- Sep 3, 2013
- 35
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Hi all! I am new to your forum and am I glad I found you! I want to get baby ducks and need your expert advice.
I live in Connecticut and have a large fenced backyard. My yard has a heated pool as well as a creek. The creek leads to a pond that is outside of our back yard. It's across a private little drive off of our front yard. They could get to the pond from our creek by swimming under a little bridge. There are wild geese and ducks in The pond. And we had a family of geese that visited our front yard a lot this year. It's basically duck heaven. When they are babies, I plan on keeping them in the bathroom in my laundry room/mud room. It's right near the door to the back yard and has a heated floor. I also plan to put them in a box with towels and a heat lamp.
My questions so far:
When and how long can the babies get out of the box and roam around (with me there). I've read they need heat 24 hours a day.
When do I let them swim for the first time? I was planning on letting them swim in the big sink or bathtub. Then move them out to the pool. And eventually the creek once they are full grown.
How many times a day do I feed them?
After they are full grown:
Will the wild ducks or geese in the pond hurt them?
If they do go to the pond, will they come home?
If they are eating in the pond do I still need to feed them as much?
In the winter, my plan is to get an insulated dog house and put hay in the bottom. The roof opens for easy cleaning. Will they go in it on their own? Do I need to put them in it each night? (When it's really cold I was just planning to put them back in the laundry room bathroom)
If the creek and pond are frozen, do I still need to find a place for them to swim? What do you suggest?
In the warm months do they need the dog house? Where will they sleep if they don't go in it?
The only predator I can think of (that could get over our fence) is a raccoon . Will a raccoon kill a duck? Is the raccoon looking for eggs?
Sorry for the long list. I'm sure I'll think of even more questions as soon as I post this!
I live in Connecticut and have a large fenced backyard. My yard has a heated pool as well as a creek. The creek leads to a pond that is outside of our back yard. It's across a private little drive off of our front yard. They could get to the pond from our creek by swimming under a little bridge. There are wild geese and ducks in The pond. And we had a family of geese that visited our front yard a lot this year. It's basically duck heaven. When they are babies, I plan on keeping them in the bathroom in my laundry room/mud room. It's right near the door to the back yard and has a heated floor. I also plan to put them in a box with towels and a heat lamp.
My questions so far:
When and how long can the babies get out of the box and roam around (with me there). I've read they need heat 24 hours a day.
When do I let them swim for the first time? I was planning on letting them swim in the big sink or bathtub. Then move them out to the pool. And eventually the creek once they are full grown.
How many times a day do I feed them?
After they are full grown:
Will the wild ducks or geese in the pond hurt them?
If they do go to the pond, will they come home?
If they are eating in the pond do I still need to feed them as much?
In the winter, my plan is to get an insulated dog house and put hay in the bottom. The roof opens for easy cleaning. Will they go in it on their own? Do I need to put them in it each night? (When it's really cold I was just planning to put them back in the laundry room bathroom)
If the creek and pond are frozen, do I still need to find a place for them to swim? What do you suggest?
In the warm months do they need the dog house? Where will they sleep if they don't go in it?
The only predator I can think of (that could get over our fence) is a raccoon . Will a raccoon kill a duck? Is the raccoon looking for eggs?
Sorry for the long list. I'm sure I'll think of even more questions as soon as I post this!