Someone please help!!

[SkyeT]

Our first night was rough at the beginning. Our little one did cry, but once it got dark in the room we just talked to her to reassure her we were there. We also handle our babies a lot, so that they know our voice, smell and looks. We also draped a blanket over the box to give a nice, cozy hideaway for them. I don't know if you can do that, but I have a mother hen heater, not a lamp, so I can put things over the top of their box.

Also, something we something for ours. When we are not in the room with them, we play classical or piano music on soft and they seem to love it. Once the music is off, the lights are out, they seem to understand it is night time and sleep time.

 

[DuckyDonna]

@j3rr4h Ok, so now you know you've got lots of help here and you aren't alone.

Tomorrow is another day and you'll be able to make some positive changes for your little ducks.

I have 11 Indian runners that all have names and I love them all so much. They are so cute, sweet and such funny little things. I could sit and watch them all day. Now you will have to love and protect your little ducks, give them a nice life and they will love you for it.

 

[CindyinSD]

Skye is using a heating pad covered with some type of wipe-clean fabric (like a feed bag). It isn't safe to cover the box with a heat lamp. I prefer the heating pad too, but for now, the light will do. Most people use lights but they will cry since it's never "night" with the lamp on.

If you don't have a thermometer, you can tell whether the ducklings are too hot by the way they act. If they get as far from the light as they can, they are too hot. Move the lamp higher so it's not shedding as much heat into the brooder. If they huddle together right under the lamp, they're too cold. move it a little closer. Thermometers for baby chicks are cheap plastic cards available at the feed store. You just lay them on the floor and read the temp.

 

[j3rr4h]

Ok, so remain calm. they are probably scared because everything is so new. What part of the country do you live in?

I want you to make a water container a bit different but it won't be hard. Take a cool whip container or something like that and cut holes in the top. they will be able to drink but not get into the dish like they probably do with the one you have now. Ok? So that's a start right?
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I live in the Southern part of the US so it doesn't get to cold. It may get drafty everyone now and then though.

 

[j3rr4h]

I want to thank everyone for the advice!! Didn't think anyone was gonna answer lol. I'll try to get things set up better, but this was sorta what people at the Rural King told us to do, so I didn't know honestly. From what I've gathered this is what I need to do:
Get a bigger brooder
Make their food/water accessable pretty much by beak only so it doesn't get poopy or murky
Get a thermometer and heating pad
And maybe lay a thin blanket on top of their brooder, so they can sleep better.
If I need to do anything else, let me know! Again, thank you guys so much!!

 

[DuckyDonna]

so you're ok for tonight but you might want to put a towel or something over the brooder at least partway to hold in the heat if you know what I mean. I just lay an old beach towel over the top but still leave some space for air circulation. Don't lay the towel on top of the light that you're using for heat. We don't want a fire!

 

[SkyeT]

This is what I have for heat:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DLCX71P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Not sure if you need it, but it has done wonders for the ducklings.

 

[CindyinSD]

If you decide to get a heating pad, make sure you get one that can be left on. Most heating pads turn off after two hours, but some can be set to override the auto-off feature. Your mom or dad may know how to just cut the switch out and connect the cord back together without it.

For ducklings and geese it has worked well for me to use a seed starting mat. They're cheaper and also easier to clean. Rural King probably has them this time of year. I lay the mat on the floor and cover it with bedding. The littles lay on it when they're chilly. It gets poopy fast, but I scrape it off with a putty knife (a metal spatula would work, too).

Here's a link where you can read about brooding baby ducks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/

 

[MHALL1379]

People here know what they're talking about. Everyone does things a little differently, so don't panic. It is EXTREMELY important if you want your ducks to be docile like pets that you handle them, hold them, and nuzzle them close to you as much as you can. They need plenty of water, so keep a good eye on that. You will be a great "parent". Show them lots of love and they will show you lots, too! Happy Valentine's Day!

 

[CindyinSD]

By the way, the employees at the feed stores don't always know a lot about taking care of poultry, etc. Sometimes they do; sometimes they don't, but they almost always at least pretend to know what they're talking about.