Surprise ducks - help

[Melontine]

I love my grandpa, I really do. But man. I am screaming inside right now.

My grandad was over for a visit earlier this week. He left yesterday. I got home from thanksgiving at my other grandparent's house and found something open on the office desktop. An order confirmation for a variety pack of 10 unsexed ducks and a bag of duck crumble. The order is dated the 22nd and says it'll ship out sometime in the next 7 days from that date. The payment info is all my granddad's, but the shipping info is for my house.
Apparently, no one in my household was told about this either but had heard he thought I might like ducks for Christmas.
I'm going to love them when they get here but right now I am stressing. So I've come here for help.

Clear issues;
It is late November and I live in Maine. There's not a lot, but there is some snow on the ground and it gets cold. 10 birds seem like so few, and these conditions make me fear the worst for the little guys.

I have never owned ducks before. Chickens, plenty. But ducks? I know they're messier than chickens and prone to broken legs. I know they can't swim until they're older and have water-proofing oil on their feathers. I know my store always puts nuts and bolts in the waterers for them, but not actually the reason why.

My post office is terrible and needs to stop. We have had issues with them in the past where they don't call and just put the birds on the truck for delivery. I'm going to call them on Monday to try and convince them not to, but man- they are a disaster to work with.

Other members of my household are going to be in Florida next week. It'll just be me from Sunday to Saturday. This includes the person whose name and phone number will actually going to be on the box.

Lesser issues;
Housing; I'm probably going to bring in my brooder hutch and set them up in there for the first few weeks. Then when they're bigger move them out into the workshop until spring. I have some coops my current birds aren't using, fixing one of those up for them shouldn't be too much of an issue. Just, probably not in the middle of winter.


So these birds are coming. Help me prepare for them?

 

[Melontine]

I put in an additional heat source because they were trembling and not wanting to be under the plate.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Any way of contacting the hatchery and requesting a delay until Spring? I'm also really surprised any hatchery would send out ducklings at this time of year!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I love my grandpa, I really do. But man. I am screaming inside right now.

My grandad was over for a visit earlier this week. He left yesterday. I got home from thanksgiving at my other grandparent's house and found something open on the office desktop. An order confirmation for a variety pack of 10 unsexed ducks and a bag of duck crumble. The order is dated the 22nd and says it'll ship out sometime in the next 7 days from that date. The payment info is all my granddad's, but the shipping info is for my house.
Apparently, no one in my household was told about this either but had heard he thought I might like ducks for Christmas.
I'm going to love them when they get here but right now I am stressing. So I've come here for help.

Clear issues;
It is late November and I live in Maine. There's not a lot, but there is some snow on the ground and it gets cold. 10 birds seem like so few, and these conditions make me fear the worst for the little guys.

I have never owned ducks before. Chickens, plenty. But ducks? I know they're messier than chickens and prone to broken legs. I know they can't swim until they're older and have water-proofing oil on their feathers. I know my store always puts nuts and bolts in the waterers for them, but not actually the reason why.

My post office is terrible and needs to stop. We have had issues with them in the past where they don't call and just put the birds on the truck for delivery. I'm going to call them on Monday to try and convince them not to, but man- they are a disaster to work with.

Other members of my household are going to be in Florida next week. It'll just be me from Sunday to Saturday. This includes the person whose name and phone number will actually going to be on the box.

Lesser issues;
Housing; I'm probably going to bring in my brooder hutch and set them up in there for the first few weeks. Then when they're bigger move them out into the workshop until spring. I have some coops my current birds aren't using, fixing one of those up for them shouldn't be too much of an issue. Just, probably not in the middle of winter.


So these birds are coming. Help me prepare for them?

You can cancel the order, if you're that worried and unprepared.

They're not THAT much different than chickens, but they are messier and grow much faster. They double in size within 2 weeks. They are very stinky indoors because thet make a mess of their water. They must have water any time they have feed because they do not have salivary glands. They go from their food to their water and make a big soupy mess of everything. The water must be deep enough for them to get their heads underwater in order to keep their nares and eyes clear. They need heat, too, just as chicks do.

I suggest brooding in a kiddie pool, if possible, since you are expecting 10. I was changing their brooder out 2-3× a day because of the smell. That's not an exaggeration.

All that nastiness aside, ducks are amazing little bundles of personality, and you will fall in love with them.

 

[Canadian Wind]

We expect pictures, and lots of them, if you get them now. Also if you get them later.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I wonder if you might have some white look syers in there, too. Hoover's doesn't have too many breeds with yellow ducklings on their site.

But OHMYGOSH they are so cute!!! I love my Pekin! Tins of personality! Just be sure they get niacin to avoid leg issues. My girl Julep is big, loud, and proud! She's not had any serious leg issues at all, and she's getting on in years.

I am SO HAPPY for you (and a tad jealous)!!!!

 

[Silkiesaz]

I love my grandpa, I really do. But man. I am screaming inside right now.

My grandad was over for a visit earlier this week. He left yesterday. I got home from thanksgiving at my other grandparent's house and found something open on the office desktop. An order confirmation for a variety pack of 10 unsexed ducks and a bag of duck crumble. The order is dated the 22nd and says it'll ship out sometime in the next 7 days from that date. The payment info is all my granddad's, but the shipping info is for my house.
Apparently, no one in my household was told about this either but had heard he thought I might like ducks for Christmas.
I'm going to love them when they get here but right now I am stressing. So I've come here for help.

