We live on a river. I have a wild mallard/ her 4 babies that eat our chicken feed every other day

[Debbtalk]

We decided to buy 2 ducklings from Tractor Supply this week, on 7/27/18.
I have them in a small kiddy pool in the tiny house we live in with 10 rescue cats and a German Shepherd in the next room in a plastic enclosed porch. The cats are not allowed out of course!

We have no idea what age or breed the ducklings are because TS didn't. I have one that looks like a mallard with the eyeliner, much, much larger than the other tiny one. That one was aggressive at first, still flighty, so we cannot hold them since it is so protective of the tiny one.
They are doing fine in the house, yet I am wanting to know how soon I can put them in the dog kennel with the bottom fence holes covered, so they won't get out?... this is a combined wooden chicken coop my husband built years ago.

We will block the banty hen and 2 roosters from the ducklings of course.
I need to know if they withstand 55-60 degree evenings in Blue Ridge, Ga. It is August 1, 2018 but we are having cool evenings on the river.
Thank you for any help.

 

[Lil Drake40]

At their tiny size it’s too cool for them to be outside with out some kind of heat.

 

[Lil Drake40]

Look up mommie heating pad easy to make and a lot safer than a heat lamp

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/brooder-heaters.1229435/#post-19723481

 

[milkweeds]

We decided to buy 2 ducklings from Tractor Supply this week, on 7/27/18.
I have them in a small kiddy pool in the tiny house we live in with 10 rescue cats and a German Shepherd in the next room in a plastic enclosed porch. The cats are not allowed out of course!

We have no idea what age or breed the ducklings are because TS didn't. I have one that looks like a mallard with the eyeliner, much, much larger than the other tiny one. That one was aggressive at first, still flighty, so we cannot hold them since it is so protective of the tiny one.
They are doing fine in the house, yet I am wanting to know how soon I can put them in the dog kennel with the bottom fence holes covered, so they won't get out?... this is a combined wooden chicken coop my husband built years ago.

We will block the banty hen and 2 roosters from the ducklings of course.
I need to know if they withstand 55-60 degree evenings in Blue Ridge, Ga. It is August 1, 2018 but we are having cool evenings on the river.
Thank you for any help.

I have raised ducklings for about 3 years now....I find they can stand cooler temps after week 3............I would keep the heat on....only enough as they display a walking about without huddling. At night many times I place either pine chips or hay in one corner and mold it like a nest they can crawl into...and then place a clean soft facecloth just over them, this allows their body heat to remain in there and they keep each other warm. Sometimes 2 of them get a bit lonely.....so I always place 2 mirrors in there...taped well to the walls ...standing up so they touch at the corner of the pen,.....or if it isn't square...I place a larger mirror standing on a slant and tape it so it cannot fall on the little guys...this way they can sit and see themselves and think they are a brood. I think they do better when they think they are many,......once they are 3 weeks old...as long as the daytime air is about 80.....they can run about with out being under a light...A lady once told me that my baby mallard wouldn't live since he was all alone. He was the only duck that hatched. So I got the two mirrors and taped them to the corner of the plastic container....placed some small teddies in there , and at night I covered him up with a soft face cloth,,,,,until I could get an order of more ducks at a hatchery, The little duck thought he had friends that were always sitting by his side...or walking with him....so he made it until I got a couple more and is one of my favorite ducks today. So a good suggestion is...make a type of nest big enough for both...with a light bulb up above...not too close...once they display leaving the are where the light is going...move the light higher...always allow a cool spot in the brooder...so they can display the need for cooler temps when their bodies require it...this way they are never too hort...and once they begin to leave the center of the warmth...you can adjust right off the bat....any other questions...feel free to contact me

 

[Debbtalk]

I have raised ducklings for about 3 years now....I find they can stand cooler temps after week 3............I would keep the heat on....only enough as they display a walking about without huddling. At night many times I place either pine chips or hay in one corner and mold it like a nest they can crawl into...and then place a clean soft facecloth just over them, this allows their body heat to remain in there and they keep each other warm. Sometimes 2 of them get a bit lonely.....so I always place 2 mirrors in there...taped well to the walls ...standing up so they touch at the corner of the pen,.....or if it isn't square...I place a larger mirror standing on a slant and tape it so it cannot fall on the little guys...this way they can sit and see themselves and think they are a brood. I think they do better when they think they are many,......once they are 3 weeks old...as long as the daytime air is about 80.....they can run about with out being under a light...A lady once told me that my baby mallard wouldn't live since he was all alone. He was the only duck that hatched. So I got the two mirrors and taped them to the corner of the plastic container....placed some small teddies in there , and at night I covered him up with a soft face cloth,,,,,until I could get an order of more ducks at a hatchery, The little duck thought he had friends that were always sitting by his side...or walking with him....so he made it until I got a couple more and is one of my favorite ducks today. So a good suggestion is...make a type of nest big enough for both...with a light bulb up above...not too close...once they display leaving the are where the light is going...move the light higher...always allow a cool spot in the brooder...so they can display the need for cooler temps when their bodies require it...this way they are never too hort...and once they begin to leave the center of the warmth...you can adjust right off the bat....any other questions...feel free to contact me

 

[Debbtalk]

Sadly, My 5 1/2 week old Cayuga duckling from Tractor Supply, died today . I had done all that I knew from good food and vitamins such as niacin, etc. She never was strong, so tiny.
My female Rouen is soo much larger even though they gave them to us the same age, she is full grown looking and very sad and missing her tiny partner, as I was today.

Scarlet,my Rouen, has been trying to convey to me that she needed help with the Cayuga when this first happened. So did my Banty Roosters, yet, I had already done all that I knew to do...and it was a crying time.
I must find another 5-10 week old Cayuga duckling to keep my sweet Rouen from stressing because she thought that was her baby~ As much as I did.
If anyone can refer me ASAP to another duckling from 5-8 weeks old, thank You...

At this point I would like to rehome my pretty Rouen female, she is breaking my heart all alone out there
I live in Blue Ridge, Ga. Fannin County 770-530-2178

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am sorry for your loss Have you been on your state thread at “where am I where are you”.

 

[milkweeds]

Sadly, My 5 1/2 week old Cayuga duckling from Tractor Supply, died today . I had done all that I knew from good food and vitamins such as niacin, etc. She never was strong, so tiny.
My female Rouen is soo much larger even though they gave them to us the same age, she is full grown looking and very sad and missing her tiny partner, as I was today.

Scarlet,my Rouen, has been trying to convey to me that she needed help with the Cayuga when this first happened. So did my Banty Roosters, yet, I had already done all that I knew to do...and it was a crying time.
I must find another 5-10 week old Cayuga duckling to keep my sweet Rouen from stressing because she thought that was her baby~ As much as I did.
If anyone can refer me ASAP to another duckling from 5-8 weeks old, thank You...

At this point I would like to rehome my pretty Rouen female, she is breaking my heart all alone out there
I live in Blue Ridge, Ga. Fannin County 770-530-2178

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you need to call a hatchery...and find something to be a friend....ducks come in all year round