We're looking at getting 2 pet ducks, but we have children also. I would like to know if they make a lot of 'mess' on the grass as the children play there to?
Serious answers please!!!!
Ps, I also need to know quite soon as if we do decide to get the, we'll be havin them very soon!!!!
Is the 'mess' easy enough to clean up? Our garden isn't exactly huge and didnt want them to be really fenced off other than when we're not with them
How big should the pen be for 2 ducks? Ive been told to get 2 as 1 would get stressed on its own

Ducks are a lil messy, but are really clean. and dont smell. Whats even better, is that they will follow you and are very friendly. I have 3 ducks there friendly, a domestic duck that I have is pekin, if you search you will see the breed there white and are cute. The best thing is they dont fly and will stay in the yard, if you have finced in yard or not
really good with kids]

Yes they do, they eat all the grass & plants aswell. You should consider caging off a an area of the garden so they don't wreck it all

You cant train a duck to do it's business behind your garden shed, it will do it whenever it gets the urge. Just give them a nice pen, make sure they are well protected from the foxes at night

Chariotm has hit the nail on the head. he knows his stuff.
My only suggestion to you is dont get muscovys, they are great ducks but dirty ducks.

It depends on how much garden you have. I had two geese and four ducks which had free reign over 2/3 rds of an acre. Discounting the geese, the ducks weren't a problem. The duck poo gets washed away by the rain, or alternatively you can put a hose pipe on it and break it up. As to plants, they weren't a problem, flowers etc. however they do like lettuce and, believe it or not, runner beans. Most of the time they will spend rooting around under plants and through the grass looking for insects. slugs etc. You'll need a secure hut, or roofed run, to put them in at night because of foxes and even though you may think you don't have a fox problem, believe me you will have.

Make sure that they are only fed enough food that they can clear. If you leave uneaten food out you will attract rats. Ideally they will need a plastic pond, not a liner as they will puncture that. It only needs to be small but you will never be able to grow plants in it or keep fish. If you think a pond is to risky, with regard to the children, then provide them with washing up bowls filled with water, with a couple of bricks as a step, but change the water regularly.

Having said all that, they make great pets and if you get ducks, as opposed to drakes, you will have the added benefit of some lovely duck eggs, which are double the size of a chicken egg and far more rich, great for baking or any of the other normal uses one puts eggs to.

If the ducks are large/old enough when you buy them, they are easily sexed. Just tuck them, head first, under your arm. Turn them over and gently but firmly squeeze their back ends. If a little corkscrew thing pops out you have a drake, if not, a duck!

Final thing, on warm days ducks like nothing more than being sprayed by fine water droplets from a hose or hand held mister.