Dont give your ducklings cold water to drink!

[destinduck]

Why? Because it is a huge shock to their warm running little bodies. I dont see it mentioned much if ever but I promise this has been one of the main mystery deaths of many a baby duckling. I have discussed this with lots of other waterfowl raisers and you will get little or no argument or debate on this issue. With breeding season in full swing for most of us this is something you should always keep in the back of your mind. I put out 5 gallon buckets of water so its lukewarm at least to get my drinking water for the ducklings instead of cold water coming directly from the tap. Dont know how my northern neighbors handle all their cold problems. My hats off to Yall! LOL! After they get about 2-3 weeks old it doesnt seem to be a problem. Hope this helps all yall and everyone has great success with their little quackers Shawn

 

[billw]

Who heats up the water for wild ducklings?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Who heats up the water for wild ducklings?

The SUN!!

 

[destinduck]

Theres one in every crowd! LOL! Edited to say But in fairness billw all my wild ducks seem to be way more resilent to this problem. This was mainly for domestics which is what most people in the duck section have.

 

[lcammack]

We just received our little duckies from Metzer's and they do say to put the water in the heated brooder a day ahead so that it is warm...We were waiting for our poult pak vitamins which came with the ducklings so we used warmish water from the tap. They took to their water like, well, ducks to water!

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

I did not know this. I've never heated the water up for my ducklings. I've never had any mystery deaths either though.... Sounds like they should be fine now though, my newest ducklings are 2 weeks old.

 

[billw]

Quote:

The SUN!!

Hmm. I'm not sure we have this "SUN" you speak of out here in Washington. You say it heats water?


In all seriousness, I never would have thought of this. The ducklings seem to do OK outside here and the water is pretty chilly. I gave the ones we raised by hand cold water from the tap and they did fine. But, I'll warm it up next time - at the very least, it can't hurt.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

Hmm. I'm not sure we have this "SUN" you speak of out here in Washington. You say it heats water?


In all seriousness, I never would have thought of this. The ducklings seem to do OK outside here and the water is pretty chilly. I gave the ones we raised by hand cold water from the tap and they did fine. But, I'll warm it up next time - at the very least, it can't hurt.

Well it does somewhat when it comes out. LOL

 

[Going Quackers]

Hmm interesting. Honestly, I don't recall what I did last year lol Right now the water in the barn is a heated bucket because we still dip below freezing overnight.

 

[Apyl]

Interesting info. I have been filling my water containers with cold tap water or hose water since day one, so far no issues. I also have a kiddie pool in the run and the last few days there has been ice on top and as soon as I open the coop they all run for the pool and drink from it while I'm filling the water containers. My ducklings are 5 weeks old, 4 weeks old, and 2 weeks old. They are Pekin and Mallards. Oh and I'm in Wisconsin.