Newbie Duck Question?

[Sachasmom]

So, I was at the auction.... You guys know how this goes, right?

Auctions, bad bad place for bargain shoppers!

I picked up a pair of ducklings, they're yellow, so I am guessing Pekin? I wish people would label stuff better than just 'Duck" They're what I would consider started, just starting to feather out.

I got them to either resell or eat, although they are impressing me with ducky cuteness, so probably no eating going to be going on!

Can I put them in a pen with something to swim in? They're still slightly downy, so I thought probably not yet? I wasn't sure how smart ducks were, if I put them in a pen, will they come in out of the rain?

Can you medicate ducks? I was going to run some Sulmet thru the chickens water I picked up there too (a frizzled Silkie Roo)

 

[hendrix25]

First of all Congrats on your new little ones! I wasn't surprised when you stated that with all their cuteness you have decided not to eat them.

You can put them in a pen but I wouldn't put something for them to swim in, just yet. You can let them have supervised swimming times. You have to be there to get them out and dry them off if they are still in down. Plus the water needs to be shallow enough for them to stand up. Too deep and they can sink! Usually the mom duck's oil rubs off on her young, so thats why you have seen baby ducks in the wild swimming in lakes. Without the oil from their mom, they won't float.

As far as them coming in out of the rain? HAHA....my ducks LOVE the rain, so they won't go inside their house unless I make them. Ducks love water! I usually let them play in it as long as it isn't lighting.

Ducks are NOT suppose to be medicated. Non-medicated starter/grower feed is what you should be using.

Best of luck, congrats on falling in love, and welcome to the duck society!

 

[jbowyer01]

Just giving you a bump. I unfortunately dont own any of those adorable little creature. Good luck!

 

[Sachasmom]

Thanks! So, is it okay if they are wet? LOL They seem to constantly be out of water, I think they're playing in it! I worried if they were like the Guineas, who got wet, and got dead!

They sure do eat alot, so maybe the cuteness won't stay?

I figured that ducks were non mediacated, just wanted to be sure!

Right now they're in a small trap... I picked that up at an auction, only it doesn't work (hence the still loose rabbit in the yard) I could move them to another pen, only its kinda open (I stink at building) so anything in it gets wet if it rains. I wasn't sure if they could be wet for hours at a time right now? I could put a dog crate in there for them, but I figured they probably would stand out in the rain like the chickens do!

 

[FenDruadin]

Until they are fully feathered, I would keep them out of the rain. They will LOVE LOVE LOVE the rain, and probably get themselves soggy wet and end up with a chill. I have two 3 1/2 week olds, and they are put under a lean-to roof at night and if it looks like it might rain.

This is how much they love the rain (I wish I could have videotaped this):

My 19-month-old was playing in the hose this afternoon. The two ducklings approached him, but were intimidated a bit by the splashing of the water. Finally, one plucks up the nerve to dig in the water near where the hose was pouring. Toddler lifts hose and sprays duckling. Duckling jumps back... then runs forward for more! Toddler laughs loud and long, that sweet, sweet toddler laugh. Falls over on his side with laughter. Sits up: They do it again... and again... and again. The other duckling joined in and it was romping fun--the hose swishing up and down, the ducklings running in and out of the stream of water, water splashing off them and running in rivulets down their half-feathered, half-oiled feathers. Baby laughter filling the air. Cuteness to capture the hearts of UTube inhabitants everywhere, if only my camcorder weren't under the weather.

Anyway. They love the rain. But they won't be waterproof until they have their first full set of feathers, and until then it can be damaging.

Another option would be to provide them a heat source in a sheltered--but not indoor--area, so they could get dry after playing in the rain. But if it's indoors, they almost certainly won't use it. Who wants to be indoors when they could be outdoors? Not ducks.

Have fun with them.