New to ducks

Goldfire7

Songster
6 Years
Jul 3, 2017
59
74
136
Hello everyone. My new mallard ducklings arrived this morning from Metzer Farms. Two day shipping from California to Ohio. Very active and from what i can tell they are in good health. I did have an incident where one was biting the others wings and hurting it when i first put them in the brooder but that has stopped. I'm guessing it was shipping stress? The quick chik water formula seemed to calm them.
Some questions.
I use pine flake bedding and notice they poop alot and knew they go often. How often should this bedding be changed out? I am also feeding organic Dumor starter feed 19%. They seem to love it.
I do have chick grit too but not sure when or how to offer that to them.
They are at 93 degrees under the heat bulb and i have a dimmer switch attached to go the 5 degree's lower each week.
I guess that's all. Just wanted to say hello and show off my babies.
One more thing. Are these food bowls appropriate for feeding?
 

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Congrats on your ducklings and welcome to BYC!

The best way to decide how often to change out the bedding is going to be based on odor and what you see. If more than about half of the bedding appears saturated, I'd change it out. If I remember correctly, we replaced the bedding every 2-3 days. Many people use those puppy pee pads under the bedding. Also, don't be alarmed when you see them nibbling the pine shavings. They're like toddlers. Everything goes in their mouth. It's only a problem if you actually see them swallow some bedding and I've never heard of that happening.

Does Dumor have Niacin in it? Ducklings require more Niacin than chicks so with most foods Niacin has to be added. We did this by using Nutritional Yeast flakes and adding 1 tablespoon to each cup of food.

Keep in mind that ducklings need water deep enough so they can dunk their entire head. This is how they clean out their eyes and nares (nostrils). I'd suggest something like what is pictured below. We used old milk jugs for food and water. Having them dip their heads into a container for food & water helps to reduce the mess.

Grit is most often kept in a separate food bowl. Ducklings don't need grit until they start eating food other than the normal Dumor stuff.

Best of luck & enjoy those babies!!


byc duck waterer.jpg
 
Thank you for the reply.
Yes the Dumor feed has a niacin supplement in the ingredients list. I made sure of it. Not sure how much but i can always get the yeast if needed.
Will they accidentally poop in their food bowl or do they know not to?
I will be adjusting things as needed for the best care. Ill take your milk jug advice for having them dip their heads.
I have a gravity waterer right now that let's them get up to their nostrils. I didn't know they needed to dip their whole head.
 
You bet! Always happy to share what I know, which isn't much. ;)

I've heard that Dumor is a good quality feed. Gosh, I can never remember exactly how much they need.

@Miss Lydia, I believe knows the required amount.

Oh, they'll pretty much poo everywhere. You'll likely be surprised at the variety of places you'll find their droppings.
 

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