Question about my ducklings

[WVcountrygirl84]

Hello,

So I just bout four baby ducklings yesterday. I have always loved ducks and I always wanted some. They are White ducks. American Pekin Breed to be exact. I spend time with them and so do my children and boyfriend. I check on them every few hours. My question is I hear them cheap a lot. They have water and food a heat lamp. Also we haven’t taken them out to roam in the house yet. How long should they be out to play?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hello,

So I just bout four baby ducklings yesterday. I have always loved ducks and I always wanted some. They are White ducks. American Pekin Breed to be exact. I spend time with them and so do my children and boyfriend. I check on them every few hours. My question is I hear them cheap a lot. They have water and food a heat lamp. Also we haven’t taken them out to roam in the house yet. How long should they be out to play?View attachment 3478835

Before I answer the question I want to congratulate you on your first ducks! You'll love them, they're awesome animals and those babies are gorgeous.

A couple tips, I noticed your waterer is quite large so they're able to climb in, this actually isn't ideal as ducklings aren't able to waterproof themselves like adults can, so they may become water logged and get stuck, even in shallow water, it's very easy for ducklings to get stuck, tired, and drown. The idea waterer would be deep enough to dunk their heads, but not so big that they can climb in.
Also your heat lamp seems to be warming the whole enclosure, so they may become too warm. It would be better if they have a warm side and a cool side so that they can find the right temp for them.

With playtime, a few minutes is best, they could come out for a wander for up to 15 minutes- just be careful if you're planning on going outside, they can't regulate their body temperature and may get cold quicker. If you see them huddling together, chirping, or shivering they may be getting cold.

 

[WVcountrygirl84]

Before I answer the question I want to congratulate you on your first ducks! You'll love them, they're awesome animals and those babies are gorgeous.

A couple tips, I noticed your waterer is quite large so they're able to climb in, this actually isn't ideal as ducklings aren't able to waterproof themselves like adults can, so they may become water logged and get stuck, even in shallow water, it's very easy for ducklings to get stuck, tired, and drown. The idea waterer would be deep enough to dunk their heads, but not so big that they can climb in.
Also your heat lamp seems to be warming the whole enclosure, so they may become too warm. It would be better if they have a warm side and a cool side so that they can find the right temp for them.

With playtime, a few minutes is best, they could come out for a wander for up to 15 minutes- just be careful if you're planning on going outside, they can't regulate their body temperature and may get cold quicker. If you see them huddling together, chirping, or shivering they may be getting cold.

Thank you! I appreciate your help. I just want to make sure I do things right and keep them happy, safe and healthy