Questions about raising ducklings

[chelseachook]

We are purchasing 4 2week old runner ducklings on Sunday. I recently bought this on eBay:

. It is 25cm x25cm. It is supposed to be for chicks but I am assuming it can be used for ducklings?
Can they eat chick starter and do I need to give them anything else?
At what age can they move outside? Some sources have told me 2weeks and some have told me 10weeks so I'm a bit confused.
They will have to travel in the car with us for 2 hours to get back to our house - how can I make their journey more comfortable so they don't get stressed? Also will they need a heat source during the car trip?
Thanks.

 

[ducksinvt]

Congrats on your future babies!!! The best food for ducklings, is food formulated for their specific needs, https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/, ducklings require a higher niacin content than chickens, so chick starter is not formulated to support those needs, as far as moving then outside, they should be fully feathered(about 9 weeks) before you do that, they cannot regulate their own body temp until they are fully feathered and risk getting sick, i would make the car ride home nice and comfy, give then a nice soft thick fluffy surface,, dont let them fall over or slide around to much.. good luck on your new babies, im sure other ppl with have plenty of tips for you, to help you be a successful duck parent!!! Its Really great that your taking the time to learn before u get them, it makes a huge difference!!!!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

That heat plate looks good but they will be bigger than chicks. You will need to lift up up where their backs don't touch when they crouch down and keep and eye on it. You may have to lift it everyday or two. Ducks grow really fast. Its winter for you, but I live in a warm climate so mine go out at 4to5 weeks. Mine usually fully feather by 6. If its colder when you want to put them out at five weeks, you could but would need to provide a heat source for them. I'm not sure what kind of duckling foods are available in Aus. @Muscovy Wunda can you chime in?

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Game bird starter is easiest to get (can get online from petbarn or petcircle) and very similar to the nutrion in duckling starter (its made for all other poultry like quail, geese, ducks, turkey, pheasant, peafowl etc) and the ducklings do great on it. If you are lucky to live in thearea, google Laucke Mills, search their stockist locations, and usually there will be one near you. Some don't have it in stock, but they can usually order the duck starter on request, and for later the duck finisher. Chick feed is okay but you have to add brewers yeast @Miss Lydia is the queen of explaining that one. Its not freezing where I am, and from about a week old they start going outside for alittle bit each day. By 2 weeks, they will usually spend the days out and come in of an afternoon, you just need to keep checking them, they'll tell you if they are cold. If they are all huddled in a group, time to go back in. If they are eating, drinking, playing, stretched out in the sun, they are happy. Once they have their feathers they will be out of a night. I hope that helps. Can't wait to see pictures

 

[chelseachook]

Thanks for the replies! I will see how long it takes for them to get their adult feathers. Since we are coming into spring the temps should start to get quite warm. I will find out about the food.

 

[TomCahalan]

At two weeks old, they do not need supplemental heat if you keep them indoors. It would be a big mistake to keep them indoors though, because of the smell. You need to have a big outdoor coop made for them already, with lots of ventilation. Ideally, the coop would be a big walk-in cage, but with a roof for shade.

You live in a sub-tropical climate, whereas ducks are from temperate/subarctic areas. What you think of as "cold" is not at all a problem for anything but the youngest ducklings. If you look at a mallard range map, you will see that some of them spend their summers in northern Alaska, that's the arctic, and they swim in the bitterly cold water there.

At 8 weeks ducks become waterproof. Until then, they can get chilled if they are wet and/or exposed to strong winds. After that, there is no cold weather in Australia that can harm them. On the other hand, you are more likely to overheat them.

So here is what I recommend: put them outside with something to break the wind, maybe a few concrete blocks in their cage. Put that heater in with them, but don't expect them to use it much.

 

[chelseachook]

At two weeks old, they do not need supplemental heat if you keep them indoors. It would be a big mistake to keep them indoors though, because of the smell. You need to have a big outdoor coop made for them already, with lots of ventilation. Ideally, the coop would be a big walk-in cage, but with a roof for shade.

You live in a sub-tropical climate, whereas ducks are from temperate/subarctic areas. What you think of as "cold" is not at all a problem for anything but the youngest ducklings. If you look at a mallard range map, you will see that some of them spend their summers in northern Alaska, that's the arctic, and they swim in the bitterly cold water there.

At 8 weeks ducks become waterproof. Until then, they can get chilled if they are wet and/or exposed to strong winds. After that, there is no cold weather in Australia that can harm them. On the other hand, you are more likely to overheat them.

So here is what I recommend: put them outside with something to break the wind, maybe a few concrete blocks in their cage. Put that heater in with them, but don't expect them to use it much.

Can I put them in a cage in the shed? I'm just a bit worried about something breaking into the pen and eating them. The shed would probably be the safest and most practical option. It is the end of winter here and at the coldest part of night we are getting 10*C (50*F), so I'm definitely going to give them the heated plate. Thanks for the info!

 

[chelseachook]

I have the ducklings! They are very messy and wet the whole brooder. I couldn't get duckling starter so I got chick starter and then realised it was medicated. I wasn't able to buy non-medicated feed, but the woman we bought them off gave us a very small bag of duckling starter. She also said that she uses medicated chick starter sometimes and that it is good for them to eat. The ducklings ate all of the duckling starter and were hungry, so I gave them the medicated chick starter. Will they be alright?
Also they are quite skittish and I am afraid to take the onto the lawn in case they run away.
I will post pics of the cuties soon.

 

[Isaac 0]

Have you read the stickies? That'd be a great place to start.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

 

[chelseachook]

Thanks