When to take your ducklings to water?

[twixerella]

I don't have ducklings yet, but i am getting some next week and I was wondering what's the earliest you can let them swim around. Or can you let them from day 1?

 

[debilorrah]

I got mine at 8 days old and let them swim in lukewarm water in the sink (thanks TerrieLacy)

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

You can let them from day one. Think about this, If they were hatched out in the wild they go straight to the water. DJ

 

[Wifezilla]

Day one WITH SUPERVISION. Make sure they aren't water logged and if they start to look tired, take them out of the water and dry them off then put them back in a warm brooder.

Ducklings not raised by a momma duck will not have the oils on their feathers needed to keep them from getting water logged. That's why the supervision if you let them swim right away is a must. After a week, their little oil glands start working and they can oil their own feathers.

 

[chickenlittle32]

I just want to say thank you all for saying day one...I hatched some a while back and was in with another poultry forum and they would argue about when the ducklings should be introduced to water. I've always allowed them to go swim early and nothing has ever gone wrong with them.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
mine was 2 days old and had a nice bowl of warm water! loved it..

 

[Wifezilla]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3hIaoC2wdw&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8Qm7PFQzGU&feature=channel_page

Videos of two of my ducks. In the first one, Bungie (the rouen) had just turned a week old, but he was swimming in anything he could jump in to as soon as I brought him home. I couldn't keep him OUT of the water.

 

[Shared Acres]

Momma duck has 15 ducklings next door. Immediately after all hatched, guess where they were:

 

[twixerella]

ok, thank you all, like chickenlittle I had heard various times at when you should let them in water. I wonder though if they imprint on me and i put them in a pond and swim around with them will they follow me?

 

[chickenlittle32]

Now, that I have no clue. LOL I have heard of them imprinting a human, but its also in their blood to be drawn to water.