The Call Duck is a tiny bantam duck famous for its loud, persistent call — originally bred to lure wild ducks to hunters' decoy ponds, now a hugely popular ornamental and show pet.
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From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
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Minimum
Bantam-duck shelter + small pool
4 sq ft shelter + 10 sq ft run + dishpan pool per bird
Call Ducks are the smallest domestic duck breed (~1.5 lb). Provide 4 sq ft shelter, 10 sq ft run, and a dishpan or kiddie pool deep enough to submerge the head. They are LOUD — hens have a piercing decoy call; not suitable for close-neighbor situations.
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Recommended
Shelter + small grass run + pool
6 sq ft shelter + 30 sq ft grass run + 50 gal pool, per bird
Walk-in shelter, a fenced grass run, and a 50-gal pool large enough to dabble. Call Ducks can fly short distances — netting or one clipped wing keeps them home. Keep in pairs/trios.
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Ideal
Netted pasture with pond
Roofed/netted pasture + small pond, flock of 4–8
Netted pasture (they fly), planted with grasses and forbs, with a small pond or large stock tank. Call Ducks are showy ornamentals — closest to natural welfare in a small flock with bathing and grazing.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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Egg
Birds develop inside a hard-shelled egg incubated by the parent(s). Egg size, shell color, and clutch size vary by species; the embryo develops over days to weeks before hatching.
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Hatchling / Chick
Hatchlings are either altricial — naked, blind, and dependent on parents (typical of parrots and songbirds) — or precocial — downy, mobile, and self-feeding soon after hatching (typical of poultry and waterfowl). Down gives way to the first feathers.
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Juvenile / Fledgling
Fledglings grow in their juvenile plumage and begin to fly and feed themselves, though they may still beg from parents at first. Juvenile feathering is often duller than the adult and is replaced as the bird matures.
Adult
Adults attain full body size and mature plumage, and are capable of breeding. Many species show distinct adult coloration, and in sexually dimorphic birds males and females differ in plumage, size, or markings.
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Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Keep a small flock in a secure, predator-proof house with a covered run; because they are small they are vulnerable to cats, rats, hawks and owls, so use roofed runs or netting. Provide bathing/swimming water deep enough to submerge the head and ideally to swim — Calls love water. They can fly short distances, so clip a wing or use a covered enclosure. Allow roughly 0.5-1 m² indoor space per bird plus an outdoor run with shade and shallow pool.
Diet
Feed a standard waterfowl/poultry maintenance or layer pellet sized for small bills; supplement with greens, mealworms and forage. Provide grit and extra calcium for laying females. Float feed near water. Because of their very short bill, ensure pellet size isn't too large.
Behavior & temperament
Primarily an ornamental, show and pet breed (its original purpose was as a live decoy/call to attract wild ducks). Loud and vocal — the female's quack is exceptionally loud and frequent, which can be a problem in suburban gardens with close neighbours. Friendly, social, can become quite tame and are good with gentle handling; broody and often excellent natural mothers. Modest layers (around 25-75 small eggs a year).
Health
The breed's prized very short, broad bill is a brachycephalic-type trait that can cause real welfare issues: overly extreme 'teacup' show heads are linked to nostril/sinus problems, difficulty eating, and dystocia. Choose moderate, functional bills. Small body size means low cold tolerance — provide draft-free, dry housing. Their small eggs and small body make egg-binding a risk; ensure good calcium and body condition.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Be honest with yourself about noise before buying — females call constantly and loudly; they suit rural settings, not tight suburban lots. Pick breeding stock with open nostrils and a bill long enough to feed comfortably rather than the most extreme show heads. They make reliable broodies and can hatch and raise their own (or foster) ducklings. Provide shallow, easily exited water for ducklings to avoid chilling/drowning.
