All photos courtesy of Krissy Ellis
One of the first things you see on the Dunkin’ Ducks Instagram account is a pinned post: “7 Reasons You Don’t Want Pet Ducks.”
Wait, what? Is this a joke? Isn’t Dunkin’ Ducks run by Krissy Ellis, noted animal lover and pet duck enthusiast?
But the post is not sarcasm. In fact, it’s a warning: Pet ducks are high-maintenance mess-makers that can poop every 15 minutes. Raising them, says Ellis, is not for the faint of heart.
Ellis with Munchkin, her first Dunkin’ Duck
“I love raising ducks, but they do not make good pets for everyone!” Ellis comments. And she certainly would know; she literally wrote a book on it.
Raising Ducks for Beginners and Beyond is the culmination of Ellis’s years of learning about, loving – and occasionally losing – her beloved ducks. As Ellis says, it is a guide to “breeds, ponds, nutrition, and all things duck!”
“Raising ducks may seem like all fun and games thanks to the adorable and silly birds,” Ellis writes, “but what most people don’t realize is just how much work it takes to successfully keep them healthy and happy.”
How Did She Get Here?
Ellis’s journey from a teenaged duck owner to author has some surprising twists. As she tells it, she was 16 and working at a grocery store in her tiny Pennsylvania town when she decided to start posting about her duck, Munchkin, on social media.
Young Munchkin in the snow.
Of course, people love ducks. And Ellis’s early posts on Instagram attracted a flock of followers. Soon, she says, she was popular for the very thing she’d been bullied for in high school – having a duck.
As Ellis’s flock and fandom grew, it wasn’t long before she started making TikTok videos. And the rest, as they say, is history. She now boasts a staggering 5.2 million followers on the site, turning what began as a childhood hobby into a full-time, sustainable job.
What’s With the Name?
Ellis’ first duck, Munchkin, was a call duck – the breed she favors – and named after a favorite Dunkin’ Donuts snack. It’s a theme that continued with later additions like…. wait for it… Dunkin and Donut. It was a natural step to name her blog “Dunkin’ Ducks,” and a brand was born.
Ellis still favors baked goods and sweets as names, including Toast, Pancake, Brownie, Nutmeg, and Sugar. And Dunkin’ Donuts – and other chains like Starbucks and Sonic – make plenty of appearances in her posts. (If you haven’t yet, treat yourself to some of her “Duck ASMR” videos of various flock members sipping on iced fruity water in to-go cups.)
What’s to See?
Ellis currently has around 10 ducks, and a lot of the videos they star in are food centric. Who doesn’t like to watch ducks snacking?
There are videos of ducklings eating – and swimming in – watermelon, munching on cucumbers, peas, “duck safe” blueberry pie and more. If you like duck videos, Ellis’s TikTok is a veritable smorgasbord. And along with all that cute comes the wisdom Ellis has gained from her years as a “duck mom,” from the highs to the lows.
Sadly, Munchkin passed away in April 2024 from what Ellis believes might have been an undiagnosed heart issue, but she hopes that even the heartache of loss will come with a silver lining.
“Munchkin was very unique and very special,” she said in a tearful post, “and we had just an incredible, incredible bond and I’m so grateful that she was a part of my life.”
Ellis has vowed to continue Munchkin’s legacy, however, by teaching followers about her “greatest passion” in life – how to responsibly care for pet ducks.
