Ducklings sleeping in kiddie pool?

[raindrop]

So I just was out to lock up the chicks for the night (10:30pm), and saw that all 5 of my 6 week old Hookbills and my Pilgrim goose were all floating in the kiddie pool. Baby Gander was standing next to the pool. Is this a midnight swim or will they be sleeping there the whole night?

 

[GoodEgg]

I don't know the answer to your question (hopefully someone will) ... but my baby gooses will get in the pool and swim for a while at any time of the day (or night, if I leave them out late). They climb out to sleep on the ground though. Mine are about 6 weeks old now.

Maybe I'm acting too much like a new mother with a baby, but ... if my goslings wanted to SLEEP on the water, I'd be checking them every few minutes to make sure they hadn't drowned. Maybe I'm being silly, maybe not ... but I'm not sure if babies that age can sleep on the water?

trish

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Well, that sounds a bit odd.

I wouldn't let them in it for the night. Being that young and being in it for too long you risk the chances of drowning... which ducklings have a tendency of doing at that age. Also the risk of them getting cold from being wet... even if it is warm over there.

 

[DuckyBoys]

I saw mine sleeping in their pool yesterday Raindrop, ours are about the same age and I don't know about your's but my ducks are waaaaaay to big to drown in that little pool! LOL. I'd just keep an eye out for anything unusual and check again tonight. In the wild ducks sleep on the water all the time so I'm sure it's not that unusual. Are your's almost fully feathered? All mine have feathers everywhere now but on their backs under the wings. The geese are even getting those thick feathers on their necks!


I lock my guys up at night for now - but I hope to be able to let this bunch free range in the strictest sense of the word very soon. Take some pictures of your set up - I'd love to see it!

 

[Nichole77]

WHAT!!! Such a cute post and no pictures. I'm so sad now.

 

[MissPrissy]

Ducks and geese do not go to roost for the night like chickens. You will find they are very active at different times and sleep on a different schedule. It is not unusual for them to play half the night.

 

[raindrop]

Thanks everybody. I went out later and they were on the ground resting. I imagine they were just taking advantage of the clean water as I had changed the water right at dusk. The ducks have feathers everywhere except for under the wings, but the goslings (especially the gander) are in an "awkward" stage right now!