Bringing Ducklings to Work?

[duckduckSPIDER]

My duck passed yesterday while we were out of the house. It was very sad since her partner, a pekin, was with her dead body for hours until we got home and realized what had happened. Immediately, I looked for a new duck to adopt so Popcorn, our surviving duck, wouldn't have to be alone for too long. No female ducks available at the animal shelters or on craigslist so we decided to order one from a hatchery which we have never done before. Our previous ducks were rescues we adopted locally. Since Metzer farms has a 2 duck minimum...we ordered 2. Having never cared for ducklings that young (our oldest duck was about 4-5 weeks when we got her) I'm not sure how to go about it. It was the beginning of lockdown when we got our first ducks and we had a lot of time to be with them. From the beginning of the duck journey, we agreed I would be the primary caregiver to them. My husband works from home and owning ducks has been pretty low maintenance for him. They forage around the garden while he's home and he loves them but he didn't sign up to do all the dirty work. Since its a big yard with lots of plants and hidden corners I wouldn't want the new ducks to have independent access to the yard until they are about 7 weeksd old. I work in an warehouse (we are an online store working out of a shared art studio/flex space) and others have brought their dogs with them. We used to have two cats living here full-time. I know it wouldn't be a problem with my co-workers if I brought them to work...but is this crazy? I imagined having them in a big tub by my desk with a heat lamp and handling them a lot while I worked so they got used to me. Then I would bring them home and have them sleep inside. In the mornings before work and the evenings before sundown I could supervise them outside while they got to know our big girl, Popcorn. On the weekends when I have more time at home, we spend all day in the garden anyway so it would be easy to have them exploring with Popcorn while we're around. Then little by little, they would feel more comfortable with eachother and the ducklings would eventually be big enough to sleep outside with Popcorn.

To those who are more experienced with raising ducklings, does this idea make sense? Are there major elements of raising ducklings that I'm not considering here? Would Popcorn be ok sleeping alone until the little ducks are old enough to be with her? Should I bring her to work too or would that be too stressful (knowing her, it seems like that would be more stressful than staying at home in her usual environment). Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated. I just want to do what's best for these birds.

 

[duckduckSPIDER]

Hey all! Just an update for those who are curious. I got my two ducklings last Thursday. I brought all my supplies to work thinking I would need to jump in the car and jet to the post office the second they called since the guide from Metzer explained they would call for pick up instead of delivering them like normal mail. My husband called me saying they were delivered to our door. He didn't have any of the things and I was so stressed about it! Once I got home I noticed the mystery runner duck (blue runner I think), Shrimp, was squinting and stumbling and the Saxony was just pecking at her relentlessly. I felt so bad imagining their long journey, one bullying the other the whole way. After the first two days with food, water and, rest, Shrimp looked much better and Chicken, the Saxony, seemed to be less interested in pestering her. Actually, the Saxony has a personality that reminds me a lot of a drake we had a long time ago. We got him at 5 weeks and he was so bossy and assertive. Do drake ducklings act differently than females? I hope she's not a drake.. anyway, today was my second day taking them to work and it's been going great! They just snuggle in the corner of their box staring at me while I work. Chicken has been peeping occasionally when I step away from my desk. It's alarming to the warehouse mates who aren't aware there are ducklings in the building. I didn't expect them to be so loud. Can't wait to introduce them to Popcorn but it seems it will be a while until they're ready.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Oh, they are just lovely Wonderful names you’ve picked out. I think you’re right about Shrimp being a Blue Runner. So sorry she had such a tough ride; I’m happy to hear she’s doing better now.

I’ve had bossy and assertive ducklings, both male and female. Personally, I’d wait for something more reliable, like voice-sexing them in a few weeks.

That would be alarming Sounds like Chicken sees you as mama, and is sad / confused to see you go without her!

Do tell how they are with Popcorn in the future, and feel free to ask any more questions you may have.

 

[KathiQuacks]

So sorry for your loss

I don’t see why not, if your workplace is fine with it. It might be stinky, though.

I guess just the regular duckling stuff - make sure they’ve got good feed 24/7, a niacin supplement, water deep enough to dunk their bills. Start at around 90 - 95°F for the heat lamp, and lower it by 5 - 7° per week, or however your ducklings feel. Huddling close to the lamp = too cold, panting = too hot.

Definitely be cautious introducing the ducklings to Popcorn that young. Not all ducks are fond of ducklings, and they could get hurt fast. They can look at each other through a fence, but I might wait a few weeks until you let them explore the yard together.

I’d get your Popcorn a mirror to look at and maybe even a duck stuffed animal to hang out with for the time being - the mirror especially will make her feel less alone.

 

[duckduckSPIDER]

Thank you for your response. I do have a mirror in Popcorn's coop and I take the mirror outside when I let her out in the morning so its always near. It's so sad =( I have a flamingo stuffie that I can put in her coop tonight, I hope it helps.

