New Baby Duckling Help and Advise Please.......BABY PICS....

[xfilesnumber1fan]

Went to TSC and came home with 6 baby mallards I have ducks but never had any this tiny..They are 2 weeks and want any advise of the best care for them..Here some pis for there living is it ok..What does everyone think? Thanks

 

[xke4]

Looks good. The heat is directed at one end so they have the option of moving to the other end if too warm. The water isn't deep enough for them to get wet. The only thing I might suggest is covering over about 1/4 of the non-heat end just so there is somewhere to go to feel safe. I clothespin a receiving blanket over the end and it gives them a place to "hide".

 

[chickenlittle32]

Awww...I remember when mine were that tiny...seems like yesterday...(it has been 5 weeks) They grow oh so fast...Enjoy them!!! Everything in your set up looks pretty good. I allowed mine to swim when they were a day old for about 5 minutes a day. It helps the oil gland function correctly.

 

[jayk117]

i just hatched my first batch of mallards this week from my own mallard eggs and they are doing good. i have about the same setup as yours which is working pretty good so i think yours are gona be fine.

good luck

 

[barnwife]

Looks great! The only thing I would change is the bedding...I use pelleted b/c it gets fluffy when wet and still wicks the moisture away!
And it helps with that wonderfully "ducky" smell!

Have fun!!

The only thing you have to watch is as soon as they get their flight feathers, they will begin flying...so either pinioning or clipping flight feathers on one side are necessary for you to keep em...or constantly penned up.

Do NOT let them learn to fly, they will go the ways of the winds, and you might not get to see them except during migrations then!

Congrats on your babies!

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

We use the same set up with our mallards, except we use saw dust to soak up poo and water. We also have our water sitting in a glad ware square plastic dish it helps catch the water they splash.

 

[headred]

Mine started this way also. You might put the water up on a brick or something like that because they will get messy really fast! They can then reach the water but not get IN it! Enjoy, they grow up quick, just like kids, darn it!

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

Quote:
What kind of pellets? Would they be rolling around on them? I use pellets from Petsmart in the bottom of the rabbits cage...