Anybody wanna guess on how old?

[momd29]

We got 2 white pekin ducks from a feed store in our local area. This is not one of the feed stores we usually buy chicks from so I am quite unsure of the practices. I was shocked when I walked in that the newly arrived chickens were not under any kind of heat source, but chalked that up to them just arriving when we walked in. Anyways, long story short we had to come back 4 hours later to pick up our ducklings, and the babies (a box full of peeps and ducks) were still not under any kind of heat source. Once of the ducklings was shaking and wasn't moving a lot. I do believe I will NEVER get any more chicks/ducks from that particular place. I won't mention names here cause I don't think it's right to "bad-mouth" a business just because of my experience.
Anyways this is my first experience with ducks and I was wondering if anybody wanted to take a guess as to how old this duckling was. I know the ducklings grow quicker than chickens do, but this duckling seems to be a little large to me to be a week old. Maybe i'm just inexperienced..

 

[tinydancer87]

I would have said something to the management about the chicks with no lamp. That is cruel.

The duck is probably 2-3 days old, maybe 4. They grow REALLY fast. I have hatched ducks here at the house, and they are double in size at day 2 than they were at hatch.

 

[momd29]

I would have said something to the management about the chicks with no lamp. That is cruel.

The duck is probably 2-3 days old, maybe 4. They grow REALLY fast. I have hatched ducks here at the house, and they are double in size at day 2 than they were at hatch.

Yeah, I would have but it was a very small feed store and the owner of the store was standing right there looking at the chickens and ducklings without a heat source. She was in the store all day (to my knowledge) and did nothing about those poor babies. I felt so sorry for them all. If I had the money and room they would have all come home with me. The worst part is that they had a nice warm brooder set up maybe 2 feet from where the box was sitting, but they never seemed to get moved to the brooder. They ended up closing 30 minutes after I left, I shutter to think that they were left out of the brooder overnight. That would just break my heart to think they were cold, hungry and possibly dying. I don't even want to think about that.

As far as the age of the duckling goes, I'm shocked. I was thinking possibly a week. When the forums and information I've looked up stated "They grow fast" they wasn't kidding. Thank you for all the valuable information. you've been a great help.

 

[70%cocoa]

I think that duckling is about a week old - not less than a week anyway. They do grow fast, but at 2-3 (or ever 4 days) old they are still pretty round - not long and 'duck shaped' like your little guy is.

Sounded like your two have gone to a very good home

I'm sure it was really upsetting to see how all their buddies were being treated

Edit: This little guy is 4 days old. You can see that he is still pretty short at the back end whereas your guy has a longer, pointier tail end.

 

[momd29]

I think that duckling is about a week old - not less than a week anyway. They do grow fast, but at 2-3 (or ever 4 days) old they are still pretty round - not long and 'duck shaped' like your little guy is.

Sounded like your two have gone to a very good home

I'm sure it was really upsetting to see how all their buddies were being treated

Edit: This little guy is 4 days old. You can see that he is still pretty short at the back end whereas your guy has a longer, pointier tail end.

That is what I was thinking too, but again I was second guessing myself due to never having ducks before.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

I'm with 70 on that one. What a sad situation.

 

[Apyl]

I am going to guess the Pekin is almost a week old so probubly 5 days or so. They grow super fast. This was my Pekin at 1 week old next to a 3 day old Mallard. Also in the pic is a 2 week old Buff Orpington and a 3 day old black mallard.




ETA: Here is a pic of Po my pekin at 2 weeks 1 day



And again at 3 weeks 2 days She's now 7 weeks old if you want to see more size pics.

 

[momd29]

Oh wow, Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful pictures of your Pekin. I'd love to see more pictures. I am excited to see my pekin's grow.

I am going to guess the Pekin is almost a week old so probubly 5 days or so. They grow super fast. This was my Pekin at 1 week old next to a 3 day old Mallard. Also in the pic is a 2 week old Buff Orpington and a 3 day old black mallard.




ETA: Here is a pic of Po my pekin at 2 weeks 1 day



And again at 3 weeks 2 days She's now 7 weeks old if you want to see more size pics.

 

[Apyl]

Oh wow, Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful pictures of your Pekin. I'd love to see more pictures. I am excited to see my pekin's grow.

Here is some more.


Here she is today 7 1/2 weeks old. She is momma hen to the rest of the crew.


Here is a video of Po and Jet in the tub getting a bath. She was about 4 weeks old here and Jet was 3 weeks old.

 

[momd29]

Oh how precious.. Thank you so much for all the pictures and the video. My daughter, who is officially the owner of our pekin ducks, loved the video. She said she can't wait to let our ducklings swim. You ducklings are too precious. Thank you again for sharing them with me and my family.