Help! Duckling hatching gone wrong!

[RainbowHen]

Wow! Thank you for sharing! I have lost 2 ducklings and don’t know to what but I don’t think it is this! I let them go swimming and a day or two later they gasp for air and die in 5-10 minutes maybe!

I am so sorry! Sounds like they got chilled. Perhaps inhaled a bit of water. I would only give them a waterer, no swimming, until they are fully feathered and off supplemental heat. They just gotta get their heads in. Nothing more. Wire around the waterer works well. Waterer on a board or plastic lid to keep shavings dry. Best of luck

 

[nao57]

I am so sorry! Sounds like they got chilled. Perhaps inhaled a bit of water. I would only give them a waterer, no swimming, until they are fully feathered and off supplemental heat. They just gotta get their heads in. Nothing more. Wire around the waterer works well. Waterer on a board or plastic lid to keep shavings dry. Best of luck ❤

I'm sorry you guys lost ducklings/chicks.

That's hard to see.

But if you give ducks a chance, their entertainment factor is pretty amazing.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

I am so sorry! Sounds like they got chilled. Perhaps inhaled a bit of water. I would only give them a waterer, no swimming, until they are fully feathered and off supplemental heat. They just gotta get their heads in. Nothing more. Wire around the waterer works well. Waterer on a board or plastic lid to keep shavings dry. Best of luck ❤

Thank you

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

They don't HAVE to go swimming technically. They need to drink water and slosh their beaks and food in it. But I wouldn't give them water access for awhile until bigger.

Thank you

 

[RainbowHen]

I'm sorry you guys lost ducklings/chicks.

That's hard to see.

But if you give ducks a chance, their entertainment factor is pretty amazing.

Absolutely! I LOVED my ducks and ducklings. Did I say I didn't? Never meant to give that impression. I raised many. They are so fun. I miss them and hope to have more when I move back out of city limits.

 

[nao57]

Thank you

I can see why someone would be misled by the ducks needing swimming.

I heard growing up a lot and even recently that ducks need a pool etc or a pond. (And it was wrong information.)

I wonder if they do need trees or shade though?

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

I can see why someone would be misled by the ducks needing swimming.

I heard growing up a lot and even recently that ducks need a pool etc or a pond. (And it was wrong information.)

I wonder if they do need trees or shade though?

Okay, my duckling are 2-3 weeks and are swimming is that ok they can get out when they want!

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

They can swim but what they don't have is oil in their feathers yet - this means they aren't 'waterproof' so must be dried off after swimming if they are'nt going to dry off quickly naturally. Drying them off is also a good oppurtunity to get a feel for the ducks condition and give them a once over - I don't think I've had a duckling yet that has appreciated having their bottom towel dried.....!

Personally, I wait for a couple of weeks from the hatching, then supervise swimming until they have got their oil - I am watching for them looking lethargic and / or 'waterlogged'.

OveralI, I think swimming does wonders for their mental and physical health.

 

[Isaac 0]

Does anybody know that the mother duck actually transfers the oil onto their feathers when they're still in the nest, rather when they first enter the water?

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

I'm assuming for 'bator birds they have to wait for their own gland to kick in ?

I just had to have Google tell me it was at the back of the bird, not the front.....