Ducks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit (CompanionHouse Books) Choosing the Right Breeds, Housing, Diet, Breeding, Duckling Care, Health, Handling, & Egg Harvesting (Hobby Farm) Paperback – March 25, 2008

This is the duck How-to book that I'd recommend to any novice. Especially, for anyone who wants Ducks for pets. It covers the basics well. Having never raised ducks before, this was just the book I was looking for.The author Cherie Langlois, writes in a humorous and easy to read fashion. In this book she covers duck personality, choosing the right ducks, housing, dietary needs, breeding, duckling care, flock health, harvesting your duck eggs, endangered duck breeds and duck diseases. There is also a well researched duck resource directory and a nice glossary of duck jargon.This book is put together on glossy, flexible and thick paperstock. It will easily suvive repeated reading or referencing. It has a multitude of color photographs throughout too.The few things I would've liked to see in this book were more about pond building and perhaps photo's of all the different breeds. Tho, I know that this information would constitute another whole book! If you also want information on detailed pond building or more information on the individual duck breeds- I'd buy this book along with 'Duck & Geese for Beginners' by Rick Luttmann (has detailed pond building info), and perhaps a copy of Carol Ekarius' 'Storey's Illustrated Poultry Breeds' book. This book along with the aforementioned would complete your duck for pets reference library. If you want to take your passion for ducks further (ie professional breeding or showing), you will want to pair this with the 'Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks' by Dave Holderread.Highly recommend this one!

This was a fun and informative book to read. It is worth it just for the reference appendix in the back of the book. Fun photos and good information for a starter to as a refresher for someone who is experienced. I've enjoyed reading it.As I type this review - I think the cover art had changed. But there are nice photos in the book as well.

This gives a great general overview on caring for ducks, and what to consider with keeping ducks. It doesn't have anything that is helpful long-term though. I bought it after I already had a few ducks and was looking for answers on caring for them, and it didn't have much. For a complete guide, including treating wounds, feeding, and even the messy parts like butchering, get Storey's Guide.

This isn't the most in-depth duck keeping book you'll find, but it's a good start and is an enjoyable read. It was worth the $5 or so that I paid for it. Nice color photos.

This book gives an excellent overview for those contemplating getting ducks, but also contains valuable information for duck owners. I particularly appreciated her reminder to regularly check pen fencing for holes--if you live in an area relatively free of predators, it is easy to forget how important this chore is; and I enjoyed visiting the sites she listed in the resources section. Langlois covers a wide array of topics in a well-written and easy-to-read book.

Having already read the 4th Ed of Storey's Guide, there were still questions I had about housing as well as pecularities of particular breeds. I now have Muscovy ducks and they are doing great. This breed was discussed in detail in this book.It is filled with vingnettes as well as focused information on raising ducks. Excellent photography.This was an excellent supplement to the Storeys Guide.

I bought this book with the idea I would purchase some eggs to hatch in my classroom, but thanks to district rules I am not allowed to. Also, after moving into a new apartment I realized I will not be able to start my duck-adventure until we buy our house. However, it is well written and great for beginners to understand the basics.

This is a wonderful book for a person who is considering ducks or a beginning ducker. I am just beginning and this book has a great deal of information about feeding, shelter and what a person would need to do in order to take care of ducks

OK introduction.