Okay, so I’ve got these two adorable pet ducks, and they’re always, like, always getting into something. I figured I needed to find some toys to keep them entertained, so they’d stop chewing on my garden hose. Thus began my great pet duck toy experiment!
The Hunt Begins
First, I hit up the local pet store. I was thinking, “They have stuff for dogs, cats, birds… surely they have duck toys, right?” Wrong. The selection was pretty slim pickings when it came to anything duck-specific.
I grabbed a few things that looked like they might work. I got a couple of those tough rubber dog toys, thinking they could probably withstand some serious beak action. I also picked up a floating toy that’s supposed to be for dogs in pools, figuring it might be fun for them in their little kiddie pool.
Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3
Back home, I tossed the rubber toys into their pen. The ducks were… curious. They poked at them, nibbled a bit, but mostly ignored them after a few minutes. One of them did seem to enjoy pecking at a squeaky toy, but only because it made noise, not because it was actually playing with it.
Next up, the pool toy! I filled up their little pool and threw the toy in. One duck, the braver of the two, waddled over and gave it a good, hard stare. Then, it dipped its beak in the water and started splashing around near the toy, but not actually with it. Sigh.
DIY Time
So, the store-bought toys were kind of a bust. I decided to get creative. I remembered seeing somewhere that ducks like shiny things, so I took some old CDs (remember those?) and hung them up with some string. Bingo!
- The ducks went nuts for the CDs! They loved watching them spin and shimmer in the sunlight.
- I also tried putting some ping pong balls in their pool. They enjoyed pushing those around with their beaks.
- My best creation? I took an old plastic bottle, filled it with some dried peas, and screwed the lid on tight. They loved rolling that around and listening to the rattling sound.
The Verdict
Turns out, the best duck toys aren’t necessarily the ones you buy at the store. A little bit of creativity and some household items can go a long way! My ducks are now happily entertained, and my garden hose is safe. Mission accomplished!
