Last Minute Duckling Prep

[CoriM]

One other piece of advice I would give is to make sure you're getting duckling-specific food so they get enough niacin, or you will need to supplement that for their developing legs. If you have pekins they will need even more niacin and keeping some liquid vitamin B complex on hand is a good idea for that.

 

[ruthhope]

I let Daffy my most recent duckling raised from a few days old [he's a rescue] swim in luke-warm water in a washing up bowl for a few minutes each day at 3 weeks old. He did not like it and jumped out very quickly, He loved being dried off in a towel though. My son's many ducklings have all swum supervised, in a plastic tub from 3 weeks old, and loved it. Mine is the aberration!! He's grown up into one stinky duck who only goes in the wading pool even on hot days about once a week. All my drakes are like that. Daffy is actually cleaner than others. I have to resort to hosing them down to get them to go and finish off in the wading pool

 

[Albert the Saxony]

I don't think you need to use a blow dryer for ducklings - that's loud and scary and might burn them. Just gently blot them with a towel and return them to their warm brooder, or hold them in a towel until they're completely dry and warm again - it doesn't take long. I always just put mine back in their brooder as they like to preen and I keep it warm for them.

Good points and your probably right about the blow dryer. I guess I can be a bit too worried about them still being wet.

 

[Aunt Angus]

1. Food and water should be available 24/7

2. I used a mama heating pad, so I didn't measure temp.

3. Grit should be separate, but it's only needed if they eat food other than crumbles.

4. Yes, but most folks wait a few weeks.

5. My 4 went wading the day after I got them in warm, shallow water for just a few minutes. I used a blow dryer on warm. They loved it! They have not gone a single day without a swim since. Some people prefer to wait, though. And I think it'd be fine to dry them off with a towel instead of using a dryer.

 

[the_kitchen__drawer]

I don't think you need to use a blow dryer for ducklings - that's loud and scary and might burn them. Just gently blot them with a towel and return them to their warm brooder, or hold them in a towel until they're completely dry and warm again - it doesn't take long. I always just put mine back in their brooder as they like to preen and I keep it warm for them.

That’s why it’s a very last resort. To me it’s not so bad, but I am hard of hearing

 

[the_kitchen__drawer]

1. Food and water should be available 24/7

2. I used a mama heating pad, so I didn't measure temp.

3. Grit should be separate, but it's only needed if they eat food other than crumbles.

4. Yes, but most folks wait a few weeks.

5. My 4 went wading the day after I got them in warm, shallow water for just a few minutes. I used a blow dryer on warm. They loved it! They have not gone a single day without a swim since. Some people prefer to wait, though. And I think it'd be fine to dry them off with a towel instead of using a dryer.
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Thank you!

 

[DukesDucks]

My mistake. I was thinking about my adult ducks. Ducklings should have food and water 24/7. With your heat lamp set up, I would suggest having an area big enough so that the ducklings can choose to move under or away from the source of heat.

 

[Saigey]

I have learned I trust this site *much* more than the others, so I would like your advice, since all of my research has been incredibly conflicting.

1)
How much do I feed ducklings? should feed be measured out? simply filled up and left out?

2)
How much heat should they start at, and is dropping a degree a day actually okay? I’m using a red light heat lamp. If it is, should you wait two weeks or not?

3)
Grit is placed in a separate bowl, correct?

4)
If given grit, can ducklings eat non crumble Foods?

5)
ducklings without a mom to oil them aren’t water proof. Is giving them shallow, short supervised swims (more like splash sessions!) alright? And if so, at what age? of course, drying them Well off afterwards,

and.. I think that’s all of my concerns at the moment?i have all of their supplies gathered but these gery specific things just cannot be agreed on thank you all so much for your continued patience.

I have bantams, and I've always used an old coffee grinder to grind up their food into a powder, then mixed in nutritional yeast and oats (also ground up) and haven't given them grit until they're fully feathered or 5-6 weeks ish. I'm way overprotective, but I wait until they're 5-6 weeks before I offer them any treats besides ground oats because the bantam beaks and nares are so tiny!

 

[Saigey]

Thank you!

I also have used a heat bulb and dome from the pet store (the ones at Tractor Supply are HUGE) and fixed it to the wall close to the brooder. A long as they can get away from the heat if it's too warm, you don't have to worry too much about the exact temp. I watch them to see if it's too hot or cold (I read that somewhere on this site, lol). If they're all huddled together and shivering, the warmth needs to be a little closer or more powerful, and if they're panting, it needs to be moved farther away.

 

[Saigey]

Your welcome! Mine has three settings and a mixer to cool the air coming out, I just halfway use the mixer on the lowest setting. I feel that if I go to a higher setting it’s too much air at once. If you want keep us posted on the Duck Addicts Anonymous (DAA) thread.

Mine also love the low hair dryer setting, but I always put my hand next to them to feel the heat, hold it fairly far away, and hit the cool button periodically. I just use it long enough to get the initial drenching off. If it's not warm enough in the bathroom I'll put them all together in a laundry basket lined with towels and let them preen and huddle in there, and lift out and towel dry any that are super soaked.