when to start swimming

[688peterl]

how long can i keep my ducks from swimming before they HAVE to swim? i want to leave it as long as possible so they are big and healthy, i was thinking about 2/3 weeks?

 

[Katy]

If you're talking about ducklings, I let my call ducklings start swimming when they're a day or two old. Only supervised and make sure they have a heat lamp to dry out and warm up under when you take them out. They can get waterlogged and drown so you need to watch them closely.

 

[classroomducks]

I waited 4 days for 3 and less than one day for the other...Funny thing is the one that was a day old is the one that was doing the diving...THEY LOVE IT!!! But i suppose you dont have to give them water...they just like it.

 

[NYREDS]

In the wild ducklings start swimming within hours of hatching.

 

[bufforp89]

I let mine swim the day after I got them, they were all worn out from coming though the mail all they did was sleep the first day.

 

[nettie]

i usually wait a week. they don't need to swim, so you can wait 2-3 weeks if you want.

 

[688peterl]

Quote:
yeah the longer the better i think

 

[Wifezilla]

Within days. They will start to get stinky soon enough for you to reconsider the swimming thing

 

[classroomducks]

that was why i gave mine water...the ducks themselves get smelly...giving them water gives them a chance to get clean (well cleaner again...pigs with feathers)

 

[debilorrah]

Ducks and water are meant to go together. I had mine in the water right away. Like someone else said, just watch that they don't get water logged. Have the water shallow enough so they can stand and it will prevent problems.