New ducklings ???'s on feeding and do they look healthy pics included.

[newchickmom09]

Hello, I asked a question earlier about getting some ducklings that a friend wanted us to take care of for a while. Well today she came a dropped off the ducks. I was wondering if anyone could answer some questions for me?
1. How old do they look? One is double the size of the other.
2. Are they old enough to be outside? 80 degrees at night around 100 during the day.
3. Do they need duck food, the people gave me chicken food to feed them?
*4. The bigger one keeps spitting up white foam, what and why is this? Is he ok?
5. Do they look healthy to you guys?
6. What breeds are they?

I think that is all I can think of right now but here are the pics. They are really cute!

 

[hikerchick]

They look old enough to be outside. My ducks eat chicken feed.

I don't know the answers to your other questions.

 

[bantamsrus]

They look like black sweedish.

Warm enough where you're at that they don't need a heat lamp.

As far as size difference you can only hope that they are different ages and there's nothing wrong with the little one. Hard to tell from the pictures--does it seem to be in good body condition? (can't feel ribs real easily or the keel bone, bird should feel "meaty"). Once they're settled in are they eating/drinking okay? If so--then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[bubbazmommy]

Just make sure the feed is NOT medicated.

 

[Duck Keeper]

The spitting up thing worries me.

 

[newchickmom09]

The spitting up thing has me worried too. As soon as we put them in our chicken hut we gave them food and water and they drank and ate just fine. This morning they are out and picking at the ground. The little on had his mouth covered in dirt. Is that ok for him? I think what the people gave our friend is chicken feed. It looks like the same thing that we give our chickens. I read not to give them chicken medicated food also, why? All I have on hand is chicken layer feed. Is that going to be ok or should we get them chick food? Would giving them regular plain yogart help with the spitting up like it helps chicks digestive?

The larger one seems like he is meaty but the little one is just so tiny and you feel his little breast bones. It could be just because he is a lot smaller.

They told us that when the little one gets out of water he just walks then falls over and curls up. We read to dry them off when they are little and put them under a heat lamp. Is that correct? Is something wrong with this little guy or is he just getting cold?

My husband put a little kiddy pool (6" x 36")in the run for them with about 3 inches of water in it. He put some flagstone in it so they could climb out. Is that ok or should we take it out so they can't get in it when no one is watching. This morning we were thinking of taking it out and letting the ducks play in the water when we could watch them only.

Thanks everyone that already posted.

 

[Wifezilla]

As long as the only medication in the feed is AMPRO, it is OK for ducks. Years back the medication in chicken feed would kill the ducks.

Yogurt (plain) is a good idea.

It would really help if we knew the ages on these guys. Are they hatchmates?

 

[newchickmom09]

I don't know there ages or if they are litter mates. My friend bought them as an impulse by for her three year old daughter to have. The people she got the ducks from gave her a groshery bag with feed poured in it. She didn't get any information from them about there age or anything.

Then after having them in the bathroom for 4 days and letting them swim in the swimming pool they called and asked if we could take care of them until they made something to keep them in.

I hope they are not litter mates because that little one is a LOT smaller.

When the little one walks he steps on he own feet, like he is pigeon toed. Is that normal when they are little or is there something wrond with the way his legs are turned?

 

[nettie]

ducklings spit up, don't worry... They'll drool or spit up feed when they are little. Esp if you pick them up, they puke on you.... MY ducklings did that when they were babies...

 

[rainplace]

my ducklings always have dirt in their mouth. i think it's just fine. just make sure they have water to wash it all out.