OMG OMG OMG

[Weeg]

Mu momma mallard just hatched out 3 ducklings! I was never expecting it to happen, because the last time she tried and she failed. i was unprepared because they hatched before the hatch date, so I don't hav duckling starter. I can get some closer to 4 today, but not before then. I just put out some water with vitamins in it, for niacin. I have some chicken and duck feed, non medicated, should I just crumble it up and feed it to them until later today? Help I am so excited but still unprepared!

 

[Weeg]

@casportpony

 

[Weeg]

@MGG @Sonya9

 

[casportpony]

What feed do you have?

 

[NatJ]

Did they just hatch today?

Then they should be fine with just water until 4pm when you can get duckling starter.

Ducklings are OK for several days being mailed, with no feed and water at all, so a few hours is not really a big emergency. Just get some of the right feed today.

They would probably also be fine with other chicken or duck feed, crumbled small, for the few hours until you can get the right feed. (Exception: do not use layer feed that has high levels of calcium. If the only feed you have is layer feed, just leave them without feed until this afternoon.)

They would probably also be fine if you gave them a bread crust or something for now, again followed by the right food this evening.

 

[Weeg]

What feed do you have?

We have an organic layer feed, we don't have the package on hand sadly. But we are gonna possibly get a non medicated poultry grower for them. The electrolytes in the water are okay right? Its Save-A-chick, I added it for the niacin, and the momma duck will show them where the water is too, correct? I will post a pic of the set up have for them, tell me what you think.

 

[Weeg]

The second one is a pic to show the space, Its about a meter wide /long, and she is separated by a baby gate, you would put at the base of the stairs. The food dish we will take out, because it has the mommas food in it. The first pic is a pic to show the babies! What do you think of the setup?

 

[Weeg]

And yes, they hatch dlast night, they are all fluffy now, is there anything I should add to the setup, a frisbee of water for them to splash in? We did that for our last ducklings so they didn't get to chilled, but I am thinking there a little young?

 

[Weeg]

@NatJ @casportpony

 

[NatJ]

I'm not really a duck person, just going off what I know from chickens. But I do know that both kinds can be shipped through the mail with no food for several days.

Yes, I would take out the dish of the momma's food (partly because that dish is deep enough that a duckling could get stuck in it; partly because I'm guessing it's the "layer" food you mentioned, which probably has too much calcium.)

Other than that, they are probably fine for today, as long as you do get the right kind of food so they can have "dinner" tonight and plenty of food tomorrow.

Frisbee of water to splash in: I would probably skip that for today, and hope that someone who actually knows ducks can chime in about what age would be good to add it.