New Duck Mama - FINALLY!

[Cherterr]

Okay.. I know chickens pretty good, and I've had a few ducks (long long ago) but... NOW I have just ordered my (always wanted) Runner Ducks; 2 F/1M.

I am planning on putting them in my very fancy brooder, built into my coop (pics on here somewhere! with shavings, a heat lamp, and... basically the same set up as chicks.. except I'll make sure they can dip their little heads in water.

What else, y'all???? THANK YOU!!

I kind of want to know WHEN they can be released to the yard (small area w/pond) - is it like chickens.. they're ready when they're feathered out, or different? (I usually read like crazy on EVERTHING I do..... but got a little 'crazy' this time) Now that they'll be here in two days, I'm freaking out a little.

 

[Amiga]

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

Only thing I would recommend differently than above (that I can think of right now) is keep food with water available 24/7 the first 8 weeks.

Do you have a watering station set up so they won't turn their bedding into a swampy mess within minutes?

 

[Cherterr]

Yeah I read that sticky, but only saw the one pic of the waterer. Wonder if anyone's got more 'samples' to look at?

 

[Miss Lydia]

when cutting hole you want to make sure they cannot climb inside, just make the hole big enough that they can stick their heads in and as they grow you'll have to cut the hole larger. Amiga showed a pic of a duckling that managed to climb inside of a bottle.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Miss Lydia]

found it..

 

[Cherterr]

Oh Dear!!! That poor little guy!

Thanks so much for the pics.. NOW I get it.