(pics added) Ok I am VERY new to ducks and I just aquired a duckling

[DB_Tex]

That looks like about a 2-3 week old duckling, probably a pekin. (They're really common and pure white--yellow as babies)

I actually mix my own own duckling starter food with gerber baby cereal, and occasionally left over strained veggies. It's convenient for me (I have a picky human baby who won't eat cereal anymore) and it's got niacin in it, which some of my books said ducklings needed. I use the baby cereal and mix it with corn meal, (50/50) and throw in a little soy flour (2 tbs per cup of food) for a little protein boost since I've got the stuff in the cupboard and hubby won't eat it.
I mix in enough water to get it to a lumpy paste to make it easier to eat for ducky. It seems to work well as they develop quickly and are very healthy and energetic. You'll need to provide grit too so he/she can digest the food better.

I've heard some people say they have raised ducks on corn from start to finish but I think that variety makes a big difference.

Ducks take to water like a duck to water. (See? it's even an idiom!) The first time you put your duck in a tub, bowl or bucket deep enough to swim it will take off paddling fast. You can start letting it bathe now while supervised (they can get tired and drown.) You need to dry it off with a towel until the oil gland comes in (It looks a little like a dark spot just above the tail) When it has an oil gland it will coat it's own feathers with oil and be more waterproof. Mine got theirs around the age yours looks to be but I had them swimming early.

My ducks started feathering out at 1 month old.

The only thing I can think of that would be of a concern in your duck is to make sure his/her water is clean. I change out my duck's swimming water every day they make it so gross and stinky. Bad water can give them a lot of health problems, starting with botulism. Just keep up the Niacin to ward off leg problems.

My Duck duck's favorite treat is watermelon-- I give them the melons from my garden that get buggy, and the slices that sit in the fridge too long and get that "funny" taste-- no one will eat leftover melon at my house. If you feed them tender greens from the weeds you would like them to eat free range they develop a "taste" for them. I hear ducks are more trustworthy to forage in the garden because they wont disturb your fruits and veggies like chickens will, and they wipe out your snails and slugs.

It's probably too old to vent sex easily, but if you're curious you can give it a try. I double checked mine at that age when I learned how. http://www.metzerfarms.com/SexingVideo.cfm

 

[Annie75]

I have a silkie hen Lulu and her best friend in the world is a duck. They even go into the nest together when Lulu needs to lay an egg. Lulu didn't seem to mind when the duck started swimming so don't worry. They even have the same favourite treats, tinned corn kernels and lettuce. Yum Yum.

The only problem was when the duck got older I had to lock them in seperate cages at night because the duck would stay up all night and splash the water everywhere all over Lulu.

I think they'll be a happy little odd couple. Oh. Hang on. If the duck turns out to be a drake be careful in case he falls in love with your silkie. He may suddenly decide she's the most gorgeous 'duck' he's ever seen and lavish violent affections on her which is never good for a chicken. If it's a female, it's all good!

 

[Cetawin]

Okay for whoever said they start ducklings on medicated feed....you've been using the right medicated food, it builds up in their organs and becomes toxic if it is the wrong type of medication, there is only one safe for duckies and I forget which one off the top of my head....so recommending using medicated is not always safe, better to recommend Non-Medicated.




First, leave duckie with mama until she decides that duckie can go. It will learn to swim if it is near water...I would take it away from mama for about 5 or so minutes a couple times per day and let it play in a sink or pan of water....they need some green each day like frozen peas for little ones, just float them in the water and if it is deep enough duckie will dive for them. But watch the duckie because they are not "waterproofed" until they get feathers and they can drown if they become waterlogging from being in the water too long...never let duckie swim unattended until s/he has feathered out.

For food...mix unmedicated chick starter and wild gamebird starter 50/50. The mama will be eating that medicated chick starter if it is in there and that is not good for her. The reason for the food differences...chickens need more protein and calcium and ducks need more niacin. A good choice of feed if you do not want to mix your own right now is the Purina line Start n Grow for babies, flock raiser for teenagers and layena when they lay. It is balanced enough for both the duckie and the hen but eventually your hen will need layer food while duckie will need the starter or grower once duckie lays or reaches maturity, they can eat the same Layena pellets or crumble.

Duckie needs to have water deep enough that it can stick its head into it, they do this to clean out their nares which is really important for them. So a deep dish type waterer for duckie.


