First Time Duck Parents!

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Thank you all for the warm welcomes and pointing me towards useful sections of the forum!


I've come up with my first questions I couldn't find an exact answer on.

Exactly HOW wet can our ducklings get, before they need help drying off? Our girls are absolutely SOAKING their front-sides, but the rest of their bodies are staying dry. So far I've been drying them off every opportunity I get, but it's MANY times a day. I decided to let them go without drying and see how they acted, and they just went under the heat lamp and started preening and seemingly drying themselves off. So I wasn't sure if my constant drying was necessary or not.

My next question was about biting. At first it was only Bella that would nibble on us. Then Bella began to really aggressively (as aggressive as a little duck can be, I guess) bite our fingers. She'd latch on to any piece of flesh she could get and start shaking her head. It doesn't hurt, of course, but now Daisy is doing it too! Up to this point, Daisy hadn't done that at all and had been really sweet when held.

Is there anything special we're supposed to be doing to "reprimand" their biting? I currently just tell them "No biting", and continue holding them so they don't think that biting will get them their way. But Bella pretty much won't stop until I put her down.
 
Hi_Im_Cody said:
Thank you all for the warm welcomes and pointing me towards useful sections of the forum!


I've come up with my first questions I couldn't find an exact answer on.

Exactly HOW wet can our ducklings get, before they need help drying off? Our girls are absolutely SOAKING their front-sides, but the rest of their bodies are staying dry. So far I've been drying them off every opportunity I get, but it's MANY times a day. I decided to let them go without drying and see how they acted, and they just went under the heat lamp and started preening and seemingly drying themselves off. So I wasn't sure if my constant drying was necessary or not.

My next question was about biting. At first it was only Bella that would nibble on us. Then Bella began to really aggressively (as aggressive as a little duck can be, I guess) bite our fingers. She'd latch on to any piece of flesh she could get and start shaking her head. It doesn't hurt, of course, but now Daisy is doing it too! Up to this point, Daisy hadn't done that at all and had been really sweet when held.

Is there anything special we're supposed to be doing to "reprimand" their biting? I currently just tell them "No biting", and continue holding them so they don't think that biting will get them their way. But Bella pretty much won't stop until I put her down.
Click to expand...
Do you mean they are getting wet in their brooder? Maybe switch to containers with the lid cut out just enough for them to stick their heads in or a milk jug with a hole cut out of the side. Some even put the water dishes on top of a cooling rack or similar grate and that is on top of something else to catch the water.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder.641902/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/#post-10611711

After a "bath", I just put mine back into a clean dry brooder with the heat lamp on.
As for the nipping. I say ouch and take their bill into my fingers. Some give a little "bite" back with their first two fingers and thumb.
Maybe Bella doesn't want to be held and that is why she is biting?
 
Soon2BChixMom said:
Do you mean they are getting wet in their brooder? Maybe switch to containers with the lid cut out just enough for them to stick their heads in or a milk jug with a hole cut out of the side. Some even put the water dishes on top of a cooling rack or similar grate and that is on top of something else to catch the water.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder.641902/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/#post-10611711

After a "bath", I just put mine back into a clean dry brooder with the heat lamp on.
As for the nipping. I say ouch and take their bill into my fingers. Some give a little "bite" back with their first two fingers and thumb.
Maybe Bella doesn't want to be held and that is why she is biting?
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice! We updated their water setup and it's really helped keep the enclosure, and the ducklings, MUCH drier!

Unfortunately it looks like they were swallowing their pine shavings, not just nibbling on them. I was really skeptical that they were swallowing them, but now I'm almost certain. They've been on towels or puppy pee pads since and are doing great!

As for the nibbling - We've had them for about 5 full days now, and they're getting sweeter and calmer every day. I stopped picking them up, and instead have been offering them my open palms. Often times they'll both end up roosting in it, and I can pet them as much as I please while they fall asleep. Then it's back to the brooder with a crushed mealworm treat. This has been the routine all day today. Too cute! :celebrate
 

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