to kill them because this one won't go back into the pen with that one that looked at her funny, and my two males like to cause all kinds of drama. I've never seen any creature with the libido of a drake.
As it turns out, I'm not the only one who can say her mental health is better because of these featured friends.
Last year, University of Tennessee College of Nursing PhD student Alex Sargsyan conducted research on the impact of Animal Assisted Therapies with Farm Animals (AATF) on people who suffered from depression, anxiety, and traumatic brain injuries, but rather than relying on animals traditionally used for such therapies, he chose ducks. He found that many of the participants in his study saw major decreases in anxiety.
"It was as if the ducks had a magical touch," he said. "Their presence alone seemed to melt away the worries and burdens that weighed heavily on the participants’ minds."
In New Zealand, the staff at Christchurch Hospital takes ICU patients outdoors to feed and visit with the hospital's resident ducks, claiming that it's a "great psychological boost" and that it helps patients who experience acute delirium, which can be common during hospital stays, "reconnect and re-engage with reality."
Army and Navy Veteran Jeremy Piatt and his wife raise ducks at their home in New Jersey. They've helped him overcome his own PTSD and combat trauma. Now, he travels around to senior care homes with some of his ducks, allowing them to spread joy among residents.
Army National Guard veteran Darin Welker came home from Iraq with PTSD and a back injury, and he knew he needed to find something to help with his physical and mental health. He turned to ducks and was shocked when it worked — even if the Ohio village where he lived tried to take them away from him for a while due to silly nanny state laws.
Owning ducks isn't for everyone — although they're generally pretty low-maintenance, and they can tolerate just about any type of weather. I've watched mine swim in their little kiddie pools when it's 20 degrees outside. They're typically healthier than chickens, but I have had to deal with a handful of health issues and injuries. I've got one girl, Olive, who suffers from ascites or "water belly," and I have to drain her with a syringe from time to time. They're also extremely messy.
You can eat the eggs. You can eat the ducks if you want. Well, I can't eat the eggs, as I found out last month that I am severely allergic, but if you aren't, they're actually more nutritious than chicken eggs. Ducks also great for gardens. They don't dig like chickens do, so you won't find yourself having to replant the same seeds three or four times every year — not that I speak from experience or anything — but they do keep pests like slugs away from your crops. And, most importantly, just being around them makes you happy. Or it does me anyway.
I still have some of the original flock — I've only lost one to a predator and one to injury/illness — and if you take a look at the picture at the top of this article, those are my four newest additions: Cinnamon, Clementine, Annabelle, and Ophelia in a makeshift ginger ale fence that I threw together for their first trip outdoors. I was kind of hoping for a Canada Dry sponsorship when I posted these pictures on social media, but that never happened.
As I said, owning ducks isn't for everyone, but I guess my real point is that you never know what will bring you a little peace and joy in life, and the world in which we live isn't always quick to park peace and joy on your doorstep, so you have to seek it. More often than not, it comes in the form of something so simple, like a little flock of farm birds with muddy feet and loud quacks.
