3 new ducklings lots of questions

[Yellowbirds]

About a month ago I ran into a duck egg on a trail by a local pond, I brought it in, researched bought a incubator, brooder, feed ect. He/She has now hatched and is a pekin we adopted two cayuga ducklings that are about the same age. We plan on raising them till they are old enough to be on there own and then realeasing them to the local duck pond or finding a family farm for them to live at. I am very much a worrier and I want to make them the most comfortable they can be. I have lots of questions.

1. I’ve been told pekins can’t fly or can’t fly very well so if I do release him at this local pond will he be okay in the winter? Also will my two cayugas learn to fly on there own or is there something I can do for them?

2. They are in my house right now but how old do they have to be to sleep outside/ how old do they have to be to turn the heat lamp off? Also recommendations for cheap coop so they can stay outside before I give them away?

3.) What foods are okay for them, i’ve been giving them non medicated starter feed and a tiny bit of seaweed. How old should they be when I switch over to older duck food and any recommendations for that.

4.) I’ve decided to get a kitty pool for them but they are also only a week old so do they need to be supervised when they are in it? and do they need to go under the heat lamp when they get out or can they get warmth from me?

5.) How often should they be in the brooder versus my backyard with the kitty pool? They’re mostly outside but I feel bad when I need to do something else and leave them in the brooder

6.) Any other advice you have for me is greatly appreciated. Thank yall so much in advance.

 

[fatty and friends]

yeah no offense, but if you release your ducks into the wild you are a horrible person. its illegal and considered animal cruelty. do research before you “rescue” an animal. dont get an animal you don’t plan to keep their entire lives, ducks live 10-20 years.

 

[Yellowbirds]

yeah no offense, but if you release your ducks into the wild you are a horrible person. its illegal and considered animal cruelty. do research before you “rescue” an animal. dont get an animal you don’t plan to keep their entire lives, ducks live 10-20 years.

Okay thank you for letting me know we have lots of other farm/backyard options for them instead.

 

[fatty and friends]

1. I’ve been told pekins can’t fly or can’t fly very well so if I do release him at this local pond will he be okay in the winter? Also will my two cayugas learn to fly on there own or is there something I can do for them?

pekins cannot fly at all. cayuga can hardly fly. they are both DOMESTIC breeds. releasing a domestic duck isn’t any better than it is to abandon your puppy in the woods and expect them to survive like wolves do. it’s also illegal.

2. They are in my house right now but how old do they have to be to sleep outside/ how old do they have to be to turn the heat lamp off? Also recommendations for cheap coop so they can stay outside before I give them away?

coops aren’t cheap, they need to be 100% predator proof. so nothing can chew through, climb into, dig under, or open/tear the latches.

3.) What foods are okay for them, i’ve been giving them non medicated starter feed and a tiny bit of seaweed. How old should they be when I switch over to older duck food and any recommendations for that.

they need a specialized duck feed to stay happy and healthy starting from day 1. mazuri and mannapro both make starter feed, they also need chick grit when feeding anything other than their starter crumble feed.

4.) I’ve decided to get a kitty pool for them but they are also only a week old so do they need to be supervised when they are in it? and do they need to go under the heat lamp when they get out or can they get warmth from me?

never leave a baby duck in a pool unsupervised and always make sure they have places to rest they drown VERY easily. ducks should swim daily so they don’t get wet feather.

6.) Any other advice you have for me is greatly appreciated. Thank yall so much in advance.

do research before you get an animal and plan to keep them their entire life, or simply don’t get animals again.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

"1. I’ve been told pekins can’t fly or can’t fly very well so if I do release him at this local pond will he be okay in the winter? Also will my two cayugas learn to fly on there own or is there something I can do for them?"

-Both are Domestic breeds and it is illegal to release them. Releasing them into the wild would be a death sentence. Please find a home for them.

"2. They are in my house right now but how old do they have to be to sleep outside/ how old do they have to be to turn the heat lamp off? Also recommendations for cheap coop so they can stay outside before I give them away?"

-If you don't plan on keeping them long-term I would recommend rehoming them now while they're ducklings. It will be much easier to re-home them while they are small. It's the equivalent of getting a puppy just because they are cute then rehoming them once they get big. As far as cheap coops go you might be able to find something on craigslist like an old shed. Also unless you know how to build or are willing to do the research to properly build something I would not recommend slapping something together. Most cheap coops that are pre-made are nowhere near big enough for ducks. However, to answer your first part of your question it depends on your outdoor temperatures. If you Google "duckling heat charts" they have helpful laid out information on duckling ages and heat temperatures.

"3.) What foods are okay for them, i’ve been giving them non medicated starter feed and a tiny bit of seaweed. How old should they be when I switch over to older duck food and any recommendations for that."

-If you are feeding chicken feed you should supplement with Niacin as it's very important for ducklings especially. I start the switch for mine to a maintenance at 3 weeks and by 7-8 they are 100% on maintenance. I have used Kalmbach in the past, but now my ducks are all on Mazuri Waterfowl feeds.

"4.) I’ve decided to get a kitty pool for them but they are also only a week old so do they need to be supervised when they are in it? and do they need to go under the heat lamp when they get out or can they get warmth from me?"

-They do need supervision and the water should be low enough that they can touch the ground as ducklings become exhausted easily and will drown. Since they do not have their mother for oils to waterproof their wings they will need to be thoroughly dried afterwards.

"5.) How often should they be in the brooder versus my backyard with the kitty pool? They’re mostly outside but I feel bad when I need to do something else and leave them in the brooder"

-How big is your brooder? It really is dependant on you. Some people choose to always keep ducklings in the brooder and some do a mix of outdoor time and brooder time.

"6.) Any other advice you have for me is greatly appreciated. Thank yall so much in advance."

-Do some research on Niacin as it's crucial for duckling development. Also make sure that they always have access to water deep enough to duck their whole head in to clean their nares and eyes. Make sure with their heat lamp that they have access to an area of the brooder that has no heat Incase they get to hot. Normally if the temperature is correct they will sit right on the edge of the heat. If they are directly under it they are probably cold and if they are in the farthest corner possibly away from the heat then the brooder is too hot.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You have had some striaght forward answers to your questions. Please don't take offence. It's just many of us have been here long enough we have heard and seen some terrible things that have happened to ducklings from being dropped off at the local pond. It's heart breaking . Your heart is in the right place ,I hope you can find them a woinderful forever home.