Hi, my name is Kelli, i recently got 6 chickens and 2 ducks from TSC. i have water and feed, they have been doing great. i’ve kept their cage clean and a heat lamp on them. i’ve had them for about 2 weeks. i came home today and their whole cage was wet. 2 chicks were dead and the other chicks were wet. the ducks look fine, just a little feather loss but other than that they act fine. i’m worries about the chicks they’ve lost many feathers and are wet. are they too hot? water situation? are the ducks picking on the chicks? someone please help!!
PLEASE HELP WITH BABY CHICKS & DUCKS!
- Thread starter kdawgg
- Start date
danceswithronin
Crowing
Ducklings and chicks should not be brooded together. Ducks are messy and wet and clumsy; chicks have to have a dry brooder and are easily stressed by being jostled around. The chicks probably got chilled from being repeatedly soaked by the ducklings, and died.
I would blow-dry the chicks (with just air, not heat) to dry them completely, separate the ducklings and chicks into separate brooders, and cross your fingers for the two chicks that they didn't inhale too much water. Make sure both brooders have a heat lamp on them. The chicks would benefit from a low overhead brooder lamp like a Brinsea EcoGlow or something of a similar design rather than an overhead lamp because it emulates the heat of a broody hen and puts the heat directly over the chicks and allows them to self-regulate better.
How do you have water in the brooder? Is it in a pan or in a waterer? Because the ducklings will want a pan of water to play in, but the chicks will easily drown in it.
I would blow-dry the chicks (with just air, not heat) to dry them completely, separate the ducklings and chicks into separate brooders, and cross your fingers for the two chicks that they didn't inhale too much water. Make sure both brooders have a heat lamp on them. The chicks would benefit from a low overhead brooder lamp like a Brinsea EcoGlow or something of a similar design rather than an overhead lamp because it emulates the heat of a broody hen and puts the heat directly over the chicks and allows them to self-regulate better.
How do you have water in the brooder? Is it in a pan or in a waterer? Because the ducklings will want a pan of water to play in, but the chicks will easily drown in it.
I’m not sure if this is your situation but I know from experience that ducklings make an unholy mess with water, soaking everything in their wake. I’ve read that chicks are more susceptible to getting chilled and the complications that arise from it. It might be prudent to have one brooder for chicks and one for ducks. I’m sorry that you lost some chicks, but hopefully it is an easy fix. Good luck.
Ducks are very very messy with their water. Some people keep chicks and ducklings together, but I don't even try. I have finally settled on wood pellets as the least messy bedding for them that handles moisture the best (at least in my experience), and using something for a waterer they can dunk their heads in, but not walk in and splash around (I cut a hole in a milk carton for this purpose). The water may be making the chicks much too cold. At two weeks, I imagine the ducks are much larger than the chicks...is that the case? They may be picking on them, or just moving their weight around on them too much. I am sorry for your losses, that's rough 
And you say the ducks have also suffered feather loss?
And you say the ducks have also suffered feather loss?
You need to get all the wet chicks in a warm towel out of the dryer. Bundle every wet baby chick into the towel. You can bunch up the towel so all the chicks will be cuddled in the warm towel. I would guess they'll be content.
Ignore the ducks unless you see any that aren't moving much. Toss them in with the chicks warming.
Then take the most lifeless babies one by one and blow dry them on low heat on their tummies and under their wings. This is where most of the blood in chickens flows and you can get a hypothermic chicken warmed up far more quickly.
Then each chick should get a drink of warm sugar water or warm Gator-aid. A few drops each is fine.
Then hope none of the chicks dies because the ducks tried to teach chickens to swim.
Ignore the ducks unless you see any that aren't moving much. Toss them in with the chicks warming.
Then take the most lifeless babies one by one and blow dry them on low heat on their tummies and under their wings. This is where most of the blood in chickens flows and you can get a hypothermic chicken warmed up far more quickly.
Then each chick should get a drink of warm sugar water or warm Gator-aid. A few drops each is fine.
Then hope none of the chicks dies because the ducks tried to teach chickens to swim.