Clear issues;
It is late November and I live in Maine. There's not a lot, but there is some snow on the ground and it gets cold. 10 birds seem like so few, and these conditions make me fear the worst for the little guys.

I have never owned ducks before. Chickens, plenty. But ducks? I know they're messier than chickens and prone to broken legs. I know they can't swim until they're older and have water-proofing oil on their feathers. I know my store always puts nuts and bolts in the waterers for them, but not actually the reason why.

My post office is terrible and needs to stop. We have had issues with them in the past where they don't call and just put the birds on the truck for delivery. I'm going to call them on Monday to try and convince them not to, but man- they are a disaster to work with.

Other members of my household are going to be in Florida next week. It'll just be me from Sunday to Saturday. This includes the person whose name and phone number will actually going to be on the box.

Lesser issues;
Housing; I'm probably going to bring in my brooder hutch and set them up in there for the first few weeks. Then when they're bigger move them out into the workshop until spring. I have some coops my current birds aren't using, fixing one of those up for them shouldn't be too much of an issue. Just, probably not in the middle of winter.


So these birds are coming. Help me prepare for them?

They will need a water bowl to wash their face and nose. You will likely need to clean their brooder a lot because they make a mess. They need heat especially since it will be winter time. But ducklings are wonderful and lovely. I wish you luck with them.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you
I'll try contacting the hatchery, it was done through tractor supply's website and hoover hatchery. Given it's Thanksgiving day weekend, I'm not sure how much luck I'll have before Monday, and Monday through Wednesday is when it says to expect them to ship out.

I may try the kiddie pool method. I usually go with something else due to the chicks learning to fly so quickly and not wanting the cats to have access. Maybe if I set it up in the garage away from the cats?

I was going to use my brooder plates for their heat.

So water needs are new. Most times it's 'shallow enough that can't down' so 'deep enough to dunk their head in' is a switch. I gotta work tomorrow, I'll see if I can find a suitable bowl for them there.


I was honestly delighted at the idea of ducks when I first saw the purchase there. But realizing that /no one/ had actually planned or prepared for this made it feel much more stressful. So going to be cramming some duck care research over the weekend to prepare.

The duck crumble gets here tomorrow. Should they start on that or a chick starter? I have chick crumble already (late hatching broody's) and that's usually what they give at the store.

Duck food is better. Ducklings need more niacin than chicks. Niacin deficiency is what leads to leg issues. Duck feed should have enough. If you go the chick feed route, do unmedicated and add nutritional yeast as a topper.

The brooder plates will work great!

My favorite waterer for baby ducks is a bowl with a large hole cut in the lid. For 10, you might do more than one or maybe a bucket with holes cut in the side. I always put my waterer on a baking pan with a cooling rack in it to try and catch some of the slop. Kinda like this (not mine - pic found on google):

Nice thing about the kiddie pool is that they can swim in it when they're older. I always allow mine to wade in warm water starting at day one. Others don't give them water to play in until they're older. Your choice. I just put mine in my bathtub, but I've never brooded more than 4 at once - lol! I dried them off and put them in a clean, warm brooder because they can get chilled before they have feathers. Here are my first 4 in a shallow pan of warm water in my bathtub:

 

[Isadora]

What kind of ducks did he order?
I don't know where you heard that ducks are more prone to broken legs. The pekin breed is often used for meat due to how big and heavy they get, is prone to leg issues and bumblefoot because they're so heavy.
Ducks in general need more niacin than chickens and that can lead to leg issues like lameness limping, et cetera, but not broken legs unless there's trauma. I use nutritional yeast flakes added to their food to provide extra niacin.
Sorry you're stressing so much. It's a sweet gesture on his part, but not well thought out.

 

[Melontine]

Thank you all!
So much good advice, definitely going to be using a lot of this.

I'm glad I have the order number so I can track the order progress.
I've got the duck crumble coming in today so that'll be here for them, also have plenty of electrolytes and probiotics stocked up already.
This isn't the worst timing I've had with shipped chicks. One year we did have a snowstorm in the spring right when a shipment was due to arrive and they came in alright. Not great, but about as good as you would normally expect with shipping.
It's been a very mild November so far, so if I can't delay the shipment till spring, things might still be alright.

Definitely posting pictures when I get them, be it next week or next year. <3


Breeds are a mixed variety, says a minimum of 3 will be given. Possibilities are; Pekin, Rouen, Khaki Campbell, Blue Swedish, Black Swedish, White Crested, Fawn & White Runner, Black Runner, Blue Runner, Chocolate Runner, Saxony, Silver Appleyard, Golden 300, and White Layer

Looking at the hatchery's website and what is available now, I think Pekin, Blue Swedish, Silver Appleyard, Fawn and white runners, and Khaki Cambell are most likely.

(It was turkeys I was thinking of for the water thing in my first post.)
For my "ducks being more prone to broken legs' comment, was another anecdote from the store I work in. I know a lot of times they would come in from the post office with leg issues. I'm thinking it was shipping issues, but having niacin on hand will probably help save a lot of them from that.