CAN YOU BATHE A DUCKLING????

[Aunt Angus]

A chicken coop or dog house will work. They will need a secure pen, too, if you have dogs. A kiddie pool will be great for them! You might be able to use it as a brooder with pine shavings in it until you can get them a house and pen outside.

Game bird food is very high in protein which will make their poop extra stinky and may cause angel wing later (where the tips of their wings bend outward - not a big deal, but something to consider). Duck starter will be better because it will have a better amount of niacin, which ducks need in order to have strong legs.

Move slowly around the ducks and handle them carefully every day. They will calm down.

Keep asking us questions! We'll help you (and your ducklings)!

Can you post pictures of them?

When I had 4 ducks in a brooder, I changed their bedding at least 3 times a day. I also let them play in warm water every day. I filled my bathtub with just an inch or so of warm water and let them play in it for a few minutes. Then I would take them out and dry them off with a towel. I increased the water and swimming time as they got older. That will keep them cleaner.

 

[raingarden]

Everything sounds perfectly normal except the part about keeping them in the house. I couldn't stand that. If you put the cage outside on concrete then you can lift the cage and wash everything away with a hose.

When you go to build a pen for them keep drainage in mind. If the area doesn't have really good drainage then it will be muddy forever.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I guess I read something different in your post that you really don't want or are ready to take on ducklings. That link I gave you has all kinds of info on it on caring for your ducklings. Please post pictures of them so we can better help you identify what breed.
Feed is very important for growing ducklings and also Niacin is important I'd get some Nutritional yeast and start sprinkling it over their feed 1 Tablespoon over each cup of feed you give your ducklings. Putting your duckings outside is going to be a challenge with 2 big dogs which means making a pen and house secure from all predators and making sure that your dogs can't dig under and get in along with many other predators. Covering the top to protect from flying predators is important too. Poultry can be a wonderful experience but it does take planning to make sure they are safe and happy in their new home.
Please ask any more questions you have and hopefully we can help.
here is info on coop building most are for chickens but can always be modified for ducks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/

 

[Newduckmomhelp]

Thank you so much . I appreciate all the help i can get . they are in my bathtub in a bucket having their first bath or swim I guess because I am not using soap or touching them . I think they are enjoying it. How many timrs a day can I bring them into the tub until I have everything ready for them outside?

 

[Newduckmomhelp]

Everything sounds perfectly normal except the part about keeping them in the house. I couldn't stand that. If you put the cage outside on concrete then you can lift the cage and wash everything away with a hose.

When you go to build a pen for them keep drainage in mind. If the area doesn't have really good drainage then it will be muddy forever.

I don't like them being inside either the bottom of the dog crate slides out like a bird cage and I take it to the shower and hose it down the first time I didn't realize the bottom has bigger spaces between the bars and they fell through i have the crate on a set of bed rails so it wouldn't be so low to the ground so they fell through the bottom and took me quite a while to catch them . unfortunately I was completely unprepared and did the only thing I could think to do. I have my sons 8 month old pit/ lab mix and my elderly pit so until I can build something safe that I am sure the dogs can't get them I don't have much choice until then I am trying to make the best of what I have . thank you for the tip on drainage .

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you so much . I appreciate all the help i can get . they are in my bathtub in a bucket having their first bath or swim I guess because I am not using soap or touching them . I think they are enjoying it. How many timrs a day can I bring them into the tub until I have everything ready for them outside?

for a swim? a couple times a day they will probably enjoy having some water to play in, get themselves cleaned up then the preening begins while they are drying that is how they get the oils spread over their feathers so they are waterproof.

 

[Newduckmomhelp]

I guess I read something different in your post that you really don't want or are ready to take on ducklings. That link I gave you has all kinds of info on it on caring for your ducklings. Please post pictures of them so we can better help you identify what breed.
Feed is very important for growing ducklings and also Niacin is important I'd get some Nutritional yeast and start sprinkling it over their feed 1 Tablespoon over each cup of feed you give your ducklings. Putting your duckings outside is going to be a challenge with 2 big dogs which means making a pen and house secure from all predators and making sure that your dogs can't dig under and get in along with many other predators. Covering the top to protect from flying predators is important too. Poultry can be a wonderful experience but it does take planning to make sure they are safe and happy in their new home.
Please ask any more questions you have and hopefully we can help.
here is info on coop building most are for chickens but can always be modified for ducks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/

 

[Newduckmomhelp]

View attachment 3188610

I was not prepared at all he just brought them home with no supplies no information on proper care I hadn't done my homework because I didn't think he would just bring ducks home without discussing it with me and I was completely overwhelmed within the first few days between the smell and the amount of poop I knew newspaper and cardboard was bad for them because it was getting wet and soggy quicker than I could change it and they were looking dirty and I was worried about how it would effect their health and honestly I would have been relieved to find someone to take them that would be able to care for them the way the deserve but I couldn't find anyone so here I am trying to learn as much as I can to give them proper care . I am worried about my sons dog because she is young and hyper and over the last few days she has broken out of our chain link fence so I know it will have to be a very sturdy pen.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Not good having dogs you can't trust. Yes, your pen and coop will have to be fort knox.
about coops if you decide to have the coop not sitting on the ground and need a ramp for them to get inside. Make sure it's wide enough they can waddle up and not fall off the sides and not steep I wouldn't have their coop over a foot off the ground or lower if possible. Hardware cloth over every opening and a skirt all around the pen at least 2' out and somehow anchored so diggers can't get inside. and 2-3'highup on what ever fencing you use, no chicken wire it will keep poultry inside but won't keep predators out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was not prepared at all he just brought them home with no supplies no information on proper care I hadn't done my homework because I didn't think he would just bring ducks home without discussing it with me and I was completely overwhelmed within the first few days between the smell and the amount of poop I knew newspaper and cardboard was bad for them because it was getting wet and soggy quicker than I could change it and they were looking dirty and I was worried about how it would effect their health and honestly I would have been relieved to find someone to take them that would be able to care for them the way the deserve but I couldn't find anyone so here I am trying to learn as much as I can to give them proper care . I am worried about my sons dog because she is young and hyper and over the last few days she has broken out of our chain link fence so I know it will have to be a very sturdy pen.

Do you know where he got the ducklings from?