Doing my best to raise these ducks

[Thebaconator]

@Soon2BChixMom
Okay, so this list is mostly for my personal use/organization but could you please tell me if there’s anything I need to change about it? I’m sorry I’m so lost but here goes:

Tonight I’m going to: Switch their bedding out and move them to my bathroom where it is consistently warm

Tomorrow I’m going to: Pick a heat lamp(no Teflon), niacin, better bedding, and a larger brooder for them to stay in for the next 2-4 weeks. Then I’ll set up the brooder and move them into it in my garage.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Sounds good!
You can make a water dish out of a container with a lid and the top cut out for them to dip their heads in. I used a cool whip container and some cottage cheese containers when they were smaller.
Good luck and keep us updated. It is too bad the person you got these from didn't tell you the correct age.
Oh, you can get them a snuggly stuffed toy too. I never got mine one, but I wish I would have. They love to snuggle with it, I guess!

 

[Thebaconator]

@Soon2BChixMom
Thank you so much for all of your help. I’ve already made a water dish out of a milk jug with big holes cut in the sides. A stuffed toy might be a good idea! Or a really really cute one at least. I’ve noticed they kind of pick at things so I don’t know if something fluffy would be a good idea but I sew so I could make them something out of plain cotton fabric. I’ll keep everyone updated!

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Today is a special day, marceline is now 8 weeks old and I think that is considered full grown in pekin terms she is so beautiful and soft

This is not an 8week old Pekin. I raise them myself and while I believe yours to be more around the 6-7 week range they will not look like these for another month. Pekins do grow super fast, And before you know it they will be fully feathered and large. Our temps here are around 59-63 at night and mine have been without a heat lamp for weeks now. As long as they have some sort of shelter with light bedding they should do just fine. A deep bowl or small bucket at this age is what their water should be offered in. They need to be able to dunk their heads to clean their nells and "wash" their eyes. As hot as it is during the day, offering them a kiddie pool to swim in would be optimal. You can use some bricks to crate steps so they can easily get in or out. Make sure they figure out how to use it easily before leaving them completely unattended as they can drown easily. Giving them access to swim gets their glands going which is super important. Once their feathers come in you can switch to flock raiser feed. At this stage you can go from starter to grower/finisher. Make sure to change their water often as they are susceptible to certain illnesses that are caused by soiled water and moldy bedding. Clean water is the biggest part of raising ducks. And pekins are super hardy and resilient so you have an excellent breed to start out with.

Here is my setup for the pool as an example. I have a prewash pool they go through to get to the bigger one so I don't have to change that water as often.... They love it and the babies figured out how to use it right before my adults did. They are very smart and curious creatures!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

@Soon2BChixMom
Thank you so much for all of your help. I’ve already made a water dish out of a milk jug with big holes cut in the sides. A stuffed toy might be a good idea! Or a really really cute one at least. I’ve noticed they kind of pick at things so I don’t know if something fluffy would be a good idea but I sew so I could make them something out of plain cotton fabric. I’ll keep everyone updated!

If you sew your ducklings something, I want to see it! I should have thought of that, I could have made mine something.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Oh, the babies in my pics are 9 weeks on Monday. If that helps gauge age better.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

This is not an 8week old Pekin. I raise them myself and while I believe yours to be more around the 6-7 week range they will not look like these for another month. Pekins do grow super fast, And before you know it they will be fully feathered and large. Our temps here are around 59-63 at night and mine have been without a heat lamp for weeks now. As long as they have some sort of shelter with light bedding they should do just fine. A deep bowl or small bucket at this age is what their water should be offered in. They need to be able to dunk their heads to clean their nells and "wash" their eyes. As hot as it is during the day, offering them a kiddie pool to swim in would be optimal. You can use some bricks to crate steps so they can easily get in or out. Make sure they figure out how to use it easily before leaving them completely unattended as they can drown easily. Giving them access to swim gets their glands going which is super important. Once their feathers come in you can switch to flock raiser feed. At this stage you can go from starter to grower/finisher. Make sure to change their water often as they are susceptible to certain illnesses that are caused by soiled water and moldy bedding. Clean water is the biggest part of raising ducks. And pekins are super hardy and resilient so you have an excellent breed to start out with.

Here is my setup for the pool as an example. I have a prewash pool they go through to get to the bigger one so I don't have to change that water as often.... They love it and the babies figured out how to use it right before my adults did. They are very smart and curious creatures!View attachment 1385675 View attachment 1385676 View attachment 1385677 View attachment 1385678

The post you quoted was not the OPs ducklings though. The ducklings in the first post have no feathers. Maybe a sprig on the tail. So, I believe they are younger than that. 3 weeks at the most.
But, otherwise, you have provided great info!

 

[Thebaconator]

@MatthewsHomestead

This is one of my ducks- much younger than 8 weeks but you’ve provided a lot of useful info, especially about what I should do with them later on with the high temperatures down here. Thank you!

 

[Jpat]

one month old

 

[onaharley]

Everyone is giving great info! You are in good hands here.