Odd Ducks Or Normal Behavior?

[Soon2BChixMom]

Maybe a pic of your whole set up would be helpful from distance so that we can see everything at once.

 

[HappyGoDuckie]

If they need it, just leave it on all of the time. What color or type are you using?

I've tried white and red, since I've read red works best and the lamp came with white. They don't seem to need it but I do keep it in the corner of the room just in case, pointing up to heat the room one or two degrees if their bodies feel chillier than what they usually feel like during their twice daily checkup examinations. Do you think it could be the lamp itself...? It IS a scary looking lamp, and they are sweet little scardy babies. Maybe I could disguise it to look like a tree? Would that help?

 

[HappyGoDuckie]

I'm afraid habitat photos won't be possible. They're indoor duckies so they kind of stole my entire room as their domain. Even with a panaromic shot it'd be hard to actually capture the whole thing. But I can describe it the best I can.

They're in an average sized room of the house, with these pet things that you lay down to make cleaning easier all over the floor so they don't risk any carpet problems. The area has a large window almost always opened for a corner of the room to be drenched in warm sunbeams (and for ventilation, with help of the house's own air ventilation cycle running to aid in fresh clean air), an 8 foot swimming pool at one end filled with pine chips for sleeping, a small kiddie pool also filled with pine chips where they have two gallon jugs of water cut and baby proofed changed several times a day just deep enough to dunk their full heads in to keep their membranes moist and clean nostrils out (I made the head hole big enough so they can all three drink at the same time without risk of getting stuck yet small enough they can't climb inside), three food bowls (feed, rolled oats, and a small treat bowl) just far enough from the water to not get wet. They also have several toys strewn about to their whim, a snuggle box with an old shirt of mine in it, a giant teddy bear they love to practice grooming on and snuggle, and my blankets that droop off my own bed near theirs as I have to sleep where they can see me or they freak out.

They've also got vitamins, electrolytes, probiotics, a first aid kit for ducks (which for some reason includes duck friendly bird wash), and plenty of running around space as they play in the kitchen while I cook or explore the bathroom and living room under close surveillance by me and protective guardian kitty Millicent.
Oh! And some oil and q-tips for their butts in case of paste butt. Currently keeping an eye on Quantum, my little bug hunter who snacks on anything small enough to fit through the mesh screen, as he seems to be growing much faster all of a sudden and I'm watching out for angel wing. He'll be happy today though because they're getting a banana treat today. Mushed banana because lil Quantum has diarrhea.

I feel like I'm forgetting something very important though... What am I missing...? Anyone know?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I've tried white and red, since I've read red works best and the lamp came with white. They don't seem to need it but I do keep it in the corner of the room just in case, pointing up to heat the room one or two degrees if their bodies feel chillier than what they usually feel like during their twice daily checkup examinations. Do you think it could be the lamp itself...? It IS a scary looking lamp, and they are sweet little scardy babies. Maybe I could disguise it to look like a tree? Would that help?

I wouldn't disguise it since it is a heat lamp due to fire hazards.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Where would the heat lamp be? Really they probably shouldn't have too many oats or treats at this age.

 

[Miss Lydia]

At least not with out chick grit.

 

[HappyGoDuckie]

It's about 5 feet away from their bed but still easily accessible to them. I should be getting new bulbs in today for it, said to have softer more natural light. Though my ducks seem to be overheating actually o.o Especially poor Trevor. Any advice on how to cool ducklings down?

Ah, oh no! Is it bad I've been giving them treats?? They get grit in their food every saturday to help digest it, but still... I worry about my babies. I've spent a month doing research but research is just reading, hence why I joined this site. To get advice from wonderful bird parents on how to better care for my babies.

Also, what's a good disinfectant that's safe to clean their play areas in? I've just been wiping them down with water so far. Is there a type of cleaner that's safe?

 

[lomine]

You may want to look into mama heating pads or electric hens. They are pads or plates that heat up and create a kind of cave. The ducklings go under to get warm. I switched to using these methods and I prefer them over heat lamps. They need an area they can go to get warm but they also need cool spots. Keeping your entire room/house at the same temperature means they have nowhere to go to get cool.

When your duckling gets scared of the dark, is it going from lights on the lights off? He may just be getting scared of the rapid change in his environment. In nature the light would dim gradually.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any time you feed them something other than their chick feed they need grit so go ahead and put down a small bowl of chick grit in their area so they can use it as needed. Don't put it in their food though they may eat too much that way.

 

[HappyGoDuckie]

You may want to look into mama heating pads or electric hens. They are pads or plates that heat up and create a kind of cave. The ducklings go under to get warm. I switched to using these methods and I prefer them over heat lamps. They need an area they can go to get warm but they also need cool spots. Keeping your entire room/house at the same temperature means they have nowhere to go to get cool.

When your duckling gets scared of the dark, is it going from lights on the lights off? He may just be getting scared of the rapid change in his environment. In nature the light would dim gradually.

The light comes from sunlight so it's a gradual dimming, he just hates the dark.
Thanks, I'll try that. They like coves so I'd imagine the electric hen would work.