Should be getting ducklings soon!

[MallardDuckling]

I'm talking with different people who have Muscovy chicks needing homes.

I am setting up the brooding pen today

I am so happy I found a few people near by who have ducklings . I thought they would be a bit trickier to find.

I have some questions for just general duckling care. Be prepared for LOTS of questions!!!

1.) What to look for when picking out ducklings?
clear, bright eyes, walking around and well is about all I got. I remember reading a site about picking out a duckling but it has failed to stick with me.
How should their down look? Should they make noise? should they run from you when you go to pick them up?

2.) How to pick up a duckling properly?
I know to be gentle, but do I just scoop them up?

3.) When bringing them home, can I put them in a cat carrier for transport?

4.) When I bring the ducklings home, should I have food already available to them or wait till they settle in?

5.) When can I handle them? Do/should I give them a day or two to adjust to their surroundings before I begin bonding with them? Or can I jump right on that?

6.) For heating, I have a bulb (bought at TSC) for heating chicks/ducks but it's 250 watts. Is that ok for ducklings or too hot? It was the only bulb they had at the time. The brooding pen is big enough that they can walk away from the heat source.
I read something someone posted on this site about subtracting 5 degrees I think it was every week? For every week they are alive do I subtract 5 degrees from heating? What temp should I start at?

7.) For a waterer for ducks/chickens should I get plastic or glass? I don't want the glass to break, but can plastic hold up to their beaks?

 

[jdywntr]

I'm talking with different people who have Muscovy chicks needing homes.

I am setting up the brooding pen today

I am so happy I found a few people near by who have ducklings . I thought they would be a bit trickier to find.

I have some questions for just general duckling care. Be prepared for LOTS of questions!!!

1.) What to look for when picking out ducklings?
clear, bright eyes, walking around and well is about all I got. I remember reading a site about picking out a duckling but it has failed to stick with me.
How should their down look? Should they make noise? should they run from you when you go to pick them up?
You've pretty much got it. Most will run from you. Clean and healthy looking should be the basics with a clean environment and food/water.
2.) How to pick up a duckling properly?
I know to be gentle, but do I just scoop them up?
Be gentle. Some can squirm much more than a chick would so stay low or make sure you have a good hold. If very small, you can kind of make a cage of your fingers so you aren't squeezing but they can't fall.
3.) When bringing them home, can I put them in a cat carrier for transport?
Should be fine. Put in something for bedding so it isn't slick. A towel will do.
4.) When I bring the ducklings home, should I have food already available to them or wait till they settle in?
food should be available and if there is food they need water.
5.) When can I handle them? Do/should I give them a day or two to adjust to their surroundings before I begin bonding with them? Or can I jump right on that?
Let them settle a bit but if you want them bonded to you, you need to handle them. If you want them used to you but don't plan on picking them up all the time just seeing and hearing you will be good enough.
6.) For heating, I have a bulb (bought at TSC) for heating chicks/ducks but it's 250 watts. Is that ok for ducklings or too hot? It was the only bulb they had at the time. The brooding pen is big enough that they can walk away from the heat source.
I read something someone posted on this site about subtracting 5 degrees I think it was every week? For every week they are alive do I subtract 5 degrees from heating? What temp should I start at?
Get a cheap thermometer somewhere or be sure to be on hand to monitor their behavior. 250 watts doesn't seem like alot but can get hot enough to kill. If their brooder is indoors in a controled environment, they really don't need that strong of a bulb. Indoors, I have only ever used 100 watt bulbs.
Temp should be ~90-95 the first week and lower 5 degrees each week is the standard. Make sure that part of their brooder has the heat but they can get away. I put food and water on the perimeter of the heat so they can get to it if they feel hot or cold.
Watch them. If they huddle together, they are cold. If they spread out and are panting, too hot. You want them spread out a bit but remember they do like to sleep together.
7.) For a waterer for ducks/chickens should I get plastic or glass? I don't want the glass to break, but can plastic hold up to their beaks?
Chick waterers will only work for ducklings for the first week or so. They need something deep enough to wash their nares (nostrils) and eyes. Plastic storage containers with holes cut in the tops are cheap and work well.

Good luck.

 

[Amiga]

ditto jdywntr

We are looking forward to photo's!

 

[MallardDuckling]

Thank you so much jdywntr!
The temp. question was my bigger. 250watt didn't seem like much, but when I turned the lamp on to make sure it worked, I felt heat in an instant. I could probably tan off that lol.

I will look for a 100 watt bulb. Should I get an incandescent bulb?

As for pictures, I will be taking loads and sharing with you guys!!!

 

[MallardDuckling]

Also, I have chick starter, but it lists that it can be used for ducklings. It's non-medicated DuMOR. Can I use that or should I switch to gamebird starter. Iread that it makes them grow faster. Which one would be better?