Service ducks!

[10AcreChick]

I thought that title might grab some attention. Did it work? My husband had a surgery done today and on the way home he decided he wanted to get two ducks from the farm store. So we did! I have never had ducks and need a quik crash course in duck care. Already have a brooder set up, since I have 40some chicken eggs in the incubator on day 19! Can someone plz give me a quick rundown of what I need to know about baby ducks? Like how much heat do they need (I have a mama heating pad cave) and when do I need to start putting them in water? We will probably use a kiddie pool at first, but dig a small pond for them soon. Plz help!

Oh, and whay kind are they? They were called "hatchery ducks", I think they came from Heartland hatchery in Springfield MO.

 

[The Duck Ladie]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/duckling-care-brooder-ideas

They appear to be either mallard or rouen ducks, maybe muscovy.

 

[The Duck Ladie]

I looked at Heartland hatcheries list of ducklings, and those must be rouen ducklings.

 

[Ducks4us]

Rouen- and i let mine swim in the bath tub supervised at a couple days old. They love it.
And my ducklings never like it near as warm as chicks do.
The first week seems like about 80, and then less and less. and make sure the brooder is big enough for them to get far away from the heat if needed.
By the end of week one mine were staying on the opposite side where it was closer to 70-74
Enjoy
And make sure they have enuf water to dunk their heads and clean out their beaks

 

[10AcreChick]

Rouen- and i let mine swim in the bath tub supervised at a couple days old. They love it.
And my ducklings never like it near as warm as chicks do.
The first week seems like about 80, and then less and less. and make sure the brooder is big enough for them to get far away from the heat if needed.
By the end of week one mine were staying on the opposite side where it was closer to 70-74
Enjoy
And make sure they have enuf water to dunk their heads and clean out their beaks

Cool! I looked up ruoens, they are pretty! Hmmm...i had thought that i could brood my chicks and ducks together, but if they need more than a regular waterer, I would be concerned about the chicks drowning. Saw the milk jug waterer idea, but i wouldn't want the chicks to jump in there and drown! What should I do? Or should I just keep them separate?

 

[Ducks4us]

I have never tried brooding together since ducklings soak the brooder with water way to often, and im worried about the chicks getting chilled and wet. And the ducklings grow way faster than chicks! Haha. So to me its easier to keep seperate.
I know some have tried brooding together... maybe someone will offer up some advice