Duck Rules for New Owner with Grandchildren

[Lamar Estate]

Hello--

My 3 ducklings are going to their forever home tomorrow. They are going to friends of ours that got us into raising chickens (they are the ones that got us started in all of this!). (I'm already really sad about them leaving.)

Our friends have grandchildren ages 5 and 3. They met the ducklings a week ago. While I completely trust our friends to make sure the grandchildren handle the ducklings carefully, I have put together a quick list of duck rules.

Please let me know if there are other quick rules that should be included.

Thank you,
Amanda


Duck Rules

• Approach appropriately. Be calm, move slowly, and be quiet. Sit down and let the ducks come up to you.

• Be gentle and handle with care. Ducks are fragile.
• Pick up ducks correctly. Never pick up a duck by its wings. Support their entire body. Ducks like their feet to feel stable.
• Move slowly. Quick movements scare ducks.
• Be quiet. Loud noises scare ducks.
• Don’t be surprised if they bite or scratch you. Ducks see the world through their beaks. They have sharp toe nails. They usually bite only to see if something is edible. They only bite or scratch on purpose if they are scared.
• Careful with loose objects. Ducks see the world through their beaks. They will pick up and eat anything and everything. They love shiny things—they will find the one dropped nail in the entire place.
• No bright lights. Ducks have sensitive eyes. Do not use a flashlight on them. Blue or red lights are best for them.
• Night light on. Ducks can’t see very well in the dark. They get scared in the dark.

• Deep enough water. Ducks must have water deep enough to blow their nostrils in, but not in a container large enough for them to climb into. Ducks can drown.
• Constant water with food. Ducks use water to help swallow their food. They can choke without water.
• Correct food and water. Ducks have special diet requirements from duckling to throughout adult age.

• Lots of love. Ducks need attention. They become more friendly the more time you spend with them.

 

[Duck_feeder]

Great list! The one thing I would change is the need for a night light.

Ducks can navigate around in near total darkness pretty well. When I need to quarantine my ducks they sleep in my bedroom in a temporary home. At night I cover their temporary home with a thick blanket that blocks out what little light there is in the bedroom. In the middle of the night, I can hear my ducks dig through their food, pick out the stuff they like the most, then walk to the other side to drink water, then walk back for more food. Meanwhile, I have a lot more light and can't get to the bathroom without bumping into a wall.

Birds need darkness to set their biological clocks. Without ample darkness they can't figure out when is day and when is night. As they get older, they use the amount of light per day to determine what season it is (which controls egg laying and molting).

I found that speaking quietly before entering their room (they learn your voice quickly) is adequate to keep them from freaking out if there's unexpected movement or noise in the middle of the night. When Moxy and Norie were ducklings, I'd talk to them before uncovering their brooder and they'd be peeping and running around in excitement knowing I was there even before I could see them!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Some very good points there for the grandchildren to learn- as well as any new duck owners in general. I have to agree with Duck_feeder though on the lights... While it is true that nocturnal birds do have better eyesight- Ducks will settle better at night without a light. While being brooded with a light for heat they will sleep - wake and eat...go back to sleep again. Once they no longer need heat provided they are generally more settled at night with no lights on. It may take a few minutes for them to settle at night if the light is suddenly turned off - or for the first night or two that no heat is provided , but they are no more prone to being startled in the dark that any other animal.

 

[Lamar Estate]

Quote:
Thank you. That's great to know!