Wobbly Ducks cooped up in house

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shannonbaker87

shannonbaker87

In the Brooder
Apr 26, 2015
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So this is the first time I've ever raised ducklings. I have 10 silver appleyards and they are two weeks old now. I have them in a 32 1/2 in x 37 1/2 in box with the bottom lined with a shower curtain liner and filled with pine shavings. They have a standard poultry waterer and a metal coffee cup for dipping their heads. I'm feeding them dumor chick starter/grower (which is advertised for ducks and geese also) and sprinkle chick grit on top once a day. I live off the grid so having a regular heat lamp is kind of out of the question but I have a brinsea ecoglow 20 chick brooder which now seems kind of small for all of them. They mostly stay in their box but I gave them their first swim today in my bathtub. I would let them run around outside but the weather has gotten cold and very windy again.

Now for the question. We are building the new coop this week (since my driveway has just now thawed enough to get a wood delivery up here). Do you think they will be alright in that box for another week? And is 3 weeks old enough to go without any kind of heat source if their coop is well made but uninsallated? I think the weather should be warming back up 60's in the day 40's at night.

One more concern....
I have noticed they are kind of stumbly and have an occasional sneeze, but they seen healthy and all other aspects. Should they be getting more exercise or would giving them oatmeal be sufficient in strengthening their legs? I'm planning on giving them baths every other day from now on.
 
shannonbaker87 said:
So this is the first time I've ever raised ducklings. I have 10 silver appleyards and they are two weeks old now. I have them in a 32 1/2 in x 37 1/2 in box with the bottom lined with a shower curtain liner and filled with pine shavings. They have a standard poultry waterer and a metal coffee cup for dipping their heads. I'm feeding them dumor chick starter/grower (which is advertised for ducks and geese also) and sprinkle chick grit on top once a day. I live off the grid so having a regular heat lamp is kind of out of the question but I have a brinsea ecoglow 20 chick brooder which now seems kind of small for all of them. They mostly stay in their box but I gave them their first swim today in my bathtub. I would let them run around outside but the weather has gotten cold and very windy again.

Now for the question. We are building the new coop this week (since my driveway has just now thawed enough to get a wood delivery up here). Do you think they will be alright in that box for another week? And is 3 weeks old enough to go without any kind of heat source if their coop is well made but uninsallated? I think the weather should be warming back up 60's in the day 40's at night.

One more concern....
I have noticed they are kind of stumbly and have an occasional sneeze, but they seen healthy and all other aspects. Should they be getting more exercise or would giving them oatmeal be sufficient in strengthening their legs? I'm planning on giving them baths every other day from now on.
Click to expand...

Are you giving them a niacin supplement? Chick starter/grower doesn't have enough niacin and this can cause leg problems. Try adding 1 tablespoon of brewer's yeast per cup of food.
 
I was able to find nutritional yeast but no brewers yeast that wasn't in pill form, should I give the same amount?
 
Ok so they are in their new coop as of yesterday which is 8ft x 12ft. I have been giving them nutritional yeast in their food (1 TBL per cup) and feeding them 3 times a day for 15 minutes each, and also lettuce in one of they drinking containers in the morning. I've noticed that a few of them are walking with their feet pointed inwards to the point were they are moving a little slower and kind of tripping over themselves. They have plenty of room to run and play and even a little pool which is a large feeding tray. Does anyone know what could be causing this or if it will go away on it's own? They aren't bowlegged so a splint doesn't really seem like it would do much. Oh yea they will be 1 month old on Monday.
 
shannonbaker87 said:
Ok so they are in their new coop as of yesterday which is 8ft x 12ft. I have been giving them nutritional yeast in their food (1 TBL per cup) and feeding them 3 times a day for 15 minutes each, and also lettuce in one of they drinking containers in the morning. I've noticed that a few of them are walking with their feet pointed inwards to the point were they are moving a little slower and kind of tripping over themselves. They have plenty of room to run and play and even a little pool which is a large feeding tray. Does anyone know what could be causing this or if it will go away on it's own? They aren't bowlegged so a splint doesn't really seem like it would do much. Oh yea they will be 1 month old on Monday.
Click to expand...
month old ducklings need to have feed and water 24/7 they are growing at such a fast rate and dif are a common problem so not giving them food round the clock at 8 weeks can even add to it. Continue with the BY just make sure you keep feed out all the time for now. Why have you only been giving them feed 3 times a day and only for 15 min? I use Nutritional yeast also just as good as Brewers yeast.
 
Last edited:
I read in Storey's guide to raising ducks that at around 3 weeks to start feeding them that way. They do have water 24/7 tho. I'll start feeding them 24/7 now to see what happens.
 

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