New to Ducks.....

[chickens really]

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

That is actually for a precaution as we all know Momma Ducks can't read and successfully raise Ducklings ..This information although fine is not accurate either...

 

[casportpony]

That is actually for a precaution as we all know Momma Ducks can't read and successfully raise Ducklings ..This information although fine is not accurate either...

It's quite accurate, IMO.
Ducklings hatched under momma ducks are waterproof, incubator and brooder raised ducklings are *not* waterproof. My momma ducks take their ducklings in the water as soon as they are walking and they stay dry because they *are* waterproof, but if I put an incubator hatched one in the same water it would get waterlogged very quickly.

 

[happy duck]

I did not look at all the post so if I missed pics or something important tell me. By the way hi! Here is a link to a blog about feed and supplements! There are lots of other post on this blog so you might want to check them out too! Here is the link: https://thehappiestduck.wordpress.com/2018/05/09/feed-and-supplements-for-ducks/ You can also find this post in a article on here(BYC): https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/feed-and-supplements-for-ducks.74246/. Now don't think someone took a article on the web and turned it into a article here. The blog that it is on is mine and I just took it and put it on here as an article!

 

[Dandy's mom]

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

I usually do a paint tray liner with warm water from the get go. Just be sure to keep and eye on them. Make sure they don't get cold

 

[Tacswa3]

I usually do a paint tray liner with warm water from the get go. Just be sure to keep and eye on them. Make sure they don't get cold

I just did that today, They had a blast.

 

[Dandy's mom]

I just did that today, They had a blast.

Super cute right! I I LOVE watching baby ducks play.

 

[Tacswa3]

Super cute right! I I LOVE watching baby ducks play.

Absolutely. Like little torpedoes diving around in the water.