Just got 2 ducklings. Any advice?

[wtusa1718]

Just got 2 little Muscovy ducklings that are 5-6 days old from tractor supply. And no it wasn’t just as an Easter gift I really want to supply a great home for these guys for the rest of their lives. They are currently in a 30 gal bin with a heat lamp and water and food. How long should I wait to bring them outside permanently? Any advice appreciated.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They will need to be feathered in before they can be out side for good unless they will have a heat source. Congrats on your new Muscovy I love mine they make great pets! You can take them outside on nice warm days when you can watch them and let them noodle around but at 3-6 days old they can chill pretty quick.

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC!

Congrats on your first ducklings! Basics, For feed you'll want to provide either an All Flock/Raiser Feed or a feed specifically formulated for ducklings, you can also use a chick starter feed, but it's important to add a supplemental source of niacin to help prevent leg problems, that could be in the form of Brewer's yeast, nutritional yeast, B complex or a poultry vitamin. For water, they should have a container they can easily clean their nares out with, but avoid big containers till they are older since ducklings don't have waterproof feathers and can get chilled easily or possibly drown.

If you start offering treats you'll also want to provide chick grit on the side as well, just in a small dish, they'll eat it as need be. For bedding avoid Cedar, Newspaper, Cardboard or paper towels. Cedar can be toxic in unventilated areas and the rest are slippery and may cause spraddled legs.


They can be taken out for little trips outside, just watch them and see if they start to shiver, huddle together or look lethargic. It depends on your climate, but a good guideline to go by is they can be let out permanently once they have all their adult feathers in.

Best of luck with your ducklings! Enjoy them while there still small.


Treats for ducks-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements.242460/

 

[wtusa1718]

They will need to be feathered in before they can be out side for good unless they will have a heat source. Congrats on your new Muscovy I love mine they make great pets! You can take them outside on nice warm days when you can watch them and let them noodle around but at 3-6 days old they can chill pretty quick.

Ok great. How long do you

Welcome to BYC!

Congrats on your first ducklings! Basics, For feed you'll want to provide either an All Flock/Raiser Feed or a feed specifically formulated for ducklings, you can also use a chick starter feed, but it's important to add a supplemental source of niacin to help prevent leg problems, that could be in the form of Brewer's yeast, nutritional yeast, B complex or a poultry vitamin. For water, they should have a container they can easily clean their nares out with, but avoid big containers till they are older since ducklings don't have waterproof feathers and can get chilled easily or possibly drown.

If you start offering treats you'll also want to provide chick grit on the side as well, just in a small dish, they'll eat it as need be. For bedding avoid Cedar, Newspaper, Cardboard or paper towels. Cedar can be toxic in unventilated areas and the rest are slippery and may cause spraddled legs.


They can be taken out for little trips outside, just watch them and see if they start to shiver, huddle together or look lethargic. It depends on your climate, but a good guideline to go by is they can be let out permanently once they have all their adult feathers in.

Best of luck with your ducklings! Enjoy them while there still small.


Treats for ducks-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements.242460/

thanks. We let them outside for 5-10 minutes and we watch them. I live in the south and it’s already pretty hot here

 

[Isaac 0]

Have any pictures of the little guys?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just don’t ever leave them alone out side so many predators can snatch them up in a split second. Make sure your heat lamp is on one end of your brooder so they have a nice warm spot and a cooler spot to get away if they want. And keep a thermometer to keep track on temps at 6 days 80-85 is a good temp and 5 degree less each week there after. They can play in nice warm water start up to tops of their legs and after finished pat dry and right back under heat

 

[wtusa1718]

Just don’t ever leave them alone out side so many predators can snatch them up in a split second. Make sure your heat lamp is on one end of your brooder so they have a nice warm spot and a cooler spot to get away if they want. And keep a thermometer to keep track on temps at 6 days 80-85 is a good temp and 5 degree less each week there after. They can play in nice warm water start up to tops of their legs and after finished pat dry and right back under heat

Ok. Thanks

 

[wtusa1718]

Actually I think I have Rouen ducks?

 

[DuckyDonna]

Actually I think I have Rouen ducks?View attachment 2086362

I think you may be right!

 

[wtusa1718]

I think you may be right!

So what’s the difference? They both look similar as ducklings and it’s my first time having ducks. I just googled so I though they were Muscovys