HELP!!!

[DuckMom2017]

This is incredible

 

[WVduckchick]

SOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUTE!!

 

[Perry17]

Update!

The other eggs never hatched. But both ducklings are doing great! They are 2 weeks old now and unfortunately the terrible 2s are for ducks also.

At first I would take them out throughout the day to let them eat drink and run around. Then put them back in the incubator/brooder. At night I would cover it with a towel to keep it dark, and they would sleep all night quietly.

At one week old, they started waking up at 4 AM and would tap constantly like a jack hammer to wake me up and tell me they were ready to eat. Which I was fine with, they would go right back to sleep after that.

Now at 2 weeks old they are driving me crazy! ALWAYS hungry or thirsty. But when you give them water they have learned to just dump it out and cry for more. I let them swim a few different times a day to get them tired, they have learned when they want to swim they run to the bathroom, stand by the tub and scream.

I think they have gotten out of the "sleep all day" stage, and are just starting to get bored now.

I have them inside still, but I think today is they day they go outside. My question is, do they need a light at this age? They are fine at room temp around 72 degrees. And outside it stays in the high 90s, and maybe gets 70 at night. If I had a dozen or so I wouldn't be worried, they could all just cuddle up if they got cold. But with only two, I wasn't real sure. I just didn't want to have to go deal with trying to set up a extension cord and heat lamp this evening. But I will if I need to. They will be going in a wire bottom rabbit hutch type cage off the ground, with hay in the covered hutch side.

 

[theuglychick]

I couldn't help but laugh out loud about this. They're a lot like my kid, lolll.

Update!

The other eggs never hatched. But both ducklings are doing great! They are 2 weeks old now and unfortunately the terrible 2s are for ducks also.

At first I would take them out throughout the day to let them eat drink and run around. Then put them back in the incubator/brooder. At night I would cover it with a towel to keep it dark, and they would sleep all night quietly.

At one week old, they started waking up at 4 AM and would tap constantly like a jack hammer to wake me up and tell me they were ready to eat. Which I was fine with, they would go right back to sleep after that.

Now at 2 weeks old they are driving me crazy! ALWAYS hungry or thirsty. But when you give them water they have learned to just dump it out and cry for more. I let them swim a few different times a day to get them tired, they have learned when they want to swim they run to the bathroom, stand by the tub and scream.

I think they have gotten out of the "sleep all day" stage, and are just starting to get bored now.

I have them inside still, but I think today is they day they go outside. My question is, do they need a light at this age? They are fine at room temp around 72 degrees. And outside it stays in the high 90s, and maybe gets 70 at night. If I had a dozen or so I wouldn't be worried, they could all just cuddle up if they got cold. But with only two, I wasn't real sure. I just didn't want to have to go deal with trying to set up a extension cord and heat lamp this evening. But I will if I need to. They will be going in a wire bottom rabbit hutch type cage off the ground, with hay in the covered hutch side.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Update!

The other eggs never hatched. But both ducklings are doing great! They are 2 weeks old now and unfortunately the terrible 2s are for ducks also.

At first I would take them out throughout the day to let them eat drink and run around. Then put them back in the incubator/brooder. At night I would cover it with a towel to keep it dark, and they would sleep all night quietly.

At one week old, they started waking up at 4 AM and would tap constantly like a jack hammer to wake me up and tell me they were ready to eat. Which I was fine with, they would go right back to sleep after that.

Now at 2 weeks old they are driving me crazy! ALWAYS hungry or thirsty. But when you give them water they have learned to just dump it out and cry for more. I let them swim a few different times a day to get them tired, they have learned when they want to swim they run to the bathroom, stand by the tub and scream.

I think they have gotten out of the "sleep all day" stage, and are just starting to get bored now.

I have them inside still, but I think today is they day they go outside. My question is, do they need a light at this age? They are fine at room temp around 72 degrees. And outside it stays in the high 90s, and maybe gets 70 at night. If I had a dozen or so I wouldn't be worried, they could all just cuddle up if they got cold. But with only two, I wasn't real sure. I just didn't want to have to go deal with trying to set up a extension cord and heat lamp this evening. But I will if I need to. They will be going in a wire bottom rabbit hutch type cage off the ground, with hay in the covered hutch side.

I would think they would be ok outside with those kind of temps. Are they getting feathered out yet? If not the only thing I would be concerned about is if they got soaking wet at night and got a chill that way. Down feathers aren't waterproof.
I would like to mention that two of my ducks I have been keeping in a wire bottom rabbit hutch style pen are just getting over bumble foot. The wire is pretty hard on their feet So watch out for that. I ended up buying a rubber mat for them to walk on and drilled little holes so water can drain. I have to clean it a lot but their feet are better.

 

[Perry17]

They are so spoiled and they are driving me crazy!! Hahaha But they are too cute so I can't be mad at them. Seriously they have knocked their water over 5 times in 5 minutes. And will peep louder than a fire alarm because they get so upset about not having water for 3 seconds. So I am constantly running back and forth keeping them happy so they don't wake up the whole house. Lol So yes the little brats are still inside, but I am leaving this weekend so they are definitely going outside tomorrow morning before I leave. I'll just put them a heat lamp just incase since I won't be home to watch them.

They are still all fluff. I forgot that it took forever for their parents to get feathers. So if these are the same way, it will be at least another month or two before they get them.

The rabbit cage is in the barn in a stall, and one half of the cage has walls on 4 sides. So they can't get wet. They are so tiny I didn't like the thought of letting them have the whole stall to run around in yet, scared I would step on them while trying to feed them.

I didn't even think about the wire on little their feet. Thank you! They will only be in there a couple weeks, until they are big enough I can trust them on the ground. But I will definitely add hay to the entire flooring instead of just the closed half. Like you said, they are so messy I will have to clean it nonstop haha. I love the rubber mat! I have never seen any of those around here, but I will have to look into it more. It would definitely come in handy for times like this.

 

[Perry17]

By the way, are those call ducks in the picture? They are adorable!

 

[Perry17]

They are now locked in laundry basket jail during playtime. Because instead of standing and playing on the mat like they normally do, they now run to the bathtub and yell to swim constantly.

As you can see from the walls of the basket, it also works to catch all they watery food they sling everywhere.

Also found out not only do they eat everything in sight (which I have to chase them down and pull out of their mouths while they run away, usually woodchips from my boots). They also were very fascinated by the camera on my phone and kept trying to eat it. So the pictures aren't great haha. Most ended up like the last pink picture, which was the inside of both their mouths.

 

[WVduckchick]

So cute Perry!!
And you are cracking me up!

 

[Leaguinea]

This is awesome! and to think these little ones survived a hurricane to get here.
I love the updates
They have such cute little personalities, I think I want some ducklings
I am hatching guineas but they are so antisocial when it comes to people and spend their energy trying to get away from me.