About Ducks?

[chickens really]

If around other ducks, the babies will be given the older one's oil. Do your research guys- it's true!

Enjoy your day...

 

[Welshies]

Enjoy your day...

Why so passive aggressive? Seriously, I'm just trying to help I can give you guys my sources...

 

[casportpony]

From Metzer Farms:

"Ducklings and goslings can be introduced to swimming water as early as one week of age but you must be very careful. They must be able to walk in and out of the water very easily. The water should not be too cold and they must be able to find their heat lamp for rewarming without difficulty. As they have no oil on their feathers at this age, they cannot be in the water for long periods or they will become waterlogged and chilled. Do not allow this to happen! But this exposure to water speeds the development of their oil gland and they can probably be swimming freely by five or six weeks of age."
http://www.metzerfarms.com/RearingInstructions.cfm

 

[Welshies]

From Metzer Farms:

"Ducklings and goslings can be introduced to swimming water as early as one week of age but you must be very careful. They must be able to walk in and out of the water very easily. The water should not be too cold and they must be able to find their heat lamp for rewarming without difficulty. As they have no oil on their feathers at this age, they cannot be in the water for long periods or they will become waterlogged and chilled. Do not allow this to happen! But this exposure to water speeds the development of their oil gland and they can probably be swimming freely by five or six weeks of age."
http://www.metzerfarms.com/RearingInstructions.cfm

Exactly my point! Thank you

 

[Pyxis]

From Metzer Farms:

"Ducklings and goslings can be introduced to swimming water as early as one week of age but you must be very careful. They must be able to walk in and out of the water very easily. The water should not be too cold and they must be able to find their heat lamp for rewarming without difficulty. As they have no oil on their feathers at this age, they cannot be in the water for long periods or they will become waterlogged and chilled. Do not allow this to happen! But this exposure to water speeds the development of their oil gland and they can probably be swimming freely by five or six weeks of age."
http://www.metzerfarms.com/RearingInstructions.cfm

That's good info from Metzer. A duckling that is being raised by its mother can swim early with no problems because she will rub her oil on it to waterproof it until it starts producing its own oil. A baby raised by humans has no such protections, so while they can swim pretty early on, they need to be watched carefully at first and be able to warm up and dry off after a swim to avoid them becoming chilled or drowning. Once they are producing their own oil that is no longer a danger and they can swim on their own with no problems.

 

[casportpony]

And let me add to this. I have two ducklings that hatched on Thanksgiving, and about ten days ago I stuck them in a bathtub with about 2 inches of *warm* water in my 75 degree F house. Since neither has been under a duck hen, neither are waterproof. Even though the water was warm and shallow, and the room was warm, after ~30 minutes both were quite waterlogged and shivering.

 

[casportpony]

That's good info from Metzer. A duckling that is being raised by its mother can swim early with no problems because she will rub her oil on it to waterproof it until it starts producing its own oil. A baby raised by humans has no such protections, so while they can swim pretty early on, they need to be watched carefully at first and be able to warm up and dry off after a swim to avoid them becoming chilled or drowning. Once they are producing their own oil that is no longer a danger and they can swim on their own with no problems.

It's always amazed me as to how waterproof they are when hatched by broody duck hens.

 

[casportpony]

@Jayson_Black , sorry, I forgot to say

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Huh.. ?

I have actually witnessed this topic with my own ducklings. My first brood I took them from momma right away and raised them myself. I noticed immediately that when they get themselves wet their down would water log easily. I can see how if 1.left unsupervised And or 2.unable to get out of water and or 3.getting chilled and not being able to warm themselves could have tragic consequences.
My second brood stayed with mom. Due to (what I have since then learned) the oil transfer from her feathers, I didn't have to worry so much about them getting wet as long as they could easily get in and out of the water. I could visibly see water running off of them unlike the ones I had raised without momma duck.
That being said would personally still be cautiouss about ducklings having access to deep water unsupervised even with momma duck around. If one would happen to get tired and unable to escape the water the mother would be unlikely to save it if she has her other ducklings to tend to.
It sounds like this Op is interested in bringing home ducklings that will not have a mother or adult to look after it. I would recommend supervised swimming until feathered out to ensure they are able to escape when they become tired and get dry and warm wether that means you dry them off or they have some heat source to warm up and preen themselves under.

 

[casportpony]