3/4 day old ducklings not interested in eating

[SouthernBelles]

New duck mom here. I got 2 ducks this Thursday and a third Friday. They are 3-4 days old. They are drinking and chilling in their brooder. They don’t seem to eat much. I’ve raised chicks for years and they are pigs. Do ducklings just eat less or should I be concerned? They seem comfortable in their brooder and they get to play in water with corn once a day. They have 22% duck crumbles. I ground it up smaller not much interest. I even added some water to make it a mash still not much interest. They have electrolyte water and I just got brewers yeast to add to their food but not sure they are even eating enough to benefit from it. Any suggestions?

 

[nuthatched]

They're too young for corn yet, wait a month or so.
They're still using their absorbed yolks, they'll eat soon

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They don't eat much at first. Mostly nibbles. They should start to eat more and more. Those first few days they live off the yolk they absorb right before hatching. Duck egg yolks are larger and richer, so I'm sure that contributes to it.

 

[SouthernBelles]

They're too young for corn yet, wait a month or so.
They're still using their absorbed yolks, they'll eat soon

Ok I’ll hold off on the corn then! So it’s not super concerning they aren’t super interested in food? They do eat but very little!

 

[SouthernBelles]

They don't eat much at first. Mostly nibbles. They should start to eat more and more. Those first few days they live off the yolk they absorb right before hatching. Duck egg yolks are larger and richer, so I'm sure that contributes to it.

Yes it definitely seems like they are just nibbling. Not a huge interest. So that sounds like it’s nothing concerning yet. When should I worry?

 

[nuthatched]

Ok I’ll hold off on the corn then! So it’s not super concerning they aren’t super interested in food? They do eat but very little!

It's pretty normal, it'll be a few days before they really start eating

 

[SouthernBelles]

It's pretty normal, it'll be a few days before they really start eating

Oh good that’s a relief. I was starting to worry about them!

 

[ruthhope]

Ok I’ll hold off on the corn then! So it’s not super concerning they aren’t super interested in food? They do eat but very little!

Soon enough you will have pigs in feathers!