I have niacin powder on the way, a bucket of black soldier fly larvae and organic feed but it sounds like I will need to get feed specifically for ducklings. Do you recommend any feed for ducklings? I currently get Modesto Milling organic layer feed. Based on your recommendation, I will introduce the babies to Popcorn with a fence between them for a while until they're bigger and more acclimated and when the time comes to have them sleep outside, I will put them in a pet carrier within the larger coop for a few nights first. Hopefully that will keep them safe.

I have a heat lamp from when we had a reptile but I guess I will need a thermometer to know exactly how warm it is keeping them.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Poor Popcorn. She’ll be so happy to have friends again.

The biggest concern with that feed is the extra calcium - Layer feed should generally only be given to egg-layers, hence the name haha. I personally use Purina’s duck feed, and it’s been great, but there’s plenty of other duckling-specific, starter, grower, and all-flock feeds you could use instead.

Another thing to look out for in a feed is protein, which should be around 18 - 20% for the first few weeks, and can be lowered thereafter.

Also, I would limit the larvae, or any treats in general, to no more than 10% of their diet. And if you do give treats, they’ll need grit (small, insoluble rocks) to help digest it properly.

Your plan sounds just fine. I first let my ducklings run around with the adults at 4 weeks, but later is better. Chasing is fine, biting is not. They should all be acclimated with each other within a week or two.

Yes, a thermometer, or watch how they act. They’ll let you know through body language if they’re too hot or too cold.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Thank you for your response. I do have a mirror in Popcorn's coop and I take the mirror outside when I let her out in the morning so its always near. It's so sad =( I have a flamingo stuffie that I can put in her coop tonight, I hope it helps.

I have niacin powder on the way, a bucket of black soldier fly larvae and organic feed but it sounds like I will need to get feed specifically for ducklings. Do you recommend any feed for ducklings? I currently get Modesto Milling organic layer feed. Based on your recommendation, I will introduce the babies to Popcorn with a fence between them for a while until they're bigger and more acclimated and when the time comes to have them sleep outside, I will put them in a pet carrier within the larger coop for a few nights first. Hopefully that will keep them safe.

I have a heat lamp from when we had a reptile but I guess I will need a thermometer to know exactly how warm it is keeping them.

I only use a thermometer the first day or so. After that (especially with ducks), they're usually smart enough to be used as a guide themselves for temperature.

 

[duckduckSPIDER]

Thank you so much for the responses! I am anxiously awaiting their arrival. They shipped out last night and should get here tomorrow. I hope they're ok when they arrive!

 

[duckduckSPIDER]

Here's a recent picture of Shrimp and Chicken. They are a little over 4 weeks old now. I stopped taking them to work after the first week because as they got larger it became tricky figuring out a good set up for them without having to carry around their big brooder box my husband built for them. This week I started putting them in Popcorn's coop while popcorn is out free ranging for the day so they can get acquainted. It's an open air coop with chicken wire so the ducks can see each other. I was feeling sorry for them in the house all day and figured a change of scenery and fresh air would be good. Before I go to work and after I come home, I give them some time to mingle while I change their water and get Popcorn her dinner. Popcorn seemed really scared at first (I cracked up seeing our big Pekin jump back at the sight of two fluffy ducklings). By now Popcorn seems calmer and is just eager to be accepted by the two youngsters. Chicken, the more obnoxious one of the two, showed a lot of aggression towards popcorn and it made me worry again about her sex though I keep reminding myself there's bossy females, too. It seems like the ducklings have formed their own micro flock and are cautious about letting a third join. It breaks my heart because Popcorn is such a gentle giant and she just wants to belong. Plus her coop has just been taken over by a few rude girls who won't give her the time of day! I give her a pep talk every morning before I leave for work. "Don't be afraid to put yourself out there today! Just be yourself! Anyone would be lucky to have you as a friend!" She bobs her head and quacks when I leave as if to say "please don't go!!"

I still haven't gotten a picture of the three of them since I watch them so closely when they're loose with Popcorn. The babies come in for the night and they snuggle with me in front of the TV, it's so sweet. I'm going to miss having them in the house, but I won't miss the poop!!

 

[duckduckSPIDER]

The babies are 5 weeks old and have now spent 3 nights sleeping outside with Popcorn. I'm in Los Angeles, the lowest it's been at night is 57 degrees. The girls have most of their feathers, just their oil gland area seems to be downy still so I figured they could handle it. I've never seen Popcorn so happy. After the first night, I considered bringing them back inside since it was going to drop to 57 from 60 degrees the night before but I couldn't bear to take them away from Popcorn.

She had spent 5 weeks sleeping alone after watching her partner die. And before meeting us, she lived with another backyard flock briefly that was at max capacity, and before that she was rescued from a city pond where she was dumped as a duckling. She's been through so much in her first 2 years. She has been so sweet and patient with these two little jerks. Chicken occasionally bites at her and Popcorn just joyously bobs her head and takes a few steps back to give her space. Shrimp follows Chicken mostly but will run to Popcorn when she gets spooked. By day 3 they seem to be a lot more comfortable with each other though I still see the ducklings sitting together with Popcorn some feet away. Hopefully that distance will close as their relationship develops.