New to ducks.

[Stephnrobby]

I just got 2 yellow baby ducks they're about 2 weeks old. I know very little about ducks , they're currently with my chickens in brooder box until they get bigger. Looking for any advice on raising them. One is already attached to me, it nibbles on me while I hold it. ANY ADVICE WELCOME
My photo is from when I bought them.

 

[Isaac 0]

Looks like you have two Pekin/white layers. Raising them with chicks is not really recommend, due to the fact that ducks like to make their brooder a sloppy wet mess which is an unideal environment for chick,s. If you can I would separate the ducklings into their own brooder. Provide a heat lamp or heating pad, water deep enough they can clean their nostrils out with and of course provide either chick starter or duck starter, If you choose chick starter you will need to add supplemental niacin such as Poultry vitamin, Brewers yeast or vitamin b complex to prevent leg problems, Pekins especially need niacin due to the fact that they are fast growers.

 

[Stephnrobby]

Y

Looks like you have two Pekin/white layers. Raising them with chicks is not really recommend, due to the fact that ducks like to make their brooder a sloppy wet mess which is an unideal environment for chick,s. If you can I would separate the ducklings into their own brooder. Provide a heat lamp or heating pad, water deep enough they can clean their nostrils out with and of course provide either chick starter or duck starter, If you choose chick starter you will need to add supplemental niacin such as Poultry vitamin, Brewers yeast or vitamin b complex to prevent leg problems, Pekins especially need niacin due to the fact that they are fast growers.

Yes they have made damp mess. It's almost time for my chicks to move outside anyway but I'll see what I can do for now. I figured they'd be Pekin ducks. I read about the niacin...is there any recommended product or should I just buy brewers yeast?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Best is Nutritional Yeast. Not bakers yeast. 1 Tablespoon over each cup of feed to give them. Or Liquid B complex 1 ml per duckling over feed or treat. At their age I go with NY first and then if one gets shaky legs or trouble walking I start them on the liquid B complex asap. Liquid B complex can be found at TSC the NY can be found at most health food stores on line or at the grocery store.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Grocery store will carry Braggs Nutritional yeast small bottle. Since they need this for 10-12 weeks of their beginning lives buy larger would be best. Plus mine get it after 10 weeks once a week.

 

[Stephnrobby]

Best is Nutritional Yeast. Not bakers yeast. 1 Tablespoon over each cup of feed to give them. Or Liquid B complex 1 ml per duckling over feed or treat. At their age I go with NY first and then if one gets shaky legs or trouble walking I start them on the liquid B complex asap. Liquid B complex can be found at TSC the NY can be found at most health food stores on line or at the grocery store. View attachment 2056696
View attachment 2056697

This is all I could find.....it's Red Star Nutritional Yeast Flakes. Should I just mix with their food or water?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Red star NY is fine you just want to never by baking yeast. Put it on their feed 1 tab to each cup of feed I sprinkle on top

 

[Stephnrobby]

Red star NY is fine you just want to never by baking yeast. Put it on their feed 1 tab to each cup of feed I sprinkle on top

Thanks

 

[ellieanne22]

Best is Nutritional Yeast. Not bakers yeast. 1 Tablespoon over each cup of feed to give them. Or Liquid B complex 1 ml per duckling over feed or treat. At their age I go with NY first and then if one gets shaky legs or trouble walking I start them on the liquid B complex asap. Liquid B complex can be found at TSC the NY can be found at most health food stores on line or at the grocery store. View attachment 2056696
View attachment 2056697

This may be a silly question, but I am also new to ducks. How can you tell if their legs are starting to get shaky? And can I assume that all duck breeds need extra niacin if using chicken feed, not just the Pekins?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

This may be a silly question, but I am also new to ducks. How can you tell if their legs are starting to get shaky? And can I assume that all duck breeds need extra niacin if using chicken feed, not just the Pekins?

it’s not always needed. pekins are bred in a way that they grow so fast that it’s hard on their legs.