It all started with a trip to the farm and fleet store last spring when I saw those big tubs with tiny flocks of peeping chicks and ducklings waddling around.

I know every four year old begs his or her mom to take one home, but I am at least rationalizing to myself that my desire to raise a pet duck is more mature than just warm fuzzies from seeing adorable little fluffy baby animals.

See, I live near a pond that is chock full of ducks and geese. Last year, a group of ducks set up their home around our house. We live on a chunk of land where a duck could waddle around and eventually maybe make its home by the pond and join the other ducks and go on its merry way.

I'm not sure if it would actually migrate with other ducks, or if it would be too domesticated. But at least it would have water nearby to do its ducky things in.

In other words, I'd like to raise the duck and then release it, but I'm just not sure if it's possible or if that will be harmful to the duck itself.

Once domesticated, will it always need me to feed it, or will it find its own food?

(OK, I'll admit it, I'm not looking for a long-term duck relationship here. Maybe a duck is a good first pet step. People say you should get a dog first, then have kids. Well, I don't think I'm even ready for a dog. I could get goldfish, though. Once my family got goldfish and they lived for four hours. Talk about short-term commitment pets.)

Anyway, if we get a duck, my husband thinks we should raise it, then eat it. I just don't think I can do that. Not if it latches on to me and follows me around the yard and quacks in that funny ducky way.

Yeah, no duck nuggets for me, thanks.

So any tips on this whole feathered friend business? Let me know.

And I'm not talking about recipes for Peking Duck.