What breed of ducks did I get.

[Bcolpetzer]

View attachment 1859954 View attachment 1859936 View attachment 1859937 I Got ducklings from TSC this past week. They said the breed was straight run of mixed. They all looked like this. I was thinking maybe Pekin, but since is my first time with duckling am not sure.

Also I understand they love water, how old until I can put them in a little shallow water?

I have raised chicks and got the brooder setup for them figured out, anything i should know to do different for ducklings?

We built their duck house this weekend and are putting a run around it. I have also made it so I can lock it up at night with keyed locks. My question is since they will be locked in at duck for the night like my chicken does the sides need to be hardware or will they be safe with chicken wire sides and poultry top for the days. Once they get big enough I will let them out to free range with me during the day. I have a pond I dug and in their run will keep a small kiddie pond when they get old enough.

They are more lively and different personalities than my chicks was. I noticed this morning they was all crammed at the corner furthers from heat source. Even though temp at the hottest point was 85.4. Our night are getting down to mid to high 60’s. So still want to keep them in their nice warm brooder where I know they’re safe.

 

[DuckyDonna]

View attachment 1859954 View attachment 1859936 View attachment 1859937 I Got ducklings from TSC this past week. They said the breed was straight run of mixed. They all looked like this. I was thinking maybe Pekin, but since is my first time with duckling am not sure.

Also I understand they love water, how old until I can put them in a little shallow water?

I have raised chicks and got the brooder setup for them figured out, anything i should know to do different for ducklings?

We built their duck house this weekend and are putting a run around it. I have also made it so I can lock it up at night with keyed locks. My question is since they will be locked in at duck for the night like my chicken does the sides need to be hardware or will they be safe with chicken wire sides and poultry top for the days. Once they get big enough I will let them out to free range with me during the day. I have a pond I dug and in their run will keep a small kiddie pond when they get old enough.

They are more lively and different personalities than my chicks was. I noticed this morning they was all crammed at the corner furthers from heat source. Even though temp at the hottest point was 85.4. Our night are getting down to mid to high 60’s. I thought they are to little for the coop at night. Maybe I’ll experiment with a tarp over the wire at night to see what temps are in morning.

You can go with chicken wire for the outside run for their during the day. I had that at first but you might want to consider a 4' welded wire fence. It's not that expensive and holds up a lot better than chicken wire. I say this especially because if these ducks are pekins (idk) they are going to get heavy and big. Plus the welded wire fencing will keep predators like dogs out, not just the ducks inside. It was from Home Depot and about $75 for 100'.

You're coop looks great as far as safetly for them for now but it might get to be a bit small once they are grown especially if they are pekins! You will probably want to build another coop for them and one that YOU can stand up in to clean. Trust me, you will be glad you did!

You can let them get in water now. I use a little paint tray plastic insert when they are little and keep moving up to bigger basins and finally kiddie pool. Put a little piece of wood or a rock for them to use to get in and out of the water basin. Its summer and probably warm enough wherever you live for them to get in and have fun. They will love it and be doing "zoomies" which is so cute to watch. It will also help stimulate their oil gland and they will be on their way to becoming waterpoof sooner.

 

[Bcolpetzer]

Thank you. We have the materials to make another identical house for them. Ran out of energy and figured we would get to the second one this coming weekend. And since I wasn’t sure what type I had didn’t know what size we would have.
I’m concerned right now about what temperature to keep them at night days are no problems because it’s nice and warm I had read ducks don’t tolerate heat as well as chicks. I put them in the new home yesterday for a couple hours and they loved it. I had to crawl back in and dig them out of the straw because they was sleeping and didn't want to leave. I was afraid they was to young to leave there so got them out and put in brooder for the night.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Thank you. We have the materials to make another identical house for them. Ran out of energy and figured we would get to the second one this coming weekend. And since I wasn’t sure what type I had didn’t know what size we would have.
I’m concerned right now about what temperature to keep them at night days are no problems because it’s nice and warm I had read ducks don’t tolerate heat as well as chicks. I put them in the new home yesterday for a couple of hours and they loved it. I had to crawl back in and dig them out of the straw because they was sleeping and didn't want to leave. I was afraid they was to young to leave there so got them out and put in brooder for the night.

Ya, I was afraid you were going to be having a hard time cleaning and getting them in and out with the way that pen is constructed. The good news is that they love their own place!

