If someone has a minute to answer a few questions, I would be so grateful. I will post some pictures tomorrow. feel free to post links to past threads. I tried to search but am on an iPad and it wasn't working that well for me. I realize this is long, so I bolded my actual questions.
We just got some Muscovy ducklings and I had it all planned out. I had hoped to buy some eggs to put under a broody hen but they are hard to find (especially since I was hoping for partially incubated since I know Muscovies take way longer than chicks). So I got day old ducklings and put them under a broody, but even at night she was pecking. I tried my other two current broodies but they were both nasty too. The first one eventually let them under her, and I left them, but when I checked on them later all but one were on the opposite side of the broody box from her, shivering. I brought them all inside and we will raise them inside now, but I'll admit that while I knew that may end up happening and prepared the gear (heat lamp, etc), I did not prepare as well as I could have knowledge wise.
First, imprinting. Our plan was for them to imprint to the mama hen and after a few days we would handle them as well with the hopes they would be friendly to us. Obviously not going to work. Should we try to imprint them to us, or leave them mostly to themselves for now? I was hoping the broody could do the things like integrating them with the chickens, showing them to return to the coop each night, etc. I have had to integrate chicks before, so unless it's very different for ducks I'm okay, but I do want these guys to eventually live with the chickens and return to the coop in the evenings. I was thinking of getting an older chick and putting it in with them in the hopes they would imprint, and then when I integrate them all maybe the older chick would be enough of an influence to get them back in the coop at night? I know you can't raise baby ducks and chicks together because of how messy ducks are, but would a two or three week old chick be okay? Or even a little older?
Alternatively, I'm seriously considering seeing if my Silkie rooster would take to them. My mama and babies in the past have slept with him until they've started roosting. I don't want to separate him from the flock for too long though, as he is already a bit of a pariah. He doesn't get picked on at all, just ignored. I have some Silkie eggs under one of my broodies, hoping for some hens to keep him company.
Right now I have them on an 18% Heritage chicken feed with no extra calcium. It seems from the reading I've done that that should be fine for them, but I should add some niacin in the form of Brewer's yeast. Do I sprinkle that on the feed or give it on the side to let them free choice?
Are ducks at risk of coccidiosis? Does putting grass/dirt in the brooder help like it does for chicks?
Lastly, how hot do ducklings need compared to chicks? Right now it's at 90 (with cooler spots they can move to) and I also put a warm bean bag in with them. They were up and eating and drinking and even trying to swim (though the dish isn't deep enough for that, though they can get their beaks in). So I think it's fine, but how soon can I start turning it down? One site implied they can be off heat completely by two weeks old inside the house. Is that accurate?
Thank you so much in advance for any info!
We just got some Muscovy ducklings and I had it all planned out. I had hoped to buy some eggs to put under a broody hen but they are hard to find (especially since I was hoping for partially incubated since I know Muscovies take way longer than chicks). So I got day old ducklings and put them under a broody, but even at night she was pecking. I tried my other two current broodies but they were both nasty too. The first one eventually let them under her, and I left them, but when I checked on them later all but one were on the opposite side of the broody box from her, shivering. I brought them all inside and we will raise them inside now, but I'll admit that while I knew that may end up happening and prepared the gear (heat lamp, etc), I did not prepare as well as I could have knowledge wise.
First, imprinting. Our plan was for them to imprint to the mama hen and after a few days we would handle them as well with the hopes they would be friendly to us. Obviously not going to work. Should we try to imprint them to us, or leave them mostly to themselves for now? I was hoping the broody could do the things like integrating them with the chickens, showing them to return to the coop each night, etc. I have had to integrate chicks before, so unless it's very different for ducks I'm okay, but I do want these guys to eventually live with the chickens and return to the coop in the evenings. I was thinking of getting an older chick and putting it in with them in the hopes they would imprint, and then when I integrate them all maybe the older chick would be enough of an influence to get them back in the coop at night? I know you can't raise baby ducks and chicks together because of how messy ducks are, but would a two or three week old chick be okay? Or even a little older?
Alternatively, I'm seriously considering seeing if my Silkie rooster would take to them. My mama and babies in the past have slept with him until they've started roosting. I don't want to separate him from the flock for too long though, as he is already a bit of a pariah. He doesn't get picked on at all, just ignored. I have some Silkie eggs under one of my broodies, hoping for some hens to keep him company.
Right now I have them on an 18% Heritage chicken feed with no extra calcium. It seems from the reading I've done that that should be fine for them, but I should add some niacin in the form of Brewer's yeast. Do I sprinkle that on the feed or give it on the side to let them free choice?
Are ducks at risk of coccidiosis? Does putting grass/dirt in the brooder help like it does for chicks?
Lastly, how hot do ducklings need compared to chicks? Right now it's at 90 (with cooler spots they can move to) and I also put a warm bean bag in with them. They were up and eating and drinking and even trying to swim (though the dish isn't deep enough for that, though they can get their beaks in). So I think it's fine, but how soon can I start turning it down? One site implied they can be off heat completely by two weeks old inside the house. Is that accurate?
Thank you so much in advance for any info!
