Baby Ducks And Water

[Willowbrook]

This question is not pertaining to my Runner duck that just had babies, but to another duck, a Khaki, who has 7 babies.
This mother duck made her nest outside in the high weeds where no one, and I mean no one, could find it. I stumbled upon it when I went looking for her missing. Once I found her I agonized over taking the eggs and incubating them because I was fearful of a predator getting her. Well, I didn't and she hatched out 7 ducklings. But I digress...
My point and question is this...she took her babies on the second day of their lives to the pond and they all had a nice swim. I figured she knew what she was doing and the babies were no worse for wear and are growing beautifully.
Why is it that everyone says to keep baby deckings out of water for several weeks?
Even the Runner duck that has the new babies lets her babies swim in the water dish in the barn and they are also two days old.

 

[thedoors5to1]

if ducklings stay in water too long they can become tired and drown, also if conditions (weather) is cool, they may get too cold because they dont have feathers to repel the water, so therefore you are exposing them to the elements which can make them sick. its fine to let your ducklings swim, i let mine swim at 2-3 days old, you just need to watch them. and most people dont want thier ducklings on a pond when young because they are so small they are basically live bait swimming around over whatever could snack on them, (muskrat, snapping turtle, etc.)good luck

 

[jvls1942]

I am not one of those people who do not let their ducks swim early on..

I have a large SHALLOW pan for all the little guys to swim (wade) in.. as long as they can easily get out of the water pan and under a warm light provided, they do just fine.. my babies get kicked out of the brooder on day 2.

wild ducks lose most of their brood to turtles and fish...

 

[Soccer Mom]

Ducklings hatched and raised by their mothers have the added protection of her water-proofing. A baby ducks oil glands do not being producing oil until later, but a mama duck rubs her natural protection all over her babies. As they climb on her and under her wings, they are receiving an added protection.

Babies hatched in an incubator and hand raised don't have the same protection.

I do let mine swim early, just not unsupervised because that's a mom's job--to say when they have had enough. And I thoroughly dry mine after because they don't have the natural water-proofing and can become chilled.

And wild ducks do lose large numbers to snapping turtles and other predators.

But it sounds like your Khaki mom is doing a good job.

 

[smfamf]

Quote:
It also helps if you expose them to water early. The sooner they, are exposed to water, the sooner their water-proofing gland begins to work.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Yup. Mine start swimming the first week. Plus it's good exercise.

 

[Willowbrook]

Thank you all for your responses.
The pond in question is fish and reptile free as it is new and has never had anything added.

 

[jvls1942]

you do not have to add turtles.. they just show up..

and do not be surprised if fish suddenly show up..
there is a way, but I am going to start an argument if I tell you how..
just watch for bluegills..

 

[Wifezilla]

Why is it that everyone says to keep baby deckings out of water for several weeks?

Because they are paranoid?

They guy at the feed store had to fish Bungie out of the water dish to sell him to me!

 

[Willowbrook]

you do not have to add turtles.. they just show up..

and do not be surprised if fish suddenly show up..
there is a way, but I am going to start an argument if I tell you how..
just watch for bluegills..

I'm not doubting you for a minute and I know you are right.
But, at this point in time, with the newness of the pond, I feel relatively confident that the Snappers haven't arrived yet.
And as far as fish go, I have always questioned as to how they "arrive" when they were never put in in the first place.​