- Thread starter
- #7
THANK YOU! I feel like the ducks might be picking on the chicks. i have a waterer from TSC that i bought. it seems to do okay. the ducks play in it a lot. i guess i do need to separate the chicks and ducks. it was just crazy to me because they have been doing fine this way until today. it went from everything was fine to 2 of my chicks dying in a day!! the ducks are 2 times the size of the chicks
danceswithronin
Crowing
I have had a lot of luck with brooding in a pet playpen sort of like this: https://www.pawaboo.com/pawaboo-dog...ate-with-carry-bag-large-size-blue-khaki.html
It can be zipped up to prevent escapees, but has tons of ventilation. The material dries easily, is collapsible, is lightweight, and is easy to clean. I got the largest size available and it was like, a hundred bucks. But I've used it two chick seasons in a row. My oldest chicks are almost six weeks old and just now starting to outgrow it.
I use it in conjunction with a brooder lamp like this: https://www.schoolspecialty.com/bri...MIi9aZsvLs4QIVF47ICh3NQQxrEAQYASABEgIbYvD_BwE
It gives plenty of heat and is adjustable in height as the chicks grow older, but is firesafe, most closely stimulates the warmth of a mother, and gives the chicks plenty of room to self-regulate their own temperature by moving in and out from underneath it, rather than having a heat lamp blaring down on them from overhead.
You could set up two pens like this side by side, and they would be easy to maintain.
It can be zipped up to prevent escapees, but has tons of ventilation. The material dries easily, is collapsible, is lightweight, and is easy to clean. I got the largest size available and it was like, a hundred bucks. But I've used it two chick seasons in a row. My oldest chicks are almost six weeks old and just now starting to outgrow it.
I use it in conjunction with a brooder lamp like this: https://www.schoolspecialty.com/bri...MIi9aZsvLs4QIVF47ICh3NQQxrEAQYASABEgIbYvD_BwE
It gives plenty of heat and is adjustable in height as the chicks grow older, but is firesafe, most closely stimulates the warmth of a mother, and gives the chicks plenty of room to self-regulate their own temperature by moving in and out from underneath it, rather than having a heat lamp blaring down on them from overhead.
You could set up two pens like this side by side, and they would be easy to maintain.
- Thread starter
- #8
Ducks are very very messy with their water. Some people keep chicks and ducklings together, but I don't even try. I have finally settled on wood pellets as the least messy bedding for them that handles moisture the best (at least in my experience), and using something for a waterer they can dunk their heads in, but not walk in and splash around (I cut a hole in a milk carton for this purpose). The water may be making the chicks much too cold. At two weeks, I imagine the ducks are much larger than the chicks...is that the case? They may be picking on them, or just moving their weight around on them too much. I am sorry for your losses, that's rough
THANK YOU! yes the ducks have lost some feather kinda of towards their butt. i watch them and they just kinds peck at themselves. it’s not wounds just feather loss. the ducks are probably 2 times bigger than the chicks
Everything everyone has said is spot on, so no need for me to repeat it. The only thing that hasn't been covered is ducks require additional vitamins / minerals to support that growth. This is particularly important with Pekins as they are the fastest growing duck.
Most people have settled on Purina's Flock Raiser (or something similar) when raising mixed flocks as it can be fed to all which makes things much easier.
Some lucky few can find actual duck starter but it's hard to find. Broiler starter (meatbird), turkey starter, gamebird chow, etc all have the higher levels needed.
Its also popular to add the most essential nutrient, Niacin, to their water or feed. 100 to 150mg of the regular Niacin found at any drug store, Walmart, or feed store will have it. Do not use the slow release or non blushing type.
Nutritional yeast or brewers yeast can also be used at a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of feed. Some yeasts have a good amount of niacin, others not so much. That's why I prefer actual Niacin as there is no question that it has what they need.
Most people have settled on Purina's Flock Raiser (or something similar) when raising mixed flocks as it can be fed to all which makes things much easier.
Some lucky few can find actual duck starter but it's hard to find. Broiler starter (meatbird), turkey starter, gamebird chow, etc all have the higher levels needed.
Its also popular to add the most essential nutrient, Niacin, to their water or feed. 100 to 150mg of the regular Niacin found at any drug store, Walmart, or feed store will have it. Do not use the slow release or non blushing type.
Nutritional yeast or brewers yeast can also be used at a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of feed. Some yeasts have a good amount of niacin, others not so much. That's why I prefer actual Niacin as there is no question that it has what they need.
- Thread starter
- #14
The 4 chicks are looking better this morning. feeding like normal and look more dry but aren’t completely dry.
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