anyone w/ duckling hints

[Chick_in_Indiana]

I just ordered 2 mallards and 2 runners. I have raised chicks and keets but never ducklings. Does anyone have any helpful tips. Thanks.

 

[Katy]

Be prepared for a wet mess!!

Get some puppy pads to put in the bottom of their brooder box....helps cut down on the mess a little. They need drinking water deep enough to keep their nostrils free of food....they are very messy eaters. A good thing to use as their first wading pool is a paint tray. As much as ducklings love water you need to limit their access to it so they don't get waterlogged and drown. They also don't need a heat lamp as long as a chick does.

 

[Chick_in_Indiana]

how old before they can wade in the water?

 

[Katy]

I usually start putting mine in...with me watching....at a couple of days old. Just for a few minutes and make sure they have a heat lamp to dry off under afterwards.

 

[WriterofWords]

Quote:
I took my new baby runner out of the bator 8 hours after it hatched and put it in what would have been the hatcher if it had been more patient,,,, 3 hours later my mom called me at work to tell me the baby wouldn't stay out of his little water container. It gets in and out at will and I gave up trying to keep it out of it! I know it's warm enough because of the light in there. You can see it's pic on my thread about my New Baby. They are so fun, I love my Runners!!
K

 

[dbcooper02]

Here's some good info.

http://tinyurl.com/yswrrf

http://tinyurl.com/2tfa9a

Have fun!

 

[Dodgegal79]

Like your first answer said, they are messy. I have had chicks before and couldn't believe how bad they were. they will get everything wet and crap everywhere. I made sure to soak their crumble or pellets before they ate them and that cut down on a lot of the wet mess. They smell bad, if your going to have them in the house. i moved mine outside as soon as I could into their own pen with a heat lamp. They take forever to get their feathers, so a heat lamp is a must. Good luck and have fun, they are the greatest little things to watch doing their thing.

 

[Picco]

Making a water platform is the best advise I can give. I make mine from three inch wide boards. I make a frame and staple hardware cloth over it. The water falls through the screen and bedding doesn't get kicked in it. I use this for chickens too. with ducks you really have to change the bedding in the brooder everyday, if not several times a day becasue they are very messy. I read on here somewhere of someone building a large frame like I described before but for using it as the brooder floor. I generally don't like to use wire but this particular user suggested puting shelf liner over the wire to make it comfortable and this sounds great to me, it would really cut down on the mess.