New to ducklings..

[kcflock]

Hello... We decided to get some ducklings... Ended up with straight run, hatchery choice day old ducklings (20 of them). I've currently got them in the chick brooder (one of those little coops meant for 6-7 full grown chickens with a top enclosed area and bottom open pen) and I have a heating pad "cave" set up for them. The hatchery told us to give them water for 15 minutes, then take it away and give it back after another 15 minutes and so forth for about an hour so they don't drink too much. I've also read that you should take any food away when they don't have water.. So we need to remove the food with the water for the first hour, correct? If we keep free choice feed with free choice water, will they over eat? I'm completely clueless and I've read a lot of mixed advice. Any tips would be lovely, thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Food and water need to be given at same time. They have to have water to be able to eat without choking

Congrats on your ducklings.

 

[AmazingRachel]

Never heard of that feeding schedule. I would go to the default option of putting out food and water 24/7.

 

[pamelajean]

I kept mine free choice feed and water 24/7 but they were 2 weeks old when I got them so maybe its different for wee ones... Oh, and duckling pictures are always welcome!

 

[kcflock]

Once I get some I will.. They are soooo cute, and I'm shocked how unafraid of people they are!

 

[lomine]

I've also never heard of that type of procedure. For those I raised indoors, I offered food and water for 24/7 until they were fours weeks old. Then I took the food away over night but left the water. They were in my tub by that point because they had completely outgrown the brooder and so the water "mess" no longer mattered. For those I have raised in the coop, I left the food and water 24/7 the whole time because I had more room and the mess didn't matter.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes this is when they first arrive so they don't make them sick by eating and drinking too much it isn't something they keep up.

 

[lomine]

I understood that it was only for the first hour, I've just not heard of it before now. But I can understand why someone would recommend it. My second set of ducks were hatched at my niece's daycare. They kept them for about a week but ran out of feed that morning and only had bananas. By the time I gave them feed they were very hungry and took very big mouthfuls. I was a bit worried at first but after a couple minutes they slowed down. Luckily no one choked.

 

[chickens really]

Do as advised the first hour and then feed and water 24/7 till at least 6 weeks..
Congrats on the Ducklings!