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Ducks Swimming

post #1 of 17
4/14/10 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 

Is it safe to give baby ducks that don't have there feathers yet water to swim in?  Or could they get tired?  I used to just wait til they were big but can i do this?

I am an Oregon breeder of  Barred plymouth Rocks,  Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, Light Sussex , And Black copper marans.
www.savannahpoultry.com
NPIP #92-310
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I am an Oregon breeder of  Barred plymouth Rocks,  Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, Light Sussex , And Black copper marans.
www.savannahpoultry.com
NPIP #92-310
Reply

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post #2 of 17
4/14/10 at 9:06am

I let mine stand in "hip deep" water at 3-4 days of age.  By 6-7 days they were swimming.  Just don't leave them alone and make sure they aren't catching a chill once you take them out of the water (they hold a good bit, due to a lesser amount of oil on the fluff).  I would supervise mine for 10-15 minutes and then put them back in the brooder.  They loved it and even started preening immediately after being wet (some even used their oil glands at maybe a week of age).

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post #3 of 17
4/14/10 at 9:08am

I agree with the above poster. I let mine under supervision.

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Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called Sons of God. Matthew 5:9
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/cindiloohoo HERE Earn free stuff with me
I'm a blood bought bible taught born again child of God!
If we threw all of our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd quickly grab ours back
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post #4 of 17
4/14/10 at 10:21am

I had our little ducky swim when it was a couple of days old.  I used the paint tray and it was fun to watch.  I let her have fun for 5 minutes in slightly warmed water.  Then it was off to the brooder.   Our Ducky really loved it and was looking towards the daily swim.  You will be amazed how good a tiny little baby duck can dive in a paint tray.  She amazed us all the time.
Katharina

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post #5 of 17
4/14/10 at 12:01pm

I let my babies swim once everyday in our bathtub with enough water to stand at one end and swim at the other, and then I sit in there and watch them! They're really funny and LOVE the water. When they seem to slow down a bit, and look like they may be tiring, I remove them and dry them as much as possible, and then it's back in the pen. I am almost embarrassed to admit it, but in the beginning I even blow dried them before putting them back. hide  They seem to enjoy the warm air!

2 daughters and a baby on the way!, 1 Saint Bernard/Great Pyrenees Mix, 1 Neapolitan Mastiff, 1 Golden Retriever, 2 cats, 2 Pekin ducks, One black Swedish,  a Saxony, 4 Runner ducklings, and an Arabian horse!

**All images I post are copyright protected, please ask if you want to borrow, etc.**
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2 daughters and a baby on the way!, 1 Saint Bernard/Great Pyrenees Mix, 1 Neapolitan Mastiff, 1 Golden Retriever, 2 cats, 2 Pekin ducks, One black Swedish,  a Saxony, 4 Runner ducklings, and an Arabian horse!

**All images I post are copyright protected, please ask if you want to borrow, etc.**
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post #6 of 17
4/14/10 at 12:04pm

Forgot to mention that I used a meat thermometer to check the water temp... I put it between 85-90F so they wouldn't get chill in the tub for the first couple of weeks. After that, I let the temp drop.  Now, at 4 weeks, they play outside in a pond thats in the upper 40s for hours and hours on end.

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post #7 of 17
4/14/10 at 6:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aduckstolemyheart 

I let my babies swim once everyday in our bathtub with enough water to stand at one end and swim at the other, and then I sit in there and watch them! They're really funny and LOVE the water. When they seem to slow down a bit, and look like they may be tiring, I remove them and dry them as much as possible, and then it's back in the pen. I am almost embarrassed to admit it, but in the beginning I even blow dried them before putting them back. hide  They seem to enjoy the warm air!


Duck Maniac!  Lol, I can just see those happy ducklings flipping those cute little winglets... roll

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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post #8 of 17
4/15/10 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 

Thx everyone!  I let them swim and they loved it!!!

I am an Oregon breeder of  Barred plymouth Rocks,  Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, Light Sussex , And Black copper marans.
www.savannahpoultry.com
NPIP #92-310
Reply
I am an Oregon breeder of  Barred plymouth Rocks,  Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, Light Sussex , And Black copper marans.
www.savannahpoultry.com
NPIP #92-310
Reply
post #9 of 17
4/15/10 at 4:41pm

Not only do they love it, but it gives them a chance to clear their nostrils and wash their eyes!

Nine beautiful Runners, four beautiful Buffs, thousands of beautiful memories and counting.

 

Looking for ducks?  Please consider adopting rescued ducks.  There are many places and people who do rescues, but we are not allowed to post the links due to BYC regs.  So fire up your web browsers and find some sweet, grateful duckies. 

 

 

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Nine beautiful Runners, four beautiful Buffs, thousands of beautiful memories and counting.

 

Looking for ducks?  Please consider adopting rescued ducks.  There are many places and people who do rescues, but we are not allowed to post the links due to BYC regs.  So fire up your web browsers and find some sweet, grateful duckies. 

 

 

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post #10 of 17
4/15/10 at 4:42pm

I let mine when they are about a week old, in a cat box pan.  thumbsup

TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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