Just hatched Muscovy ducklings HELP!!

[12littlechicks]

Ok so I just got 10 baby ducklings a guy had them free to a good home and he was about 20 minutes away and they are only 4 hours old they are all alert and look healthy I've raised a couple Pekins and mallards but not this young so can someone plz help me what I need to do for newly hatched they were hatched by there momma and the guy didnt want to keep all 14 so he let the momma keep 4 I went at first just to get three but couldn't help it I got all 10 so plz help!!

 

[Amiga]

Maybe this will help.

They need to be warm, about 90˚F the first week, then 5 degrees cooler per week - you watch their behavior and adjust.

They need a safe water supply 24/7, with food.

Here are some water management links

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13

Congratulations!

 

[12littlechicks]

Ok what about good when will they start eating because i know chicks won't eat for about two days after hatched i have some purinia flock raiser that I feed my other ducks that are young and have feed them since they first came to me as 3 week olds will that feed be ok it's crumbles

 

[Amiga]

I think that should be fine - watch out for any evidence of niacin deficiency (some ducklings get it, some don't) and supplement with brewer's yeast in their food or plain niacin in their water (100 to 150 mg per gallon).

Symptoms are leg problems, falling on their backs unable to get up, nervous system problems like seizures.

 

[Going Quackers]

A flock raiser is likely fine, what does the tag say? i feed my current ones a duck starter but there are multiple ways of doing this. If you've raised anything from chick before it's pretty similar only thing being water management.

Make sure all know where the water is that is the most important! dip their beaks, each and every single one... good luck! all my scovie babies are with their mamas this years.. are you familiar with the breed??

 

[12littlechicks]

No I've had Pekins and mallards but not this breed, and they all found the water by their selves I've watched all if them drink water

 

[EeyoreD]

Maybe this will help.

They need to be warm, about 90˚F the first week, then 5 degrees cooler per week - you watch their behavior and adjust.

They need a safe water supply 24/7, with food.

Amiga likely knows more than me but I did want to say (and you probably know this even from brooding older ducks) you want an area that's warm but you want to make sure that you offset your heat source so they can have a cool area too. I find that scovies, while migrating to the warm area, spend a lot more time in the cooler area of the brooder. If possible, offer them both options.

I've never had a problem with niacin but it's something that I look for every time (I feed chick starter/grower to my indoor brooded ducklings). They will find the water and feed as long as your dish is low enough for them to access both.

If you've never seen ducks this young - they're going to be floppy. Really floppy. They're tired from hatching and still working out how their bodies work. If they're still really floppy by late day three/four, post here again.

 

[Amiga]

Sigh

The link to the Raising Ducklings did not get pasted. Drat

Have you seen that sticky?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711