Nonstop chirping

[LucyDuck]

Hi,

We're hatching ducklings for first time. First 2 hatched yesterday and put them in their pen last night. They've got water and food (but not very interested in either) and an overhead heat plate.

They chirp nearly all the time. Literally nonstop. Even when we're not nearby/doing anything. I'm worried they're not happy as doesn't chirping imply something's wrong?

I've tried running an extra heater in case they're cold but still chirping a lot. Am I missing anything?

They're both running around, no obvious injuries or anything.

Thank you!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have almost 4 day old Runners and mine go through that loud peeping when I walk over to their brooder and talk to them they quiet down it’s almost like it makes them feel secure. You could try a stuffed animal in with them to snuggle with. Might help till the rest hatch. They should begin to eat and drink today but If not remember they can live off their yolk for 3 days if needed. Just keep food and water close by and mama duck shoes them where to find food so be sure to dip their little bills in the water and put a little feed sprinkled close to their water source. I wet my finger and put feed on the end and they ate it off. Precious little ones what breed?

 

[LucyDuck]

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I have almost 4 day old Runners and mine go through that loud peeping when I walk over to their brooder and talk to them they quiet down it’s almost like it makes them feel secure. You could try a stuffed animal in with them to snuggle with. Might help till the rest hatch. They should begin to eat and drink today but If not remember they can live off their yolk for 3 days if needed. Just keep food and water close by and mama duck shoes them where to find food so be sure to dip their little bills in the water and put a little feed sprinkled close to their water source. I wet my finger and put feed on the end and they ate it off. Precious little ones what breed?

Thank you. They have settled down a bit with the room being quiet and the external heater on as well as hot plate. Will go get a cuddly animal from my daughter


If they haven't fed by tonight I'll try offering some. At the moment they're just cuddled up together the hot plate so can't really get to them without disturbing them.

 

[chickens really]

Hang a mirror and use pine shavings as bedding. Only heat part of the Brooder and show them where the feed and water is..

 

[casportpony]

Is there brooder plate high enough? I have found that my brooder plate works best when I set one end higher than the other and place their food and water close to it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's what I am doing in mines brooder at night, during the day they have a long big brooder to exercise in but at night I keep food and water close to the heat plate.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please excuse the mess this was all clean two hrs ago. They have the run of the brooder during the day for night I close off part so they have food water and heat plate all close by.

I waited two days before opening the entire brooder for them I wanted to make sure they could find food and water. They love running back an forth now.

 

[casportpony]

You might want to remove the plate cover because ducklings love sitting on the top.

 

[Texag87]

Please excuse the mess this was all clean two hrs ago. They have the run of the brooder during the day for night I close off part so they have food water and heat plate all close by. View attachment 1755686 I waited two days before opening the entire brooder for them I wanted to make sure they could find food and water. They love running back an forth now.

Not much of a mess to me. We are at cleaning twice a day and that is still not enough.i don’t know how we did it 9 last fall.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yesterday I did 4 times but ya know puppy pee pads don’t grow in trees. I will add shavings once they are two weeks old.