Good luck and enjoy your duckie.

 

[sallysinnamon]

hi. the duckling will begin to get its feathers at 4-5 weeks. the yellow fuzz will slowly disappear as it turns white. its not an instant process. it takes awhile. so by the looks of yours in about 2 weeks you should be seeing some feathers. you can tell when it gets wet too..when its fuzz is wet you will see it almost looks like goosebumps as they start to feather.

as for the spots on its neck..is their any chance the chicken did it? not neccessarily on purpose..but by accident? a friend of mine had ducks with chickens..and the ducks got really defensive around the chickens..

if you give your duck water to swim in, or even a bowl to take a bath in, just make sure it can get out because at that age they can swim, but they can also drown because their fluff weighs them down, and they will actually sink. if you give it deeper water just make sure you supervise, until its old enough to swim on their own. i have ducks that are half feathered now, and sometimes if they cant figure out how to get out they sit there and shiver as the water comes up on them. so just be careful.

someone mentioned watermelon, i sometimes give my ducks grapes, cut up in half or quarters. they're crazy for them! and whoever said a duck is good for your garden..in parts i would say yeah. if they find your tomatoes, watermelon plants, or even pepper plants..they will totally go after the fruit!..and the plant!

if you decide youd like a companion for you duck besides its chicken friend..let me know. i live about..35-40 min from york. i have some ducklings around its age..it really is true..ducks love a friend or friends. its fun to watch a flock walk around..and their antics when they swim and carry on.

good luck!

 

[EmAbTo48]

I think everyone answered your answers great already! I would just recomend that if the duckling turns out to be a male/drake, you are going to want to get another duck. Ducks have been known to try mating with chickens which they CAN'T they will kill the chicken! For the scabs on the neck just see if it will heal it more then likely will. Was it with other chickens? It could be from pecking at the duck if it was with other chickens.

For now them living together is perfectly fine! But I also think getting another duckling would be wise

And owning ducks is as easy as chickens, besides for having a kiddie pool or pond for it to swim!

Warning: They do become a addicting

Have fun!

 

[ChristineR]

I also recommend getting Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks. It's a good book to have around when questions come up.

Ducks are easy to care for, but they do have some different requirements than chickens.

 

[BoutrosBoutrosGalusGalus]

We have a duck living with 2 chickens and it freaks out a little when the chickens roost out of sight. we gave it a little box to stand on so it can see the chickens when they do that. We're considering getting it a duck buddy so its not alone when the chickens hare off somewhere it can't follow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Yep! X2

 

[PAchickenlover]

Well I would love to get it a duck buddy! I think getting a female would be the best choice, just in case it does turn out to be a drake.
I will go out tomorro and get it some food just for it and "momma". I have them in my one chicken enclosure right now where ther is another (friend of momma and duckie) Silky hen and her 6 chicks. I also have a broody inside the coop on 14 eggs. She just looked at the duckling and turned around back to her nest. So I don't see her as a problem.
I guess though that I will have to seporate the two Silky hens agin though seeing how the baby chicks need the medicated starter and the baby duckling doesn't. Furstrating as it is. I wanted all the babie's and momma's in one place. Oh well...
I have found a couple of small pin feathers on its tail just starting to come in. I will try to figure out if it is a drake or hen. Not sure how but I will try.
The baby duckling's neck is healing very well. Most of the scabs came off. It only has 2-3 spots that need to finish healing now. The duckling's neck was like that when we got it from the auction this past Tuesday. It looked to have been there a while. I couldn't tell for sure but it looked like maybe a cat got ahold of it and it got away. But i'm not sure on that as it wasn't mine yet when it happened.
We already built a "pond" for the duckling. We dug a hole and had an old plastic pool that we used as a liner. We then put some rocks around the inside and out so it will have no problems getting in or out. The duckling hasn't spent much time in it yet though. It doesn't leave its "mamma's" side for very long at all.
Thanks for all your input I appreciate it!
Mollie

 

[Godsgrl]

Congrats on your new birds. Ducks are sooo messy, it's just disgusting.

They are hilarious, though, so it makes them worth it I think. Something to keep in mind that a friend of mine had a problem with is staggers. If your duck runs out of food and water, and you allow them free access to both when you discover the situation, they can suddenly become sick and die. I'm not sure how to prevent this, other than don't let them run out of either, but most especially water. Best of luck to you!!