sleeping duckling

[lavandula girl]

Do ducks sleep on the water as adults? I got a 2-3 day old runner yesterday, who insists on sleeping in the water. When I continually, over the course of the day, found her snoozing in the water dish, I added a large rock to the center of it, so they could drink properly, but not get in. I found the stubborn little thing with one foot in the dish when I checked on them last night and early this morning. So... instinct or attitude?

 

[Amiga]

I think it's some of each.

If she is the only duck, you may want to give her a cuddly and a mirror, if you haven't already done so. Runners have a strong flock instinct, and really crave company.

(Mine call out to me periodically when I am not within sight, since I am part of their flock.)

 

[lavandula girl]

Oh, she's got a "sister" in there with her (Ping and Pong), but the Ping doesn't have the same fascination with swimming. And yep, they whistle and tweet to me quite a bit. Pong's a hard headed little thing, though! I can't seem to explain that she could drown while she's snoozing!

 

[Amiga]

I have found I need to pay close attention to the ducks' environment, because they sure don't! Making sure they don't drown or choke are two priorities when they are small - good for you! Nice to know they have each other.

I used a chick waterer the first three months (larger and larger waterers as they grew). Now that they are outside (at four plus months old) they use large steel mixing bowls.

 

[Amiga]

network glitch - sorry

 

[Amiga]

ditto above

 

[tia]

A lot of people use a small plastic tub for a water dish - like one you would buy margarine or butter in. Cut the top so they can only put their head in to get a drink. I am assuming they are inside because they are so young. Do you have a light so they can keep warm???

 

[lavandula girl]

Oh yeah, we have the whole set up... we've had babies before. I don't use a chick waterer, because I had a friend who had a bad experience with a duckling damaging it's beak with one. However, I had never had one that insisted on sleeping IN the water. Of course, being ducklings, in a week they won't be able to fit their butts in the bowl, let alone drown in it.