So I am in the process of hatching out some pekin/rouen/runner/possibly muscovy mix (and it could be any of those mixed with any of those, the ducks belong to a friend of mine who for some reason keeps them all penned together) ducklings. They are only going to be staying with me for about 2 weeks, and then I'll be taking them back to my friend.
The first two are a couple days old, and we took them outside because the weather was -hot-... enough so that I figured I could give them an inch of water to splash in for a little bit as a break from their fairly boring brooder. They thought their inch of water was the greatest darn thing that's ever happened to them, zoom-waddling and trying to toss water over their backs... not surprising considering they have tried to get into the waterer to do the same thing.
The question is... is it ok to take them outside for a little bit when they're so young? They certainly didn't catch a chill in 90 degree weather with a shining sun, and they enjoyed the water immensely. I kind of assume mom duck would be taking them out if they were hatched naturally, but I don't know how ok it is for them to skim the grass for goodies. We don't treat it with chemicals or anything, but are they like chickens and need grit or something if they are going to find bugs to eat or something else?
The first two are a couple days old, and we took them outside because the weather was -hot-... enough so that I figured I could give them an inch of water to splash in for a little bit as a break from their fairly boring brooder. They thought their inch of water was the greatest darn thing that's ever happened to them, zoom-waddling and trying to toss water over their backs... not surprising considering they have tried to get into the waterer to do the same thing.
The question is... is it ok to take them outside for a little bit when they're so young? They certainly didn't catch a chill in 90 degree weather with a shining sun, and they enjoyed the water immensely. I kind of assume mom duck would be taking them out if they were hatched naturally, but I don't know how ok it is for them to skim the grass for goodies. We don't treat it with chemicals or anything, but are they like chickens and need grit or something if they are going to find bugs to eat or something else?