new ducks

[ajplmama]

I just got these seven little muscovy ducklings yesterday. I've never owned ducks and I have no idea what to do to look after them. They are pretty easy going so far and happy to eat and drink. They are not terrified of me but they don't exactly run up to visit when I come in the barn either.

Right now I have them bedded down on hay, drinking from a chick waterer and with a choice of goat feed and chick grower to eat.

What should I buy themf or food and what else do I need to know/do?

 

[b.hromada]

Sweet little ones! When my ducks were small, I'd feed them start and grow. Now one is a female, she lays an egg every day, and I feed her layer food, also the drake. I read on this forum that its okay. He likes it. I also feed them greens, like spinach, collards, etc. They love 'em. Good luck with the cuties. I've heard muscovies are a calm breed too. Oh, by the way, they love fruit too!!

 

[ajplmama]

Thanks, I noticed this morning that they will pick up a pellet of chick grower and spit it out and try another. I can't tell if they find the pieces too big or if they just like to waste food!

 

[Soccer Mom]

Try starting them with a granulated feed. The pellets can be too difficult for little babies. Also, make sure the water is close by. Waterfowl need water to eat. I use a 20% chick starter by Dumor. I get it at TSC. Mine eat it up with no problem.

 

[ajplmama]

Thanks, I just picked up some chick starter that's much more crumbly than the pellets I had so I'm hoping they like it. They defintiely love their water. All I'm using its a chick waterer. Should I offer them more open water?

Ugh, I'm at work and my husband just called to say our son had the ducks swimming in a bucket of water. He's now drying them off and grouchy because my husband made him stop.

 

[Goat_Walker]

AWWW! I love your set up as well! Wish I had a barn *pouts* We do have one... but its more of a storage barn filled with my dads junk

 

[Soccer Mom]

I wouldn't give them open water because they will climb in and soak themselves--not to mention make the water unspeakably nasty.



I start taking my babies swimming at a few days old. I limit them to about 10 minutes of swimming as a start and gradually increase it. Don't leave them unsupervised swimming at that age because they can drown. Just dry them thouroughly and they will be happy as can be.

 

[Ducks-R-Us]

aww! they're so cute!

 

[ajplmama]

They already have the chick waterer totally nasty. I was told ducks were messy little things and I guess it's true!

Goat-walker, the "barn" is pretty small but it's dedicated to animals only which is nice. DH has a big garage for his stuff and I have a small barn for mine

I hope someday to build something bigger but for now this is perfect for the few animals we have.