Call Duck vs. Common Duck: Differences, Price and How Hard They Are to Keep

In recent years, ducks have not only been served as food on the table but have also been kept as pets, and among them the expensive Call Duck is very popular. So what are the differences between the Call Duck and common ducks? How much does one cost? Are they easy to keep?

1. What exactly are the differences between the Call Duck and common ducks?

1. Body size

The Call Duck, also called the “little call duck”, has a petite body, a gentle temperament and loves to cling to people, making it very endearing. The biggest difference in appearance between the Call Duck and domestic ducks and wild ducks is that a purebred Call Duck has a rounder head and body, a flatter and shorter bill; it is smaller in size, and its eggs are also relatively smaller and lighter, while common ducks are much larger once fully grown.

2. Appearance

The Call Duck has a relatively short neck, and compared with ducks of the same size, its legs are thicker and shorter, its body is spindle-shaped, and its tail is short and does not stick up; however, its wings are larger than those of common ducks, so the Call Duck is able to fly.

2. How much does one Call Duck cost?

The Call Duck is generally called the “little call duck” in China, and its current market price ranges from 3000 to 15000 yuan, with a lifespan of generally 4 to 12 years. The reasons why the pet duck Call Duck is so expensive are as follows:

1. Supply

The Call Duck is relatively novel as a pet, and its breeding rate is not high, so its numbers are relatively scarce, market supply is low, and the price is therefore relatively high.

2. Breeding

Call Ducks generally lay eggs in spring and autumn. The incubation period for fertilised eggs is about 25 days, and the requirements during incubation are also very high: disinfection must be done well, and humidity and temperature must be controlled properly.

3. Keeping

The environment in which a Call Duck grows must not be dry, otherwise it is very prone to illness, and its feathers must also be trimmed regularly, so keeping one requires a great deal of effort.

3. Are Call Ducks easy to keep?

Compared with other pets, the Call Duck is still somewhat more difficult to keep. For example:

1. Incubation

Before incubation, attention must be paid to disinfection; during incubation, temperature and humidity must be controlled. Eggs that have already begun to develop are also very sensitive, and vigorous shaking can easily kill the egg, so when candling eggs, the movements must be gentle and quick.

2. Living environment

The living environment of the Call Duck is still relatively demanding compared with that of common pets. After all, it is a waterfowl and needs water. A bathtub can be used in its housing as a substitute, or a small pond can be found near the housing so that it has the conditions to clean its body and swim, otherwise the animal will also get sick.

3. Excretion

Birds all have straight digestive tracts and cannot control their excretion, so keeping a Call Duck also requires patience in dealing with its problem of defecating everywhere.

Although the Call Duck is expensive and keeping it takes a fair amount of effort, its intelligence is higher than that of common ducks, it can understand its own name, it recognises its owner, and it does not shed feathers, so it is still quite good to keep as a pet.

Recommended reading: Why are Call Ducks so expensive? What are the differences from domestic ducks? Where to buy them?