I have no idea what I am doing

[shawluvsbirds]

Watch this... it will make your heart jump, but it will also show you what ducklings are made of... take a deep breath, daddy, Lucky isn't made of porcelain...

Holy smokes!!! I didn't know any breed of duck nested in trees!!! That's insane!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Holy smokes!!! I didn't know any breed of duck nested in trees!!! That's insane!

Many do! Wood ducks (where do you think their name came from, lol) and Mandarins are a couple... there's others too, brain just isn't working right now...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

here are some ideas for ya guys. This is how I set mine up after lots of research right here at byc stalking other members pages lol I used puppy pads under the shavings so I didn't have to use so many shavings and it soaked up a LOT of water. The drip pan is still a must though three call ducklings would empty that big water jug before I could get home from work. I crafted the hardware cloth over the dish drainer so they always had a place that was dry to sit if I didn't get home in time. Also put food on opposite side so a lot of water would drip off as they walked back and forth and not soak their feed in the first five minutes!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

That pic isn't real clear but the top of the tote we just cut squares out of the lid and drilled holes around it and fastened the hardware cloth with zip ties. You could use any screening you have or wanna use I'm sure. We used that so the heat lamp could sit on top it was still cold when they were born. We call it the duck crib. They stayed in that till they were four weeks old... It was getting crowded in there as they grew but weather was so bad to put them outside. I took them out every day to swim and exercise though. Play,eat,sleep that was my routine. Had to wear them out daily or they were unhappy to be put to bed.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Many do! Wood ducks (where do you think their name came from, lol) and Mandarins are a couple... there's others too, brain just isn't working right now...

Ah haw... Wood duck lol. Never put that together in my pea brain. Even if I did I wouldn't have thought about it being that high up!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

@Steven Mazzo - I have not raised ducklings, but I have raised my fair share of chicks. The only constant is change. They grow so fast, and their independence does as well. What works this week may not work next week, may not even work the next day (with regard to how much space they need, size of waterers and feeders, and their set up, overhead protection to keep them form escaping, duckling-proofing your house, etc., etc.)

I find it challenging even having raised a bunch of chicks, but when I raised my first batch, it was like playing constant catch up - I was changing their feeder constantly, then trying to elevate it, then trying different things with the waterer... I thought I "hadn't figured it out." Now I know that at least some of it is that different stuff works at different ages.

I only share this so that you are forewarned. You'll get through this tough time, and then in a little bit, he may need yet a different arrangement/set up, and so on. If you realize it's coming, it's easier than getting frustrated every time, thinking, "I thought we fixed this!!".

Once they grow up, it settles down, but during the rapid growth phase of their early life, EVERYTHING changes...



- Ant Farm

 

[shawluvsbirds]

@Steven Mazzo - I have not raised ducklings, but I have raised my fair share of chicks. The only constant is change. They grow so fast, and their independence does as well. What works this week may not work next week, may not even work the next day (with regard to how much space they need, size of waterers and feeders, and their set up, overhead protection to keep them form escaping, duckling-proofing your house, etc., etc.)

I find it challenging even having raised a bunch of chicks, but when I raised my first batch, it was like playing constant catch up - I was changing their feeder constantly, then trying to elevate it, then trying different things with the waterer... I thought I "hadn't figured it out." Now I know that at least some of it is that different stuff works at different ages.

I only share this so that you are forewarned. You'll get through this tough time, and then in a little bit, he may need yet a different arrangement/set up, and so on. If you realize it's coming, it's easier than getting frustrated every time, thinking, "I thought we fixed this!!".

Once they grow up, it settles down, but during the rapid growth phase of their early life, EVERYTHING changes...



- Ant Farm

For sure!!! Every day is a new day!!!!

 

[Steven Mazzo]

@Steven Mazzo - I have not raised ducklings, but I have raised my fair share of chicks. The only constant is change. They grow so fast, and their independence does as well. What works this week may not work next week, may not even work the next day (with regard to how much space they need, size of waterers and feeders, and their set up, overhead protection to keep them form escaping, duckling-proofing your house, etc., etc.)

I find it challenging even having raised a bunch of chicks, but when I raised my first batch, it was like playing constant catch up - I was changing their feeder constantly, then trying to elevate it, then trying different things with the waterer... I thought I "hadn't figured it out." Now I know that at least some of it is that different stuff works at different ages.

I only share this so that you are forewarned. You'll get through this tough time, and then in a little bit, he may need yet a different arrangement/set up, and so on. If you realize it's coming, it's easier than getting frustrated every time, thinking, "I thought we fixed this!!".

Once they grow up, it settles down, but during the rapid growth phase of their early life, EVERYTHING changes...



- Ant Farm

Thanks for the great advice. I guess going forward nothing will be exactly as planned nor will it always be pretty and perfect. Good and bad days filled with change. The only constant will be lots of love for our little one.

 

[biophiliac]

When he is too loud and boisterous and you feel frustrated, think how you might feel if instead your concern was a silent listless duckling? I suspect you will immediately feel less anxious and even grateful he is so lively and energetic!

 

[Steven Mazzo]

When he is too loud and boisterous and you feel frustrated, think how you might feel if instead your concern was a silent listless duckling? I suspect you will immediately feel less anxious and even grateful he is so lively and energetic!

Very true