i know sometimes it is frustrating with the welcoming and stuff.
first of all you need 24% chick starter.
second, you need lots of water cause their ducks.
third, you can let them swim right away but never take your eyes off of them AT ALL! they may get tired or cold because they wont get the...
and yes it is normal i even had elevated nesting boxes but i had brought up the box that they were in as chicks to make the new coop feel like home... They decided that that was their nesting place but they did also use the ground