You've just got to make sure they don't get cold. I'm in Georgia and the night temps here get in the 70's and that's not warm enough for them right now and Pa is way north of me so I'm sure your temps are even cooler.

Can you move that house into the garage where you can put a heat source in for them at night? It does look like it might be heavy so that would be quite a chore. Worrying about the temperature is just for a few weeks and it will go by very fast so hang in there because by 3-4 weeks they will be getting feathers and you won't have to worry about this any longer.

Can you leave them in a brooder inside at night in the garage or wherever space you have? I use a kiddie pool as a brooder and stood up big pieces of cardboard (from between pallets at Sam's Club) so as they grew they couldn't get out. They grow really really fast! You'll be able to use that pool when they get bigger too so it won't be a waste.

Then if it's a really nice day you could put them out in their house and lock them up. Looks very secure and safe for them so they should be fine in there and you can go about your day at work or whatever you've got to do and know they will be good. Hope this helps.

 

[DucksOhio]

Ya, I was afraid you were going to be having a hard time cleaning and getting them in and out with the way that pen is constructed. The good news is that they love their own place!

You've just got to make sure they don't get cold. I'm in Georgia and the night temps here get in the 70's and that's not warm enough for them right now and Pa is way north of me so I'm sure your temps are even cooler.

Can you move that house into the garage where you can put a heat source in for them at night? It does look like it might be heavy so that would be quite a chore. Worrying about the temperature is just for a few weeks and it will go by very fast so hang in there because by 3-4 weeks they will be getting feathers and you won't have to worry about this any longer.

Can you leave them in a brooder inside at night in the garage or wherever space you have? I use a kiddie pool as a brooder and stood up big pieces of cardboard (from between pallets at Sam's Club) so as they grew they couldn't get out. They grow really really fast! You'll be able to use that pool when they get bigger too so it won't be a waste.

Then if it's a really nice day you could put them out in their house and lock them up. Looks very secure and safe for them so they should be fine in there and you can go about your day at work or whatever you've got to do and know they will be good. Hope this helps.
View attachment 1860085

That's what my brooder looks like!
Agreed, babies need more heat for a few weeks. Maybe keep them indoors?

Not sure of breed -- something very white, lol.

 

[Bcolpetzer]

I have a brooder for them in The shed set up they stay in with a heat source they seem to be minding the heat lamp. Even though the temp on the floor was 85 degrees. I think I will keep raising it until they seem comfortable or switch heat sources. With other brooder containing Cornish rocks it’s one of those ecoglow warmers. I was using it for chicks because they are smaller.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Cute little ones!! If they have pink bills probably white layers if orange Pekin. Hard to tell. If it’s nice an warm where you are they can go in water now I usually fill the container and let it sit out in the sun for a while until it’s not super cold ( we have spring ) water. You can also let them play in the tub just start out with water up to top of their legs and gradually go deeper till they are diving and having a blast. If using a pool give them a safe way in an out. And don’t leave them alone while in a pool until they know for sure how to get in an out safely ducklings can chill and die if exposed too cold water.

 

[quackiemama]

Very cute babies!

 

[Bcolpetzer]

Cute little ones!! If they have pink bills probably white layers if orange Pekin. Hard to tell. If it’s nice an warm where you are they can go in water now I usually fill the container and let it sit out in the sun for a while until it’s not super cold ( we have spring ) water. You can also let them play in the tub just start out with water up to top of their legs and gradually go deeper till they are diving and having a blast. If using a pool give them a safe way in an out. And don’t leave them alone while in a pool until they know for sure how to get in an out safely ducklings can chill and die if exposed too cold water.

Some have what I thought looked like good healthy flesh and a few have a paler color. I’ll keep an eye on those. I got one of their houses done and they got a short playtime yesterday and today while I clean and let the brooder dry out. The temps here have been 88-90 during the day. They have a blast running around and playing in the bigger space. And of course running from me when it’s time to go back to the brooder. They are kept in the brooder yet other than that. I did get a paint tray today to put a little water in the deep end to let them play a little. Figured baby steps. Of course they won’t be out of my sight while that’s set up for them. It will be a a while before I let them in the pond, right not that to scary for me.

 

[Bcolpetzer]

Their bills color are more defined now looks like I have two pink bills and seven orange bills. Now just have to wait and see. They definitely grow fast and have such different personalities. Mad loving them