First time duck parent

[Roger98]

My grandparents just surprised me with two Khaki Campbell ducklings from tractor supply and we have already had to buy new food for them, I only had medicated chick feed. The problem is solved now after I read they can't have it, but I'm worried that the ducklings are drinking too much now and I've heard that that can be a problem? I just need some advice because this is my first time having ducks. I've heard a lot of horror stories from family members who've had them before.

 

[MagpieDucks]

My grandparents just surprised me with two Khaki Campbell ducklings from tractor supply and we have already had to buy new food for them, I only had medicated chick feed. The problem is solved now after I read they can't have it, but I'm worried that the ducklings are drinking too much now and I've heard that that can be a problem? I just need some advice because this is my first time having ducks. I've heard a lot of horror stories from family members who've had them before.

They seem like they drink a lot of water but most goes on the floor...I heard stories about drinking too much as well, but didn't experience anything...

@WVduckchick
@Miss Lydia
@shawluvsbirds

What do you guys think?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

They seem like they drink a lot of water but most goes on the floor...I heard stories about drinking too much as well, but didn't experience anything...

@WVduckchick
@Miss Lydia
@shawluvsbirds

What do you guys think?

I have never heard anything about ducklings drinking too much
Also. . medicated chick starter shouldn't have hurt them, but since you've already changed their feed that's ok too.
I like to use Nutrena naturewise meat bird crumbles.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...dicated-feed-the-myths-and-the-truth.1247838/
Unless they are drinking excessively because they are too hot I wouldn't worry. . ducks need water to swallow feed, therefore they do drink a lot. And a lot gets spilled in the process

 

[Roger98]

I have never heard anything about ducklings drinking too much
Also. . medicated chick starter shouldn't have hurt them, but since you've already changed their feed that's ok too.
I like to use Nutrena naturewise meat bird crumbles.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...dicated-feed-the-myths-and-the-truth.1247838/
Unless they are drinking excessively because they are too hot I wouldn't worry. . ducks need water to swallow feed, therefore they do drink a lot. And a lot gets spilled in the process

Thank you, I have been reading a bunch of different articles here and someone said that their ducks drank themselves to death and I was worried because mine haven't stopped drinking water since I brought them home. I do know they need water to eat, and I've seen them doing that, but they've just mostly been drinking a lot. But if I shouldn't worry, I won't.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Thank you, I have been reading a bunch of different articles here and someone said that their ducks drank themselves to death and I was worried because mine haven't stopped drinking water since I brought them home. I do know they need water to eat, and I've seen them doing that, but they've just mostly been drinking a lot. But if I shouldn't worry, I won't.

Well I'm not saying it's impossible, but I don't know how or why a duck would drink itself to death.
What is the temperature of your brooder and how old are they?

 

[Roger98]

Well I'm not saying it's impossible, but I don't know how or why a duck would drink itself to death.
What is the temperature of your brooder and how old are they?

The lady at tractor supply says they are 7-8 days old. I'm not sure what the temp is, I have a light clamped above the plastic box they are sitting in. They seem to be content, they are sleeping and stretching out once in a while.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

The lady at tractor supply says they are 7-8 days old. I'm not sure what the temp is, I have it clamped above the plastic box they are sitting in. They seem to be content, they are sleeping and stretching out once in a while.

Try to find a thermometer and place it right under the heat and see how warm it is. Ducklings don't need to be quite as warm as baby chicks, you probably don't need it to be any warmer than about 85 right under the heat, and you can raise the lamp a little each week to decrease the heat by about 5 degrees a week until they are old enough to be without it.
They can dehydrate pretty easily If they are too warm, and sometimes won't move away from the heat like you think they would because they feel warm and cozy

That being said I doubt you have noting to worry about.
Ducklings do drink a lot.

 

[KittyKat8828]

our ducklings drank a lot of water daily and made quite a mess. We had a light to keep them warm on one side of the enclosure. We stuck our hands under it to made sure the light was not to hot just enough to warm the ducklings.

 

[chickens really]

Lots of times they aren't drinking it. They love noodling and playing in water. I never heard about them dying from too much water?..