New to Ducks, and would love some help.

[KKSM90]

Alright so on the 30th My fiance got me two little ducklings. We got them along with six little chicks, and are raising them together. So far I'm thinking of separating the ducklings because the chicks have been picking at them. My fiance has been raising chicks for years now, but never ducklings. So we both are just going with common since.
As for the breed we don't know yet, how old maybe a week and a half, and they have imprinted as siblings. They have had non-medicated feed and water high enough to clean their faces. In most cases they are with me in my lap, and cuddling with each other looking up at me.

I would like to know what breed they are, I got them from TSC?
I would like to know when a good time would be to introduced to water(swimming)?
At what point should I let them out in the chicken run?
Is there anything I'm not asking that I should know?
Any and All help is welcomed.

Picture of Ducky and Pietree:

 

[countrygirl74]

Alright so on the 30th My fiance got me two little ducklings. We got them along with six little chicks, and are raising them together. So far I'm thinking of separating the ducklings because the chicks have been picking at them. My fiance has been raising chicks for years now, but never ducklings. So we both are just going with common since.
As for the breed we don't know yet, how old maybe a week and a half, and they have imprinted as siblings. They have had non-medicated feed and water high enough to clean their faces. In most cases they are with me in my lap, and cuddling with each other looking up at me.

I would like to know what breed they are, I got them from TSC?
I would like to know when a good time would be to introduced to water(swimming)?
At what point should I let them out in the chicken run?
Is there anything I'm not asking that I should know?
Any and All help is welcomed.

Picture of Ducky and Pietree:

Congrats on the new babies!!

I will share what I do with ducklings and I am also including a thread that you can read through that might provide other information and insight for you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/745806/how-to-care-for-ducklings

I use a big rubbermaid container with a heat lamp for warmth and security. Make sure they can leave the heat if they want - they get hotter easier than chicks. If you start to see them panting a lot, raise or remove the heat.
I use paper towels for the first week just for easy cleaning, and so they don't eat things like pine shavings, straw, etc. Then I switch to a "animal bedding" that is basically pine crumbles. Never use cedar - toxic!
Towels are good at first too if you don't mind all the washing.
You are already doing a great job by feeding them a non-medicated chick starter and water deep enough to dunk their heads! I always waited a few weeks before introducing any treats and when you do, make sure you also provide some grit.
One very important thing is to make sure you provide niacin. Ducklings need 3x's the niacin that chicks need and there's not enough in the feed. I get the niacin capsules that I can just pull apart and drop the powder into the water. It should be 100-125mg per gallon of water. It is recommended to provide niacin for 10-12 weeks. I did 12 and sometimes now that they are older, I still throw a capsule in on occasion, especially in the winter, when they don't have any access to bugs.
Note on niacin: Do not use niacin that is labeled "flush-free", "no-flush", or "time-release". I had to go to a health food store to find a bottle of regular niacin.
You can take them swimming anytime now, but the water should be somewhat warm, not cold. Swim time should be supervised and for short periods so as not to get chilled or drown. Until they get their feathers, all that fluffy down soaks up the water, weighing them down. After their fun swim time, dry them off as best you can and put them back under their heat lamp so they can warm up quickly. It is so fun to watch them dive and swim in circles under the water!
You can let them run around outside as long as it's fairly warm and you supervise them. Just make sure in the first few weeks that you don't allow them to get too cold by staying outside for too long.
As for raising them with your chicks, LOTS of people do. I didn't because they would pick on each other too much. It was also easier for me to keep the chickens dry and allow the ducks to get wet and messy by being separated. Now that mine are all older, they free-range together under supervision, but have separate pens and sleeping houses because I felt their needs were too different. I'm also not sure that the niacin water would be good for the chicks while the ducks really need it.
As for the breed, I'm not sure. The markings resemble our Rouens but their beaks seem a lot darker than a Rouen. Someone else might know exactly what they are...
Hope all this helps!!

 

[Amiga]

Ditto countrygirl74, and welcome to the Duck Forum!

They look like Rouen babies to me, but I am no breed expert.

 

[cymbaline]

It's hard to judge from the pics, but they look too small to be Rouen babies to me. I'm thinking they are Mallards (maybe 2-4 days old?), so keep in mind they will be able to fly when they get older. I think countrygirl74 covered everything else quite well.

 

[Amiga]

Okay, I need to look up the eye stripe thing.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/756726/mallard-or-rouen

And from the pic I have no clue on their size...

 

[wildpeas]

They look like rouens to me too.

Last year's rouens:




This year's rouens:

 

[KKSM90]

Well the two of them can fit in my hands together with room. I'd have to guess that they are 3 inches long.

 

[cosbackyard]

If two can fit in your hand I'll bet they're less than a week old. Enjoy them while they're small. They will be bigger than you can hold in one hand within two weeks. This is one of mine at three weeks old, and keep in mind my hand-print is eight inches long:

 

[rubberduckies]

I could be wrong but I've never heard of a TSC having Rouens. So... I'd say they are mallards.

Wildpeas, your Rouens have REALLY dark/defined eye stripes. That's interesting.

 

[DallasAndJesse]

They are mallard ducklings! I have two as well, Dallas and Jesse. I introduces them to water first day, but DO NOT LEAVE THEM UNATTENDED! Ducklings can and will drown if left in deep water they cannot easily get in an out of. I've had one pass that way. I feed mine cracked corn and occasional snacks of lettuce, tomatoes, or apples. All of these things will change the color of their poop, it's normal! And I would keep them away from the chicks because they will pick on eachother. Hope this helped!