Unsupervised swim time?

[willowbirdks]

Hi all, sorry to be so full of questions at the moment... The ducks are just getting more settled into outside life and routines, and I have some questions that I'm still trying to resolve!

We have a small pond for them to swim in, and at the moment it's outside of the predator-proof duck run. We haven't quite decided if/how to fence that in, and have read that ducklings hatched from an incubator aren't supposed to swim on their own anyway. My real question is, at what age do I no longer have to worry so much about drowning, sickness, getting waterlogged, etc?

At what age can my duckies swim on their own, without one of us in the vicinity to keep checking on them?

 

[Amiga]

When fully grown and fully feathered.

 

[Speceider]

Simple answer is never
..I have had old birds drown while molting. Make sure they have multiple ways in and out of their pool. Do not just use a ramp they could get under...my PhD could have been titled 101 ways for duck to die....and it would have been shorter.

Clint

 

[willowbirdks]

Simple answer is never
..I have had old birds drown while molting. Make sure they have multiple ways in and out of their pool. Do not just use a ramp they could get under...my PhD could have been titled 101 ways for duck to die....and it would have been shorter.

Clint

Funny and sad all at the same time...!

I did put a couple of blocks down in the shallow end for the ones that are still having a hard time getting out. We don't have a ramp because it's actually at ground level. Any other thoughts for ways to try and help them on this? I think they can stand flat-footed in the corners of the pond, as it's just one of those black pond liners that you can buy at a garden store... So the four corners are all more shallow, and that's also where I had put some paving blocks to help provide a step out.

 

[willowbirdks]

When fully grown and fully feathered.

Thanks, that's what I was generally thinking... My husband was wondering if I was overreacting. Glad to know it's still something we need to be careful about. They are 4 & 1/2 weeks, so still a few weeks to go before fully grown.

 

[Speceider]

Funny and sad all at the same time...!

I did put a couple of blocks down in the shallow end for the ones that are still having a hard time getting out. We don't have a ramp because it's actually at ground level. Any other thoughts for ways to try and help them on this? I think they can stand flat-footed in the corners of the pond, as it's just one of those black pond liners that you can buy at a garden store... So the four corners are all more shallow, and that's also where I had put some paving blocks to help provide a step out.

That sounds good...not sure what else you could do. I actually lose more molting adults than I do ducklings when they molt.

Clint

 

[willowbirdks]

That sounds good...not sure what else you could do. I actually lose more molting adults than I do ducklings when they molt.

Clint

Molting wasn't even on my radar screen when it comes to causing problems with swimming and drowning. I feel like every time I talk to you, you have good advice that I haven't even considered! Thank you.

 

[Rparr]

Hello so I came across this thread and I have some questions. This is my first time with ducks and chickens (I got both) I built a huge area for them deluxe chicken coop and a low to the ground duck house. I have chicken wire around everything and then electric fencing about a foot away from that! So hopefully they cant get to it and nothing can get in. I did out a kiddie pool in with steps in and out I walked out to find a chicken drowned in the pool. I was shocked this member even crossed my mind. They dident seem to care for water so I dident think anything of it. Could the chick of been to young ? Water too deep? Should I not have a pool in their area at all? We are leaving them for a week and I want to make sure they are ok we built a custom feeder and waterer with the duck cups so they can fit their beaks in but not get the water dirty with an automatic filler hooked up. Any input would be extremely helpful

 

[Melodychick]

Sorry for your loss. How old are your chickens and ducks? I’m getting my first ducks soon and already have chickens. I plan to have the duck pool in a fenced area separate from the chickens, but will let both groups out together for free range time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I would not go away for a week and have a kiddy pool inside their area. It's just too easy for young chickens to fall in I lost one to drowning in a water bucket. So no water buckets are set out any longer when we have chicks. They have their own fenced area away from any deep water. Very sorry for your loss.