can they?

[poochell01]

Just got chicks and ducklings today only two brooders and my 6 week loss are in one my question is until I can get ducklings in their own brooder can the ducklings have chick scratch and can the ducklings have watered down food? They are all about 4 days old guessing. And what treats can they all have?

 

[poochell01]

* 6 week olds not loss sorry auto correct

 

[ducklover87]

As long as the chick scratch is non medicated it should be fine. However I would add some electrolytes in their water. The watered down food is fine. Most ducklings prefer mushy stuff compared to dry. I watered down my ducks food for the first 2 weeks so it would be easier to eat. You can't let the watered down food sit too long or else it will mold and kill the ducklings. I'm not really sure how long until you have to change it but I would change it every 12 hrs if it even lasted that long. Ducklings also need niacin. Not flush free or time release just regular niacin. Here is a great thread for treats for ducks and ducklings. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242460/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements. Hope this helps, and congrats on your new babies!

 

[poochell01]

Thank you

 

[poochell01]

I'm sorry to keep bugging everyone but these ducklings were a happy accident they were in my box of chicks when I got home. I have storey's guide but still have lots of questions. I just got my first chicks and Turkeys 6 weeks ago. Decided I need at least ten more do I give the ducklings additional niacin as well as what's in their vitamins and will the extra niacin hurt the chicks? I can't separate until my 6 week holds go out hopefully next week still cold and raining here and my bathroom is so full with two brooders we barley have room to walk lol. Treats page was amazing help thank you so much. Any more help or suggestions would be appreciated my three year old is loving it and is helping with all the care but I want to teach her right. The are great for potty training her though lol. She sits and talks to them while she is on the potty chair sorry for the long post

 

[ducklover87]

I personally have never used the niacin so I'm not sure but that's because I have a place near me that sells food for ducklings. I've always just stuck with the electrolytes. I either use sav a chick or poultry nutri drench which ever they have in stock when I need more. Lol I know what you mean I have 15 ducklings that are 5 weeks old inside still lol. You welcome Im always referring back to that page. I have it bookmarked aww that's too cute. I'm glad she's enjoying them. Do you let your ducklings bathe? Also with ducks they need to be able to clean out their nostrils constantly. Do they have a waterer that would allow them to do that?

 

[poochell01]

I just got yesterday they are pretty small thinking maybe 4 or 5 days old. Should I let them bath in shallow water? I was reading at least a week old. Right now they can get their whole head in the chicken water their whole body almost lol. They are so cute. I watched to make sure they were. 15 omg I'm jealous my husband says I'm grounded from the grange til chick season is over lol. They are so addictting. I got my first flock 6 weeks ago today 10 chicks 2 roosters and two turkeys. We lost one a few days ago I cried for two whole days. So when I cane home with 10 more baby chicks and two ducks he was a bit schocked but not upset. He spends more time in there then I do lol.

 

[poochell01]

I am using the poultry nutri drench liquid form in everyones water 2 MLS to a gallon going to get powder though I was going to go today buy just got out the hospital couple days not feeling up to hour drive.

 

[ducklover87]

They can bathe in shallow water. People say up to the top of their legs but I have sloped bath tub so I filled it so that one end they could stand up if they needed to and the other end was deep enough for them to swim. You will love to watch that. They zoom all over. It might take them a few baths to get it but they will. Its also very good to help build up their leg muscles. I would say 10 or 15 mins tops in a warm bath then towel dry as best you can and put them back under the warmth of their heat lamp. That's great but they will quickly out grow that waterer and because they are so messy with their water its hard to find something to use but there's a thread with a great homemade waterer. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/426909/non-spill-duckling-waterer. Lol I got 6 Pekins from tractor supply last year and this year I wanted some different breeds so I ordered some luckily for me 15 was the minimum for them to be shipped so sorry to hear about your loss. I know all about it. I've had 4 deaths with my ducks. I've lost 2 Pekins and I lost my 2 extras that the hatchery sent me. Lol its funny they complain and then end up loving them as much as you do even if they don't like to admit it lol Also I figured you would like to visit this thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings. Its got a lot of good information and will mention things I'm sure I've forgotten to

 

[poochell01]

Lol I know right. Thank you so much u have been a great help I'm sorry about your babies to u fall in love with them so fast. I'm pretty new to byc and still learning how to use it lol technology and me don't get along. Hoping to figure out how to post pics like I said accident so I don't even know what kind of duckies I have.