Yeah.... no : you are doing GREAT.
You are welcome.
They’re 3-4 weeks old. They’re starting to get real feathers, especially on their bellies
There are 2 but I’m not sure what sex yet
They’re Khaki Campbells
I feed them organic duck crumbles with niacin supplement and 18% protein. I’ve been switching them from the 20% protein feed I had them on because I can’t find that one again
Okay...
By
"organic duck crumbles", do you mean the ones specifically for
ducklings?
Sorry for asking, but we have to be precise here.
(Not the same country, so not the same bird feed sold!)
IF SO : at 3-weeks-old, you
can start mixing their crumbles with duck pellets.
In fact, what I would recommend is :
•
from 3-weeks-old to 5-weeks-old : feed the ducklings with a mix of duckling crumbles and duck pellets;
•
at 5-weeks-old : feed the ducklings a mix of duck pellets and wheat; and give them grit in another feeder (not the same than the one used for the food!).
(You do what you want, but just to say - in case you would want to try : to keep
my ducklings strong and the healthiest possible, I personally also mix
food grade Diatomaceous Earth in their food... as soon as they are born!)
They are given 24/7 free access to food and water
That's good.
At least until they are grown up, ducklings need to have an unlimited access to their food AND their water!
I’ve let them swim a couple of times but I’ve been nervous to let them swim much because I read that incubator hatched ducklings shouldn’t start really swimming until 6 weeks?
I don't have any experience with incubator hatched ducklings, BUT I have experience with ducklings hatched by
chicken hens.
What I can tell from experiences is : ducklings ARE able to produce oil to waterproof their feathers; but they (first) NEED to be able to swim in order to stimulate their gland to produce this oil.
So, by allowing your ducklings to swim/bathe, you are actually helping them.
Just monitor them when you let them bathe, and watch them carefully to see if their fluff and feathers stay wet in the water...?
(Is weather currently warm, where you live? If so, your ducklings really should be fine.)
Before today they weren’t able to wash their heads because I didn’t know but I made them a waterer they can dunk their heads on earlier and they will have free access to this from now on.
Ah, ah!
You will
always learn new things about your birds.
They do have a heat lamp but I’ve raised it as high from the brooder as it can go and I try to angle it so they can get away from it
If ever current weather is warm where you live : do you have a mean to let the ducklings run outside during the day? (In a small pen, or even cage? Monitoring them of course?)
It would actually really benefit them to be able to eat grass (and insects) AND enjoy the sun(shine)...
They’re still not quacking but one of them just started making noises that I can’t tell if it’s a cough or an attempt at a quack?
Probably the voice that is changing!
That's normal.
I haven’t started giving them grit because I read that you didn’t need to if they were only eating the crumbles?
That's right : you don't need to give grit to ducklings still only on crumbles.
I’ve attached a picture of their set up, the heat lamp is off right now because it’s hot outside
Okay,
yeah...
Is it only for today, or is it usual? If it is usual, and if you
can of course :
do take advantage of the heat to get your ducklings outside during the day (at least for some hours if possible, but even 20 minutes or so would be better than nothing), in a secure pen (or cage).
I’ve attached a picture of their set up, the heat lamp is off right now because it’s hot outside
From what we can see of your ducklings on the pictures : they really don't look sick...?
I repeat myself, but I would not worry for them for the time being.
Keep watch, but don't make yourself sick with worry :
your baby ducks look and sound fine.
Good luck with them!
