Just a couple more noob questions

[Enigmius]

My ducklings sure are growing fast. The black one which is supposed to be the male is the tallest thus far.
Anyhow, I am still using the chicken waterer as they can still get most of their bill in there. I put in a very small mixing bowl of water for a few hours a day now, so they can dunk their head enough to wash their eyes…just in case the chicken waterer is not deep enough.
But when I looked at their brooder today, one duck was sitting in the small bowl of water. I shooed her out of the bowl, but I began to worry.
Are they smart enough to get of the water and nestle under their heat plate if they get too cold? or will they let themselves get chilled, and could possibly get sick?
They are two days shy of a week, currently.
They also sit a lot when they eat or drink. Is that normal? I'm watching their feet and they look good, no splaying, or inward or outward turning. Of course I made sure that Gamebird/Showbird feed crumbles had a high niacin amount. Maybe I am just being over protective first-time duck daddy?

 

[Enigmius]

 

[Jpat]

They are amazing!! your so lucky. Ide have them hugged to death.

Mine always found the food and water no problem. And the heat too

If they are hungry thirsty or cold they will look around and find what they need. But if your worried dip their bills in each and put them under the heat and theyll learn

And in my opinion they need water deep enough to wash their nose holes out, But someone else will be along with probably better advice

Ooh and dont have huge containers of water till theyr a little older because they can get in, get cold or drown

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

This sticky thread has great ideas. The first one shows a container with the lid cut for them to stick their head in without making as much of a mess.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/#post-10611711
As far as drying off, when I brooded mine, I would let them have bath time in a container (which got bigger the bigger they got) and then made sure they went back to clean shavings. They dried off under the heat lamp. But, I also took the open water container away and only left the waterers that I made.

 

[Amer]

Seem fine. Ducklings sit when they eat and drink. They are going to make a mess of their waterer though.

 

[PirateGirl]

I would make a new waterer they can dunk heads in but not swim in, so either a plastic container with holes cut in the lid that a head but not a body fit through, or a milk jug with a head hole cut in the side.

They know when they need heat but if they get too cold and tired from swimming it can be hrs for them to climb out of the container and get there. They float better and are more waterproof once they get real feathers.

Keep an eye on the sitting. It can be totally normal, but I had one that sat more than others. When standing for short periods of time it would sorta fall back and sit on its elbows to rest. It needed a little extra help in the end. It grew beyond the sitting but then would get a trembling leg instead. She is totally normal now. Just keep and eye on them. They should get stronger and will sit less, but if any are lagging behind or sitting more you may need to do something.

I hope you are loving them!

 

[Enigmius]

Thanks everyone

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep your blk Runner is a drake my blk Runner Snoop always stood taller and still does. he is my avatar..

 

[Enigmius]

Yep your blk Runner is a drake my blk Runner Snoop always stood taller and still does. he is my avatar..

He sure is beautiful, Miss Lydia!
I can almost make out some colorful sheen on his feathers.... Maybe some blue on his back and green on his head? Is that really present when he is in full sun, pros it just the pixels on the camera that make him so colorful in that photo?

 

[Miss Lydia]

He is much more gorgeous than that pic shows we hadn't had any sun in a while when that pic was taken I'll try and get a new one soon. Your going to love the coloring they get.