When can ducks swim?

[Amykins]

Hello,
I let mine swim (supervised) a few days after they arrived:


I made sure to build a little island in the pool for them to rest, sunbathe, relax on. Afterwards, there was a heatlamp they could use for warmth, but here in Florida they never used it. They would preen like adults, but you can tell that they are not as buoyant without real feathers.
Enjoy,
Rich

HAAAA I can't take the adorableness! <3 Rich is right though, they can swim as early as day one, but they won't start producing preening oil until two weeks or so. Some people claim that getting them swimming early o kickstarts their oil glands sooner, but I'm not sure. As long as you make sure they get warm and dry ASAP afterwards, it's all good. And as you can see, makes for some of the most amazingly cute photos ever! <3

 

[harkey1995]

they love swimming lol i let the little ones go swimming after reading your helful information and first thing they did was dive in lol they screamed when it was time to take them out tho lol.. Thank all of yall for answering!

 

[Orca5094]

Cute pic, Richb353!!

I start my ducklings swimming/bathing when they're a couple days old. They love it, and usually need it since they are so messy with their food and such. I just always keep it short when they're that young, gently dry them with a towel after, and then put them immediately back under their heat lamp. As they get older they get longer (and deeper) baths.

 

[Miss Lydia]

they love swimming lol i let the little ones go swimming after reading your helful information and first thing they did was dive in lol they screamed when it was time to take them out tho lol.. Thank all of yall for answering!

harkey I watched you videos both are really good, your ducklings are adorable. I have a question though are you offering them grit[chick grit] anytime you feed them anything other than their chick starter they need grit to grind it up. I put some chick grit into a small bowl and set it close to their feed. You just want to make sure the bowl you put it in won't tip over or it will end up all in the shavings. But chick grit is very important. Also I'd add some brewers yeast to their feed if your feeding chick starter just to make sure they are getting enough niacin. Chick starter doesn't have enough for ducklings and a deficiency can cause neurological and leg issues.

 

[harkey1995]

harkey I watched you videos both are really good, your ducklings are adorable. I have a question though are you offering them grit[chick grit] anytime you feed them anything other than their chick starter they need grit to grind it up. I put some chick grit into a small bowl and set it close to their feed. You just want to make sure the bowl you put it in won't tip over or it will end up all in the shavings. But chick grit is very important. Also I'd add some brewers yeast to their feed if your feeding chick starter just to make sure they are getting enough niacin. Chick starter doesn't have enough for ducklings and a deficiency can cause neurological and leg issues.

Thank you. and no i stopped giving them there treats once i found out i needed grit. Right now im kind of snowed in so ive been feeding them scratch with some vitamins mixed in... poor things lol but they seem to like it more than there normal feed? Would it it work i mixed there treats with the chick starter? its really finely grind up almost to a powder.. "ill upload them swimming later its so funny lol"

 

[needlessjunk]

Hello,
I let mine swim (supervised) a few days after they arrived:

I made sure to build a little island in the pool for them to rest, sunbathe, relax on. Afterwards, there was a heatlamp they could use for warmth, but here in Florida they never used it. They would preen like adults, but you can tell that they are not as buoyant without real feathers.
Enjoy,
Rich

Love the little ones!

Thank you. and no i stopped giving them there treats once i found out i needed grit. Right now im kind of snowed in so ive been feeding them scratch with some vitamins mixed in... poor things lol but they seem to like it more than there normal feed? Would it it work i mixed there treats with the chick starter? its really finely grind up almost to a powder..   "ill upload them swimming later its so funny lol"

So glad they enjoyed the swim. It's so cute watching them. Now you understand the saying "like ducks to water". If you are feeding scratch they need grit. If they are only eating crumble/pellets you don't need it. Any chance you can get a bit of sand or something? Since you are stuck you gotta work with what you have. Scratch is a treat so it's no wonder they like it better. Right now they really need duck/chick feed.

 

[harkey1995]

Love the little ones!
So glad they enjoyed the swim. It's so cute watching them. Now you understand the saying "like ducks to water". If you are feeding scratch they need grit. If they are only eating crumble/pellets you don't need it. Any chance you can get a bit of sand or something? Since you are stuck you gotta work with what you have. Scratch is a treat so it's no wonder they like it better. Right now they really need duck/chick feed.

i have no sand.. it should clear up in the next day or to so i can get out and get some. how much grit do i need for there food? and how do i use it? ....but the white pekin chick tho is so funny while she is in the tub.. she acts scared of the water but then randomly dives right in lol

 

[needlessjunk]

i have no sand.. it should clear up in the next day or to so i can get out and get some. how much grit do i need for there food? and how do i use it? ....but the white pekin chick tho is so funny while she is in the tub.. she acts scared of the water but then randomly dives right in lol

We need a video! I bet they are so cute. I put out a little dish of it and they would help themselves. I think you can mix in a bit with their food too. Maybe put a little grit in with the food along with some scratch to get them going. The back of my bag said how much you can mix per so many lbs of food. Get chick grit as regular adult grit will be too big.

 

[harkey1995]

We need a video! I bet they are so cute. I put out a little dish of it and they would help themselves. I think you can mix in a bit with their food too. Maybe put a little grit in with the food along with some scratch to get them going. The back of my bag said how much you can mix per so many lbs of food. Get chick grit as regular adult grit will be too big.

Ok thank you and im uploading the video tonight

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you. and no i stopped giving them there treats once i found out i needed grit. Right now im kind of snowed in so ive been feeding them scratch with some vitamins mixed in... poor things lol but they seem to like it more than there normal feed? Would it it work i mixed there treats with the chick starter? its really finely grind up almost to a powder.. "ill upload them swimming later its so funny lol"

I think until you can pick up some chick grit I'd stop anything other than crumble, the problem is if they haven't a way to grind up their treats[grit] then they can get a blockage. Grit is cheap and just put out a bowl of it in the brooder they will eat it as needed. and like needlessjunk said scratch is candy to ducks so that should be given very sparingly right now or niacin def. may show up.That video of them swimming is so sweet, they sure do enjoy themselves.