BEGINNER just got ducklings and goslings! advice plz!

[sillygoose]

I just got 2 ducklings (3 weeks old) and 4 goslings (9 weeks old). I have never owned fowl before, can someone give me some advice on how to take care of these things? I've been giving them lots of fresh water and starter feed for the duckies, grass and grain for the geese. The ducks stay inside the house, and the geese are outside.

• When do I switch ducklings from starter feed to adult feed?
• Are my geese alright outside in the rain? they have a house and a tarp over the pen but they won't use either!
• When can the ducks go outside with the geese?
• When do they(both ducks and geese) mature sexually?
• When is breeding season? (I don't want babies so I hope to separate them during breeding season)
• Do they need vaccinations?
• When can the ducklings start eating fruit/grass/etc?
• At 3 weeks old do the ducklings need a heat lamp? they seem to avoid it sometimes and love it other times.
• What kind of feed is best for my geese and ducks?
• Are there any common diseases or health problems I should keep an eye out for?
• Is it ok if there are non-poisonous (but prickly!) rose bushes in my goose pen?
• Any plants that could be harmful that I should remove from the pen?
• Is hay a suitable bedding for my ducklings?
• How often should I clean the swimming pool? (they have both a pool for playing as well as fresh drinking water at all times)
• I noticed my female duckling opening her mouth wide a couple times between eating and drinking. Was she choking? should I be concerned about this behavior?

Any and all responses are sincerely appreciated. I just want to give my birds a good home and ensure that I'm caring for them properly! Thanks everyone!

 

[sonew123]

I just got 2 ducklings (3 weeks old) and 4 goslings (9 weeks old). I have never owned fowl before, can someone give me some advice on how to take care of these things? I've been giving them lots of fresh water and starter feed for the duckies, grass and grain for the geese. The ducks stay inside the house, and the geese are outside.

• 
  
  Im not an expert on either but I have ducks so I will answer what I can...
  
• When do I switch ducklings from starter feed to adult feed?
  When you start to see signs of angel wing in both species ..their wing will start to angle outward instead of growing against their bodies..switch to a lower protein feed and feed dark green veggies..spinach..kale...peas etc...the angel wing should fix itself if caught very quickly.
  
• Are my geese alright outside in the rain? they have a house and a tarp over the pen but they won't use either!
  There perfectly safe as long as you have a good set up against predators..They love rain and mud puddles!
  
• When can the ducks go outside with the geese?
  The ducks can go out whenever you want them too...just make sure you watch the geese arent aggressive towards them...
  
• When do they(both ducks and geese) mature sexually?
  
• When is breeding season? (I don't want babies so I hope to separate them during breeding season)
  Mine breed all year...you wont have babies if you collect eggs everyday! Lol
  
• Do they need vaccinations?
  Mine dont have any and are 4 yrs old happy and healthy!
  
• When can the ducklings start eating fruit/grass/etc?
  Thats up to you...mine did from the word go....
• At 3 weeks old do the ducklings need a heat lamp? they seem to avoid it sometimes and love it other times.
  Ducks dont need heat like chicks...at 3 weeks i didnt have mine on lights because it was summer and very warm anyway.
  
• What kind of feed is best for my geese and ducks?
  Mine just get layer pellets now like the rest of the birds...they also freerange part of everyday to get greens and bugs...as long as they have access to both ..theyll be fine.
• Are there any common diseases or health problems I should keep an eye out for?
  Mine have never been ill...you do need to watch for bumble foot though...use the search engine on here..tons of info..
  
• Is it ok if there are non-poisonous (but prickly!) rose bushes in my goose pen?
  Ha! I can bet you wont have bushes left after summer! Lol
• Any plants that could be harmful that I should remove from the pen?
  Not sure? Mine eat everything!
• Is hay a suitable bedding for my ducklings?
  Ive found nothing good to keep it clean...they are MESSY and cleaning bedding 10x a day is not fun...asnadults mind get shavings in their pen and hay in their house...I keep a deep rubber dish inside a litter box (no lid) to trap all the water mess they make so it keeps their bedding dryer much longer.
  
• How often should I clean the swimming pool? (they have both a pool for playing as well as fresh drinking water at all times)
  I have two pools and they get cleaned everyday....it takes minutes to get scummy...bleeahhhh...Im sure they dont mind it but Ive noticed if I dontnchange it daily...mine wont swim or drink from it! Spoiled a tad? Ok
• I noticed my female duckling opening her mouth wide a couple times between eating and drinking. Was she choking? should I be concerned about this behavior?
  Im thinking its like chickens...as they eat they do that to help the food move down more easily. Ive never noticed mine doing it...

Any and all responses are sincerely appreciated. I just want to give my birds a good home and ensure that I'm caring for them properly! Thanks everyone!

Youll be fine...just keep researching on here for your answers..the search engine is HUGE and amazing! Good luck

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

At the top of this area are a ton of saved stickies well worth ready. They should answer most of your questions.

As far as breeding, if you don't want babies, then just collect all the ducks daily for eatting and you won't have any.

 

[sonew123]

At the top of this area are a ton of saved stickies well worth ready. They should answer most of your questions.
As far as breeding, if you don't want babies, then just collect all the ducks daily for eatting and you won't have any.

Hahaha duck eggs she means!!!

 

[twinmama]

I'm new to ducks this year too, and they're awesome to have. The question of yours that stood out to me was about the rain. I don't have geese, only ducks, but my ducks LOVE the rain! We're actually in a bit of a drought this year, but the few times we've had sprinkles, they throw their heads back, open wide, and try to catch the rain. I was happy to see that when we had some golf ball-sized hail last week they sheltered under the trees to stay out of it. Not sure if that was intentional or if they just happened to be under the trees, but I wasn't looking forward to trying to herd them into their coop in that! Hope all goes well for you and your new babies!

 

[Missy60]

My ducks love rain also, but do look for some shelter in harder rains. Sometimes when it gets dark when it's getting ready to come a storm or stronger winds my ducks start heading to their pen.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

At the top of this area are a ton of saved stickies well worth ready. They should answer most of your questions.
As far as breeding, if you don't want babies, then just collect all the ducks daily for eatting and you won't have any.

Hahaha duck eggs she means!!!

Lol yeah the eggs. Teach me to type from my phone

 

[Marwan]

Lol yeah the eggs. Teach me to type from my phone

Haha that made me chuckle. imagine you were left incorrected and she went around collecting her ducks wouldnt be any left after day 1

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

yep, poor duckies would all be in a box going whats up.

hope you all had a great 4th.