Imprinting ducks???

[Julie Birb]

Aw, bless you. You're so welcome. BYC is lots of fun and full of knowledgeable people.

 

[happy duck]

So does anybody know the answers to my questions??? I is fine if you don't. I was just wandering.

 

[Miss Lydia]

About the sneezing and using shavings? Dust can make them sneeze getting water up their nares can make them sneeze. I never like straw for bedding it just doesn't soak in the wetness like shaving does. This is just my opinion. I usually use old clean towels over shavings[no cedar] for at least a week so the duckling get use to what is food and don't try and eat the shavings.

The snuggling up between your legs is imprinting for sure. Do they have a stuffed animal to snuggle with when your not there it will help make them feel more secure.

 

[CarleeAnn]

This might be weird but I was sitting in my ducklings brooder(it is a kiddie pool so I can fit in it). I was sitting on my knees and they got in between my legs and just sat there and started sleeping. I could not sit down all the way or I would mush them. So all I could do was lay my head down under the heat light and "sleep". I felt like a mama duck sitting on her ducklings. Is this any kind of imprinting?

I’m sure they see you as safe now. I remember I was outside with my girls once when they were ducklings and I was letting them forage; it started to get dark. I didn’t think much of it because they were in their enclosure with me but then they started running around and crying!! I couldn’t figure out what was wrong so I got off my chair and down to their level- both came running over to me and jumped in my lap, snuggled up and went to sleep. Sweet babies were scared of the dark! I didn’t think about how they were never outside when it got dark before. I sat there with them for 45 minutes and then my husband came out to check on us and we all went inside (the were too young to sleep outside still). It was so sweet!!

I am really happy if it is imprinting. Also..sorry for all of the questions...my ducks are sneezing. I am using pine shavings as there bedding. Is that it? I have some straw if I need to use that instead of pine shavings.

How often are they sneezing? Pine shavings should be fine, that’s what I used along with many other members. Sometimes ducks sneeze a lot after the drink to clear their nostrils. Are they staying warm? As long as they are acting normal it shouldn’t be anything to worry about.

 

[happy duck]

Yes they are warm. Tennessee weather is never accurate so if it gets cold I turn on a space heater to warm up the garage a little bit. Also I do have a stuffed animal I was going to give them once they had imprinted on me(I did NOT want them to think the stuffed animal was the mama).I think it is time for the stuffed animal. For the pine shaving...the ducks are acting fine. They eat a lot drink a lot play a LOT. They were also eating the pine shavings. I might have forgot to tell you guys that. Would that have something to do with sneezing?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Don't think eating the pine shaving would cause sneezing but rooting around in them can and like CarleeAnn said they clean their nares out that way too.

I hope they aren't eating a lot of the shavings, that is one reason I put towels down over top for their first week. Hopefully they are just tasting and not actually eating. Are they large flake? I buy large flake horse bedding.

 

[happy duck]

No they are not so I think I am going to get larger ones. Mine are a size that they can eat. They still eat some but are realizing that they are not food.

 

[happy duck]

I put a towel over the pine shavings so that they will not eat them. Also it might snow tonight. I was 80 degrees on Monday and going to snow tonight!!!!!! Should I bring the ducks inside. They are in the garage right now?

 

[Miss Lydia]

What is the temp inside your garage and then inside your brooder?

 

[happy duck]

Well... I do not really know. I need to get a thermometer. I think we will bring them in anyway if it does snow. Just to be safe. I do want them to be warm. I also really want them to come in the house so whatever it takes to get them in here I will do it.