How Active are Ducklings Supposed to Be

[tgperg]

My two problem-child muscovy ducklings are not very active. They get to the water and to the food and they can move closer to or further away from the heat, but they don't run all over the brooder like baby chicks. Is this normal, or do my babies have problems with their legs? I've never seen brand new ducklings, so are they just weak from hatching? One's been out about 30 hours and one's been out about 15. I know if they have leg problems they need to be treated sooner rather than later, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Any ideas?

Traci

 

[tink0602]

I got this book "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" at the library. He says the brooder temp should be 95 for the first two days and that ducks will stay away from heat or pant if they are too warm...so that's all I know about that. Maybe at least you can rule "heat" out as a problem.

 

[tgperg]

It's at 95 and they're not panting or going into the corners to get away. They go to the food and water, they go to the light. They're just not zipping around. I had a rescued Pekin from the feed store with splay leg or slipped tendons. He was too far gone when I got him to fix. I SO don't want another disabled duckling. <sigh>

Traci

 

[hcppam]

my one duckling was active...my new not so much I'm on day 2 sooooo maybe it's the breeds?

 

[tink0602]

Quote:
How does that happen??

 

[cracking up]

Ducklings do take longer to perk up. Make sure you have them on something other than a smooth surface. An old towel or rubber shelf liner so they don't develop leg issues.

 

[tgperg]

Quote:
How does that happen??

Usually it's because they were on slippery bedding, like newspaper, or cardboard and they can't keep their feet under them. That hasn't happened with these ducklings. They went right from the wire shelf of the incubator onto a towel in the brooder. I'm going to put sand in the bottom of the brooder tomorrow for them because I think maybe their sharp little claws are getting stuck on the towel.

Traci

 

[tgperg]

Quote:
Okay, that helps. Yeah, after my rescue, they've been on an old towel since I took them out of the brooder. I'm feeding them chick starter, unmedicated with nutritional yeast flakes and giving them water with ACV in it. The first day I gave them water with a bit of sugar and some electrolytes. Should I switch them to gamebird starter? Mine is 19% protein, would they be better off with the 28% if I can find it? Or 24%?

Traci

 

[Oregon Blues]

Ducklings sleep a lot. They grow unbelievably fast and that's where their energy is going.

Mine run around the brooder a few times when I show up with food. If they have had their fill of food and water and they aren't too hot or too cold, they sleep.

If your duckling can walk around in a normal fashion, there isn't a problem with it's legs.

I received ducklings 2 weeks ago. At that time, I said "Better get the walls of this brooder higher, because they will be looking over the top soon. So my son added a foot or wire to make it taller, and now, just 2 weeks later, they are looking over, not just the brooder, but the additional foot of wire.

It takes most of their energy just to grow like that.

 

[tgperg]

Quote:
I haven't seen them actually walking. I've been reluctant to just poke 'em and make 'em do anything. I just know they're in different places every time I check on them.

Traci