Concerns About Ducklings!

[Lilly Cohn]

My husband and I received two ducklings who are a day and a half old. I think they may have imprinted on me during the 20 minute ride home as I opened the box just a tiny bit to look at them and talk to them. They do not run away from me, instead they run to me. They seem to really like it when I hold them and scratch their heads (they close their eyes and look like they love it) I only held them for a couple of minutes before putting them in their brooder. Well they are crying really loud now. I put a soft toy in there so I am really hoping they will calm down.

1) Do we just need to give them time to self soothe?

2) I tried to show them the food bowl. The won't eat from it but they ate a little food from my hand....Will they eventually learn where the food bowl is as they explore their brooder?

3) I got them to take a drink of water, will they remember where the water is now?

4) the staff at our local farm store told us its fine to feed them 22% chick starter feed until they are about 4 months old so we bought it. The manufacturer confirms. What do you think?

Sorry for any silly questions. These are our first ducklings so I don't know what to expect even though I have done so much research! I am worrying about them.

 

[Amiga]

Awww, Welcome!

It's a good sign you are worried, actually. Take a breath. It's a steep learning curve.

Have you seen the sticky(link at top of Duck Forum main page) on Raising Ducklings?

They are at an age where kind eyes and gentle touch are what they are looking for. An unbreakable mirror may help, or being able to see you if there is a safe way to do that.

I think they will figure out the food bowl and water. From memory, I think 20% protein is good, and to avoid trouble I recommend you supplement with B vitamins in their water or brewer's yeast in their food.

The math: Using the amount of B3, niacin, in the B vitamins, add 100 mg per gallon of drinking water their first 8 weeks. Or a tablespoon of brewer's yeast - not baking yeast or winemaking or beer making yeast, but brewer's yeast - to each cup or so of their food.

Sometimes ducklings have B vitamin deficiency problems especially when eating chick food. But many do not. It's your call, but I would err on the side of caution. Ducklings do need more niacin than chicks.

Do you have a plan for water management? If not, I have some links I can share.

Warning - ducks steal hearts - instantly. They also can get into the most harrowing, and sometimes life-threatening, unexpected trouble. I think it was Wobbles the Call who stuck his bill in his human momma's USB port on one of her electronic devices. sigh. Oh, then there was the duckling who got stuck inside the bottle for the waterer…..

Don't panic - just be aware they can do these hare-brained things. Try to anticipate without making yourself crazy, like I did. The crazy part. I have since mostly recovered.

I love my ducks.

 

[Lilly Cohn]

They are quiet! I rubbed a blanket on myself and put it under their heating device. They are falling asleep on top of it now. So cute. They have most certainly stolen my heart.

I have not seen that post but I will check it out. I have implemented water spillage control and I did mix some brewers yeast into their food.

Thank you so much!!

 

[Amiga]

Aw, duckies…...