New poultry family.

[Heef120]

So we have recently started our poultry family about a week ago. We have a nice brooder set up in the upstairs of our home. We have some pretty happy and healthy birds. 24 chicks 4 ducklings and 2 turkeys. Just open to learn more about them and hacks to keep healthy and happy birds. We are in the process of building our new coop too, so helpful advice on that would be appreciated as well. I've read quite a bit on them, but still would like advice. Not sure when to let my ducklings start swimming? When am I able to give them treats (besides the chick feed). Things I can do to keep them entertained? Anything would help.

 

[Housefullofhens]

We started letting our mallards in the bathtub when they were a few days old...very little amount of water though. They loved it! Now those mallards just hatched their very first clutch of eggs & we have ducklings all over again!

 

[Heef120]

We got our 2 rouen ducklings a week ago and our 2 pekin ducklings today. I'm just scared they will drowned themselves. How do I properly dry them off? What tempature should the water be? How long do I let the swim?

 

[Housefullofhens]

We kept the water temp like you would for bath water. We tested with our wrist like you do for a human baby. Just a few inches of water at first. We would just towel them off a little bit & put them back in their brooder under the heat lamp. As they got a little bigger, we would add a little more water.

 

[Housefullofhens]

As long as you are watching they will be fine. We started with just a few minutes at first...for us more than them until we felt more confident. They would have stayed in there for ever if we would let them.

 

[Heef120]

I might let them swim tomorrow. Thank you for the advice, I just dont want the babies to get sick or do something wrong & harm them.

 

[Heef120]

The 2 bigger Rouens got to play today ❤

 

[Nin8705]

I too will be following this as I have 4 baby ducks, 2 baby turkeys and 27 baby chickens. I keep my babies in my garage and have been hesitant to let my ducks swim because of this lovely Michigan weather. I just can’t wait to get them in the water

 

[Shadrach]

Hello Heef120.
Welcome to BYC.
24 chicks is an ambitious start.

 

[Heef120]

Thank you! And yes! I'm so excited to watch them all grow.