PLEASE HELP! NEED ADVICE! PLEASE!

[MGG]

I am very happy to say that all 5 ducklings are happy and healthy. The fifth came around and is just fine. They are making a huge mess, but their cuteness and how fun they are make up for it. If I need any further questions, I will ask on this thread. Thanks to all who have helped, especially @MGG.

This makes me SO happy. I've been thinking about these little babies a lot lately. I'm glad I could help. Have fun with your darling babies! Ducklings are very messy, but they definitely make up for it. Enjoy them while they're small!

 

[NewDuckGuy72]

We will be building a house for them soon. I’m starting to take their food away at night so they get used to being fed in the morning.

 

[MGG]

We will be building a house for them soon. I’m starting to take their food away at night so they get used to being fed in the morning.

Usually they should have feed and water 24-7 until 5 weeks. Just be very careful they don't over-eat in the morning or anything. Good luck on their house!

 

[NewDuckGuy72]

Usually they should have feed and water 24-7 until 5 weeks. Just be very careful they don't over-eat in the morning or anything. Good luck on their house!

Maybe I will just give the, food and water all night. They always have water, but I wanted to try to get them into a routine so they get fed in the morning and don’t want food all the time when I can’t give it to them.

 

[NewDuckGuy72]

So we have the house made! When can they start to go outside? When can they live outside 24/7? Do they need a heat lamp at night?

 

[MGG]

So we have the house made! When can they start to go outside? When can they live outside 24/7? Do they need a heat lamp at night?

Thare great! I'd love to see a pic of two of it if you have any. They can start to take little field trips outside at about a week old with you. They can spend the day outside in a pen or coop or something at about 3 weeks (once they have some feathers) but I would have a lamp in there in case they want it. They can be out full time with a lamp at probably 5 weeks, as long as your lows are in the 40s. This is just off my personal experience, but it works fine for me. Are they all doing well?

 

[NewDuckGuy72]

They are all doing great! Super messy, but it’s ok. I used to just spot clean twice a day, but now I have to do a full on cleaning every morning! We actually made the house out of an old plastic playhouse that we had sitting around.
And while I’m posting, I have a quick question.
I bought Manna Pro Duckling and Gosling Starter/Grower. It is 22% protein. The package says it can be fed to like 10 weeks old or something like that, but from my research, it says you should lower the protein. So when do I start giving them less protein, and how do I do it? Do I just have to buy different food, or can I mix something in with their food to reduce protein, if that’s even possible?

 

[NewDuckGuy72]

Here is the house. It is a bit smaller than some, but we will add on if needed. I have a feeling the ducks will be able to free range if I can learn how.
We have added wheels to the house since I took this picture so it will be easy to tractor around.
We also screened in the shutters with chicken wire so that they can have ventilation during the summer without predators crawling through the windows.

 

[MGG]

Here is the house. It is a bit smaller than some, but we will add on if needed. I have a feeling the ducks will be able to free range if I can learn how.
We have added wheels to the house since I took this picture so it will be easy to tractor around.
We also screened in the shutters with chicken wire so that they can have ventilation during the summer without predators crawling through the windows.View attachment 2135230

That's so cute! They'll love it. It's good you screened the windows up.

 

[MGG]

They are all doing great! Super messy, but it’s ok. I used to just spot clean twice a day, but now I have to do a full on cleaning every morning! We actually made the house out of an old plastic playhouse that we had sitting around.
And while I’m posting, I have a quick question.
I bought Manna Pro Duckling and Gosling Starter/Grower. It is 22% protein. The package says it can be fed to like 10 weeks old or something like that, but from my research, it says you should lower the protein. So when do I start giving them less protein, and how do I do it? Do I just have to buy different food, or can I mix something in with their food to reduce protein, if that’s even possible?

I feed Purina Flockraiser. I feed that from hatch to the end. Hens get free choice oyster shells. I've also heard really good things about Purina duck pellet, so if you have that I would use it. I would buy a bag of one of the feeds I recommended and mix them. Too high of protein and they can get angel wing. You can use rolled oats mixed in the feed to cut the protein of the feed you have. It should be fine for the first week or two though.