Can my baby ducks swim?

[grunyon]

I live on a farm and I got a pair of Pekin ducklings for Easter. They are currently about a week old. The guy who sold them to my parents told them that I shouldn't let them swim until they are one month of age because thats when they will start making the oil that will waterproof their down and keep them warm. He said baby ducklings usually rub off the oil from mother and since these are motherless I can't let them swim because they will get cold and die.

I feel like I am going to mess with Daisy & Duke's psychology if I deprive them of any swimming until they are fully grown.

Is it okay to let them swim? Warm water perhaps? Try and dry them off afterwards and make sure they have a warm spot under the lamp afterwards?

 

[Wifezilla]

If you use warm water and you watch them, they can swim now.

Just make sure you dry them off afterward and put them in their nice warm brooder.

 

[Picklestix7866]

I let my duckling Dudley swim when he about a week old. He didn't like it at first. Lol. Make sure it is not too deep when they first get in and let them touch the bottom until they get used to it. Once he got used to swimming he absolutely loved it. I get Call ducklings this week, so I get to play with ducklings again soon!

Oh, and Daisy and Duke have to be some of the cutest names for ducklings. I might just have to steal that idea from you, if you don't mind of course.

 

[Wifezilla]

Here are my goobers at 1 week and 2 weeks

A few days later

and just last week...

 

[Wifezilla]

Their oil gland starts to develop after a week. They will be preening and oiling their own feathers around that time. I can see waiting until they are a week old if you are worried, but there is no need to wait for a whole month.

 

[Picklestix7866]

What a good idea. I'll put peas on the bottom next time I let my duckies go for a swim. lol.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

I had a baby duck inside once. Mom didn't like having a brooder in the house but I loved being able to play with the duck almost 24/7

I gave it baths in my bathroom sink, haha. It was only about a week old at that time.

 

[cici_p]

Just make sure that whatever you do you watch your little ducky while he is in the water, and don't leave him in deep water unattended. Many easter ducks die from people giving them a swim in the bathtub and leaving them. . .they will drown eventually.

 

[Spoofehness]

I'm reminded of a story my dad always told me. In old times, ducks were considered bad mothers because they only sit on the eggs for half the time chickens do (in reality, most duck breeds sit half and half with their husbands) but because laying groups had several females to one male, the poor boy couldn't sit on all those eggs at once! So they put the eggs under chickens, and then the chicken wanted to raise the ducklings herself. But when they saw the water they instinctively went in to play and Poor mama chicken was bobbing up and down on the shore TERRIFIED and CONVINCED that her 'babies' were going to drown!

 

[Luvducks]

Quote:
Where are you getting your call ducklings from? Pictures Please! I am trying to Hatch some but if they do not Hatch I will HAVE to buy some. I have 4 other ducks but really want some Calls.