Just got 2 ducklings. Any advice?

[Isaac 0]

Muscovies have only half of a stripe across the eye, Rouen's have two stripes, Mallards have one.

You have two Rouens!

 

[Angileen]

They look like Rouen, I had some when I was a child. They make nice pets and get pretty big. The males are beautiful in the breeding season. Ducks that are hatched in an incubator do not have the protective oils in their down as the ducks that are hatched naturally under their mother. So if you provide water for them to swim watch them carefully and make sure they don't get water logged and drown or get chilled. I wouldn't let them swim in water until they are feathered out unless you are watching them. Ducks also make a mess with their water so plan on putting their pool some where you don't mind getting muddy or a place with good drainage. They are also easy targets for predator's because they are slow and cannot fly well so have a safe place made for them.

 

[wtusa1718]

They look like Rouen, I had some when I was a child. They make nice pets and get pretty big. The males are beautiful in the breeding season. Ducks that are hatched in an incubator do not have the protective oils in their down as the ducks that are hatched naturally under their mother. So if you provide water for them to swim watch them carefully and make sure they don't get water logged and drown or get chilled. I wouldn't let them swim in water until they are feathered out unless you are watching them. Ducks also make a mess with their water so plan on putting their pool some where you don't mind getting muddy or a place with good drainage. They are also easy targets for predator's because they are slow and cannot fly well so have a safe place made for them.

Ok thanks. Is it normal for them to be Peking at everything?

 

[Angileen]

Ok thanks. Is it normal for them to be Peking at everything?

Yes all baby chicks and ducks peck at everything. If you use wood shaving bedding for them make sure you buy the stuff with large shavings not fine shavings or they will eat the shavings and possibly die. Also do not use cedar shavings they can irritate the respatory system.

 

[Angileen]

Also want to say ducks are relatively healthy animals with few problems so you shouldn't have to worry too much about illnesses like you have to with chickens. They are also very winter hardy. I live in northern Minnesota, it can get to 40 below zero here in the winter. My ducks did fine with out any heat source (as adults, ducklings need the heat source until feathered) my ducks would actually choose to sleep outside in the winter rather than in the coop. They will wonder from home if left unpenned. Especially if it rained a lot they would go from one puddle to the next until they were so far from home I would have to go search for them. If you live by a river I recommend you keep them penned or you will loose them. Mine would go to the river and end up miles from home and I would never get them back.

 

[wtusa1718]

Also want to say ducks are relatively healthy animals with few problems so you shouldn't have to worry too much about illnesses like you have to with chickens. They are also very winter hardy. I live in northern Minnesota, it can get to 40 below zero here in the winter. My ducks did fine with out any heat source (as adults, ducklings need the heat source until feathered) my ducks would actually choose to sleep outside in the winter rather than in the coop. They will wonder from home if left unpenned. Especially if it rained a lot they would go from one puddle to the next until they were so far from home I would have to go search for them. If you live by a river I recommend you keep them penned or you will loose them. Mine would go to the river and end up miles from home and I would never get them back.

Ok thanks. I live in a city with a big backyard. I’ll make sure to make a secured shelter for them.

 

[wtusa1718]

Yes all baby chicks and ducks peck at everything. If you use wood shaving bedding for them make sure you buy the stuff with large shavings not fine shavings or they will eat the shavings and possibly die. Also do not use cedar shavings they can irritate the respatory system.

It is the big wood shavings from tractor supply

 

[happy duck]

Welcome so glad you found us! I am really happy about your new ducks! You are going to find tons of advise on here! I think we would all love to see more pics!

 

[Angileen]

It is the big wood shavings from tractor supply

Yes, you can also use straw

 

[Angileen]

When you build a pen I would use hardware cloth fencing. chicken wire is too weak. Or you could use a heavy duty welded wire fencing and attach a shorter fencing with smaller openings along the bottom of the welded wire fencing with cable ties so the ducks can't fit their heads through the openings of the welded wire fence. If you are in a city make sure no dogs can dig under. I have a six foot tall welded wire fence with 3 foot tall chicken wire cable tied to the bottom so my chickens can't stick their heads through. Plus I have a flight net across the top so flying predators can't fly in. I used Red Brand Welded Wire, 72 in. x 100 ft. from Tractor Supply. the hundred foot roll is 149.00 It took two roles for my fence. You could build a wood frame and then use fencing staples to attach the fence and then also use the fence for the top. Or use 7 foot t-posts and hook the fence up that way but if you put flight netting on top you need to brace your poles so they don't bend when you stretch the flight netting over the top. I also ran barbless barb wire from post to post so I had something to attach the flight netting to. If you go this route I would build a long narrow fence about 8 feet wide that way you would not have to have center beams to hold the middle of the flight netting up. We also have a door we made using wood and the same fencing material so we can easily walk into the pen.