New to Ducks?!
- Thread starter hollymh
- Start date
Wow, what a group of ducks
Ducks are messy(as you will learn soon enough)
Ducklings require less heat than chicks but ducklings that are cold lose their appetites
They have to be fed non-medicated feed
They need water deep enough to out its beak in,but not deep enough to put their whole head in(they can drown)
Ducks are messy(as you will learn soon enough)
Ducklings require less heat than chicks but ducklings that are cold lose their appetites
They have to be fed non-medicated feed
They need water deep enough to out its beak in,but not deep enough to put their whole head in(they can drown)
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Don't put newspaper on the bottom of thier brooder. Thier poop will make it slick and unhealthy to live on.
Watch them when they're swimming because baby fluff isn't water repelant; they will get soaked,cold, and will be in danger of sinking and drowning.
You can give them greens right from the get go.
TAKE TONS OF PICS THEY GROW UP FAST!!!!
Watch them when they're swimming because baby fluff isn't water repelant; they will get soaked,cold, and will be in danger of sinking and drowning.
You can give them greens right from the get go.
TAKE TONS OF PICS THEY GROW UP FAST!!!!
- Thread starter
- #6
Quote:
What type of greens, like lettuce, alfalfa sprouts things like that?
Can the play in my shower, I don't have tubs, just stand up showers and I wasn't sure if they could get thier heads wet?
I use paper towels for my chickens, will this be good for my ducks as well?
What type of greens, like lettuce, alfalfa sprouts things like that?
Can the play in my shower, I don't have tubs, just stand up showers and I wasn't sure if they could get thier heads wet?
I use paper towels for my chickens, will this be good for my ducks as well?
- Thread starter
- #7
You can let them swim in the sink, or get a tote or tub of some kind and fill it with water. Not full, but just enough that they can stand up, at least till they have their feathers.
Anything that is dark green is good for them. Iceberg lettuce has little to no nutritional value, so that should be avoided. You can use frozen peas and drop them in their water to make them dive for them, they love that! I don't know how prominent dandelions are where you live, but if they are as thick there as they are here you can feed the greens to the ducklings too.
Contrary to popular opinion, ducklings don't have to have deep water for drinking. There are many people on here that use water bottles for them (like you would have for a bunny), and they do just fine.
Non-medicated is best, but they can have medicated if the only meds is Aprolum (sp?) Ask Katy, she knows which meds they can safely have. If you can get non-med feed it would be better.
If you can't find waterfowl starter, you need to get the highest protein chick starter you can find. I use flock raiser, it has 20% protein. They will also need brewer's yeast if you don't have waterfowl feed.
Ducklings need about 90 degrees in the brooder for the first week, then lowered weekly by 5 degrees, supposedly. Mine are now 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 weeks old and haven't had any type of heat light for over a week. The little one hasn't had any heat since we have gotten it, and it's doing just fine. The less heat they can comfortably handle the better, as it will make them feather out better.
I can't think of anything else right now, but if you have any other questions, just let me know!
Anything that is dark green is good for them. Iceberg lettuce has little to no nutritional value, so that should be avoided. You can use frozen peas and drop them in their water to make them dive for them, they love that! I don't know how prominent dandelions are where you live, but if they are as thick there as they are here you can feed the greens to the ducklings too.
Contrary to popular opinion, ducklings don't have to have deep water for drinking. There are many people on here that use water bottles for them (like you would have for a bunny), and they do just fine.
Non-medicated is best, but they can have medicated if the only meds is Aprolum (sp?) Ask Katy, she knows which meds they can safely have. If you can get non-med feed it would be better.
If you can't find waterfowl starter, you need to get the highest protein chick starter you can find. I use flock raiser, it has 20% protein. They will also need brewer's yeast if you don't have waterfowl feed.
Ducklings need about 90 degrees in the brooder for the first week, then lowered weekly by 5 degrees, supposedly. Mine are now 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 weeks old and haven't had any type of heat light for over a week. The little one hasn't had any heat since we have gotten it, and it's doing just fine. The less heat they can comfortably handle the better, as it will make them feather out better.
I can't think of anything else right now, but if you have any other questions, just let me know!
Quote:
What type of greens, like lettuce, alfalfa sprouts things like that?
Can the play in my shower, I don't have tubs, just stand up showers and I wasn't sure if they could get thier heads wet?
I use paper towels for my chickens, will this be good for my ducks as well?
The sprouts, lettuce, etc are all fine.
I just meant to watch them at bath time because they do get water logged. We use one of those watering trays that you put under plants at first. Once they get too big for that they graduate to a deeper a pan and so on until they are feathered and ready for the kiddy pool.
I recommend hay/straw/grass clippings for the ground. They like to nibble at it and make an awful mess with thier water. You'd go threw paper towels like crazy. Also i think the grass keeps their smell kinda hidden.
What type of greens, like lettuce, alfalfa sprouts things like that?
Can the play in my shower, I don't have tubs, just stand up showers and I wasn't sure if they could get thier heads wet?
I use paper towels for my chickens, will this be good for my ducks as well?
The sprouts, lettuce, etc are all fine.
I just meant to watch them at bath time because they do get water logged. We use one of those watering trays that you put under plants at first. Once they get too big for that they graduate to a deeper a pan and so on until they are feathered and ready for the kiddy pool.
I recommend hay/straw/grass clippings for the ground. They like to nibble at it and make an awful mess with thier water. You'd go threw paper towels like crazy. Also i think the grass keeps their smell kinda hidden.
Quote:
Ducks do need to submerge their bills up to their nostrils. They need to be able to clean out the food, etc. from their nostrils.
Ducks do need to submerge their bills up to their nostrils. They need to be able to clean out the food, etc. from their nostrils.
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