WHEN CAN I LET MY DUCKLINGS SWIM

[easterlyfarms]

i currently have a 3 day old call duck. 1 of the 3 eggs hatched. when is it ok to let him swim? I have heard many different anwers to this question.

 

[purr]

Quote:
I would PM Miss Prissy directly she helped me with my ducks.

 

[Bec]

I, personally, would wait a week. Then If you want, fill a little tub just deep enough, with luke warm water, that the baby can still reach the bottom. Make sure you sit right there because they can become water logged quickly and drown, so just a few minutes will do! It is so much fun to see them swim for the first time! Just make sure it is not for too long, it can happen fast, especially on a little one. As long as you are sitting right there watching, he/she will be fine and have a blast!

 

[Duck Keeper]

You can let them swim WHILE YOU'RE WATCHING as soon as they come out of the shell and dry off.

Well, maybe a day or two old would be better...

The trick is to make sure they don't get tired out and drown, and to dry them off well and hold them for a time until you put them back in the brooder. Make sure their brooder is dry and cozy too.

Do what you feel best.

If you think ducklings should not swim until four weeks old, go ahead and wait until they're four weeks old. If, on the other hand, you think they should swim daily, allow them to swim WHILE YOU WATCH daily. Like I said, do what you feel is right, you're their mama, we can't tell 'em otherwise.

 

[Wifezilla]

Mine have all swam within a couple of days. After a little while, I dried them off and put them back in their warm brooder.

 

[kawonu]

We just use a bowl and only let them stay a minute for our calls. We start letting them swim at a few days old. We do not let them have UNsupervised swim time until they are feathered out. They will get water logged and drown.

 

[easterlyfarms]

thanks for all you input i will probaly let he/she swim over the week end.

 

[cj5523]

Think of how it is in the wild, they swim at a few days old

 

[Beer can]

I could be wrong but I've heard in the wild, or hatched from a broody duck the ducklings can swim because oils from the mother get on the little ones to keep their fluff water proof/dry. I think it takes awhile before they produce their own oils. Though I have saw plenty of pics of young incubator hatched ducklings swimming happily in bathtubs.