Is it alright that my incubated ducklings are swimming in their water bowl?

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ForestAlice

ForestAlice

Songster
6 Years
Mar 10, 2016
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90
161
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The ducklings hatched last night and were dry this morning so we decided to put them into the brooder with the older duckling who hatched a few days earlier. The oldest has a habit of sitting in his water bowl while he drinks and eats, and the younger ducklings are following suit. My concern is that since they were hatched in an incubator, they didn't have a mother to put oil onto their feathers after hatching. Even though the brooder is at 90 degrees, will that prevent them from getting cold or waterlogged? The water in the dish is very shallow, but I'm still concerned about them getting hurt since they're so young.
 
They won't need the mothers oil as long as they are kept warm with a lamp or some other heat source. I would be will to bet with the heating lamp in the brooder they should be fine.
 
fourkidsandduck said:
They won't need the mothers oil as long as they are kept warm with a lamp or some other heat source. I would be will to bet with the heating lamp in the brooder they should be fine.
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I'll second this. They are taking to the water like, well, ducks to water. They won't have the hydrophobic oils, but they will have the ability to get under the lamp to heat up and dry off. Generally though it's recommend that swim time be limited for a few weeks.

What kind of waterer is this? Is there anyway to keep them from climbing in?
 
dotknott said:
I'll second this. They are taking to the water like, well, ducks to water. They won't have the hydrophobic oils, but they will have the ability to get under the lamp to heat up and dry off. Generally though it's recommend that swim time be limited for a few weeks.

What kind of waterer is this? Is there anyway to keep them from climbing in?
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Unfortunately we had only invested in one waterer, (We didn't know we'd have ducks as well, and they're being kept separate.) and the chickies are currently using it. So we're using a very shallow waterer base without the top on it. They're huddling under the heat lamp, so should I dry them off and find some other way to get them water? Or should I lower the heat lamp and wait?

Thanks for the reply.
 
You can lower the heat lamp if you want. The ducklings will move away if its to warm. With that said, if your brooder is really 90 degrees I think you're fine. Like @dotknott said, there is really no need to get in the water at this point. I personally would not allow it, then you don't need to worry about it.
 
ForestAlice said:
Unfortunately we had only invested in one waterer, (We didn't know we'd have ducks as well, and they're being kept separate.) and the chickies are currently using it. So we're using a very shallow waterer base without the top on it. They're huddling under the heat lamp, so should I dry them off and find some other way to get them water? Or should I lower the heat lamp and wait?

Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...
Well, there's a tried and true DIY waterer for ducks that takes a gallon, or half gallon jug and puts a hole in it about chest height on the ducklings. That hole should be just big enough to let the duckling put his head in, but not so big to let him shove his body through.

This can give you the depth needed for ducklings to rinse out their nostrils, but still keep the ducks out of the water.

If you can do something like this, I'd recommend it. In the mean time, dry them off and check on them in a 15-20 mins or so to make sure they're okay and not still cold.
 
When my ducklings were in the brooder I took a old juice container and cut a rectangle about neck height only big enough to allow them to get their head inside to drink. It was cheap and it worked like a charm.

EDIT: @dotknott beat me to it!
 
Last edited:
We tried to make a waterer out of a vegetable stock carton, but ended up thinking of the wonderful idea of putting the spare feeder with the top on into the chick's brooder ans using it as a waterer. We then moved the chick's waterer into the duck's. It seems to be working ^^ Thanks, guys! If something goes wrong, we'll know what to do!
 

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