Please Help! New Duckling Owners...

[Miss Lydia]

Scuba's box smells horrendous. We are going to put her in the garage today since it is finally warming up outside. The average temperature for this week is supposed to be high of 75 low of 54. We've had her for 5 weeks now...not sure how old she was when we got her but we're assuming 3-4 days old. How much longer does she need her brooding lamp? She almost has all of her feathers in. Just missing the ones on her spine.

If your moving her to the garage I'd keep her with a heat lamp till she is completely feathered. highs during the day sound good but 50's at night might be too low with out heat. just give her room enough where she can get out from under it if she gets to warm, at night. I'd say a couple more weeks getting use to change from house to garage then out of doors should do it. Have ya'll started her coop and run yet?

 

[thesmiths]

Ok that sounds like a good plan! As for the coop&run, we are just waiting to save up enough for the wood and wire and then we'll get started! Newlyweds and poor college students haha. My dad has a huge workshop on the ranch that is almost finished, but as soon as the machines are back up and running we plan on making it! We are still trying to decide on a design... but we know where it's going to go in the backyard!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok that sounds like a good plan! As for the coop&run, we are just waiting to save up enough for the wood and wire and then we'll get started! Newlyweds and poor college students haha. My dad has a huge workshop on the ranch that is almost finished, but as soon as the machines are back up and running we plan on making it! We are still trying to decide on a design... but we know where it's going to go in the backyard!

I'm sure you'll figure it out, one nice thing is you don't have alot of ducklings needing to be moved so it gives you more time, I do hope you get Scuba a friend eventually she has to be lonely. Maybe getting the word out you might find all kinds of donated stuff with which to build, It happened here I got used windows given to me and some old wood siding that had sat of many years, alot of it went for fire wood but we did get enough to build our 2 geese a house of their own.

 

[thesmiths]

Oh nice! Maybe my Craigslist expert (my husband) can look there for wood and things. Thanks for that suggestion! I forgot to tell yall, but this weekend Scuba learned how to jump out of her box... We would walk into the room and find her on the towel in front of the mirror. That's where she goes after a bath and gets dried off and looks at herself. Well one day she got out again while we were at school/work and she managed to stay on the towel the whole time (no poop on the carpet) so we moved her into the tile bathroom with the towel and mirror and she did the same thing. She knows she's pretty and we are trying to get another mallard duckling friend for her but the stores here order them several weeks apart :/

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh nice! Maybe my Craigslist expert (my husband) can look there for wood and things. Thanks for that suggestion! I forgot to tell yall, but this weekend Scuba learned how to jump out of her box... We would walk into the room and find her on the towel in front of the mirror. That's where she goes after a bath and gets dried off and looks at herself. Well one day she got out again while we were at school/work and she managed to stay on the towel the whole time (no poop on the carpet) so we moved her into the tile bathroom with the towel and mirror and she did the same thing. She knows she's pretty and we are trying to get another mallard duckling friend for her but the stores here order them several weeks apart :/

She also wants to see another duckling so she knows if she finds the mirror she will find one. how cute. Also at our closest Lowes behind the store they have wood pallets stacked up I have seen people back there loading them onto their trucks/trunks so you might ask there. and have you looked at the coop thread here on BYC you can find pics of people that have built their coops out of wood pallets.

 

[Lacrystol]

Scuba's box smells horrendous. We are going to put her in the garage today since it is finally warming up outside. The average temperature for this week is supposed to be high of 75 low of 54. We've had her for 5 weeks now...not sure how old she was when we got her but we're assuming 3-4 days old. How much longer does she need her brooding lamp? She almost has all of her feathers in. Just missing the ones on her spine.

If you temp is about 75 she shouldn't need to broody heating lamps any more at 5 weeks she should have her feathers in or at least most of them..

 

[thesmiths]

Hey yall! Good news, my husband said they're getting more ducklings in tomorrow...time for a friend for Scuba! She has been staying in our guest bathroom during the day with a towel on the floor, the mirror, water and food. She stays right in front of the mirror the whole time! At night she goes back in her box in the garage with the lamp pointed just above the box (enough light, not to much heat).

Any suggestions for successfully introducing a 6 week old duck to a 3 day old duckling? Any concerns we should know about or be aware of before they see each other? I'm sure they should only be together when they are supervised, to be safe, right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey yall! Good news, my husband said they're getting more ducklings in tomorrow...time for a friend for Scuba! She has been staying in our guest bathroom during the day with a towel on the floor, the mirror, water and food. She stays right in front of the mirror the whole time! At night she goes back in her box in the garage with the lamp pointed just above the box (enough light, not to much heat).

Any suggestions for successfully introducing a 6 week old duck to a 3 day old duckling? Any concerns we should know about or be aware of before they see each other? I'm sure they should only be together when they are supervised, to be safe, right?

Yay!!! okay Scuba may not think she needs a buddy at this point so your right supervised visits and giving the little one a chance to get some strength. Scuba may not intentionally hurt the new duckling but just in size difference she could. So just take it slowly and hopefully in a few weeks they will be best buds.. Keep us updated and of course pics.

 

[Lacrystol]

Hey yall! Good news, my husband said they're getting more ducklings in tomorrow...time for a friend for Scuba! She has been staying in our guest bathroom during the day with a towel on the floor, the mirror, water and food. She stays right in front of the mirror the whole time! At night she goes back in her box in the garage with the lamp pointed just above the box (enough light, not to much heat).

Any suggestions for successfully introducing a 6 week old duck to a 3 day old duckling? Any concerns we should know about or be aware of before they see each other? I'm sure they should only be together when they are supervised, to be safe, right?

Well the 3 day old will Go to the older one immediately, you have to watch the older one, he may or may not accept her. Being young like that, you should be OK. But at 6 weeks. Hum, mine are usually outside by 3 weeks. I would watch the 6 week old see how he reacts with the youngster..

 

[thesmiths]

Ok, we will be very cautious!! Will it be obvious if Scuba isn't accepting the little one? Any signs to look for?