New to Ducks.....

[HelplessHomeSteader]

No matter what you do they will make a mess of there water. It's s personal goal of there's, duck poo smells God awful so have a plan on where your going to put your waste. Ducks dont need much water to survive but if they can't swim, bath, groom daily they will stink even worse. Best thing I did was separate there food and water to outside run. Ventilation is your friend. I just added on to the 2x4' brooder I have in shed buy punching a hole in a wall and giving ducklings a 4x8 outside run.

 

[Tacswa3]

So how old should they be to step foot outside and when can they start swimming and playing in water??

 

[Miss Lydia]

If it’s toasty warm by you take them out for little field trips with you close by they will love it and they can have bath time in tub with warm water just start with water up to tops of their legs make sure to get them out before water cools down pat dry and place back into warm brooder

 

[chickens really]

Momma Ducks take the Ducklings out as soon as they leave the nest. They swim and forage. Use your judgement on all things. They will be fine..

 

[casportpony]

I never post pictures in any gallery?

You really should!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-create-an-album-in-the-gallery.1242058/

 

[chickens really]

You really should!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-create-an-album-in-the-gallery.1242058/

Why..What's the draw?

 

[casportpony]

I'm feeding them Purinas Flock Raiser? How much Niacin, can you give to much?

Perfect feed for them! It should have enough niacin it it.

So no medicated feed to prevent Cocci?

Coccidiosis is not usually a problem for ducklings.

Why..What's the draw?

It's a nice way to showcase pictures without having to scroll through pages of text to see them. This person takes beautiful pictures!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/users/r2elk.189245/albums

 

[casportpony]

Everything I have read and from what people on here have stated--no medicated feed for ducks.

This is mainly due to different stuff that can be in these feeds. Some is not good for ducks, some is ok. It seems that people just sided with better safe then sorry and not worry about what is bad and what isn't. Now if you find a feed that is medicated and look up what is in it and it's safe--then by all means it's fine. Most people are not going to do that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...dicated-feed-the-myths-and-the-truth.1247838/

 

[casportpony]

PICS.....

 

[casportpony]

So how old should they be to step foot outside and when can they start swimming and playing in water??

This is what Metzer Farms says:
"Ducklings and goslings can be introduced to swimming water as early as one week of age but you must be very careful. They must be able to walk in and out of the water very easily. The water should not be too cold and they must be able to find their heat lamp for rewarming without difficulty. As they have no oil on their feathers at this age, they cannot be in the water for long periods or they will become waterlogged and chilled. Do not allow this to happen! But this exposure to water speeds the development of their oil gland and they can probably be swimming freely by five or six weeks of age."
http://www.metzerfarms.com/RearingInstructions.cfm