Bathing & Ducklings Advice Please

[alexwilko]

Hello all.... AGAIN!

Sorry to keep pestering you all but I require some advice please. I have 4 4/5 day old call ducklings hatch naturally with mum (yey) they are all doing great. Today I noticed that they have started jumping into a bowl of water I had put out for mum whilst I am renovating their pond. At 1st I thought this was normal but something rang in my head from when we got mum& dad at a few weeks old & they couldn't swim for a week after we got them so I started reading up & everything says noooooooo do not let them swim! I'm terrified now I've done something wrong & that they will die! Mum didn't seem a tad bothered that they were happily swimming around in the sunshine but I've got to go to work tomorrow & I don't no what to do!

Eeekkk here was me thinking mum would know what's best for them! Also does anyone know when they can leave mum? My little boy has asked me to take them into school to show his class mates but I'm worried taking them away from mum! Don't want to upset her!

Thanks as always you knowledgable lot! X

Pic I took of them

swimming today

 

[Speceider]

Just curious, why do you think you are a better mother duck than a mother duck? Don't over think things, let her make them happen. You child wants to take them to school...not the best, but my suggestion would be you take 1 duckling to show and tell and.as soon as it is done, bring it back to momma duck.

Clint

 

[alexwilko]

Thanks for the reply, I don't think I'm a better mother duck at all this is the 1st time we have had such young ducklings & it's mums 1st too. I just want to be on the safe side as always there are such conflicting views but most of the recommendations are from people who have bred them from incubators it naturally & it all gets confusing.

I wasn't going to let my son take the ducklings to school himself I was going to take them was just unsure if it might be too early.
Thanks

 

[Amiga]

Our runners got time in a cake pan with warm water when they were 2 or 3 days old - seems to me the big concern with letting them swim or bathe very young is that they don't have adult feathers or oils and can chill, get soaked and exhausted if not watched carefully and placed where they are warm and dry immediately afterward.

I understand the anxiety - glad you are paying attention. Little squirts!

 

[TLWR]

Mine have been swimming in a pool since I got them. I put a brick in there for them to stand on (and then use to get out).
Just stick a brick in there so they can get on that if they have issues getting out and mom doesn't notice right away.

 

[alexwilko]

Thanks everyone - devastation hit our little guys on Friday, I let them out their coop with mum in the morning & went to work I removed the green tray in the pic & changed it for one of the dogs shallow water bowls & they seemed happy with that, feeling a tad less nervous leVing them I pottered off to work, came home looking forward to seeing them & was faced with mum dad & only 3 babies! My hubby works nights & said heard a commotion in the garden & when he got up he cud only find 3 out of the 4 babies & thinks maybe a cat or a magpie got the 4th!!!! I'm truly devastated that I was so stupid not to think of this danger to them!!! Here was I stressing over them possibly drowning when the main thing I should have been thinking was if there was anything that could take them!!!

I have grounded the other 3 they won't be coming out their coop til they are 18 & can't be taken by anything!!!! Can't believe I was so stupid I should have just let them out for an hour or so then put them back in their coop & only when we were around to help mum keep them safe!! Well I can certainly say I have learnt a very hard lesson this weekend!!!

And another thing if I dare see that bast&£d cat anywhere near my ducks I will b doing more than setting the dog on it same with any magpies ooohhhh angry doesn't cut it!!! xxx

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks everyone - devastation hit our little guys on Friday, I let them out their coop with mum in the morning & went to work I removed the green tray in the pic & changed it for one of the dogs shallow water bowls & they seemed happy with that, feeling a tad less nervous leVing them I pottered off to work, came home looking forward to seeing them & was faced with mum dad & only 3 babies! My hubby works nights & said heard a commotion in the garden & when he got up he cud only find 3 out of the 4 babies & thinks maybe a cat or a magpie got the 4th!!!! I'm truly devastated that I was so stupid not to think of this danger to them!!! Here was I stressing over them possibly drowning when the main thing I should have been thinking was if there was anything that could take them!!!

I have grounded the other 3 they won't be coming out their coop til they are 18 & can't be taken by anything!!!! Can't believe I was so stupid I should have just let them out for an hour or so then put them back in their coop & only when we were around to help mum keep them safe!! Well I can certainly say I have learnt a very hard lesson this weekend!!!

And another thing if I dare see that bast&£d cat anywhere near my ducks I will b doing more than setting the dog on it same with any magpies ooohhhh angry doesn't cut it!!! xxx

That's sad but you know many of us have had to learn the hard way and it hurts.

Thank goodness you still have the 3. and I don't blame you one bit for keeping them locked up till they are 18.

 

[Richb353]

Sorry for your loss. I've lost a few in my time due to a lack of knowledge of local predators. I know better now and have a nice big healthy flock. About the pool, I've let the ducklings swim from the first week I got them. I just always kept them supervised and had a ramp or stones for them to stand on for sun or rest.



Enjoy,
Rich