How to care for ducklings?

[Mamaw]

My crazy DH brought home 2 little ducklings last night. Can someone tell me how to care for them? Bedding, nesting, feeding, etc.....Help me to not strangle DH

[FrugalMomof3]

I can't help you but wanted to say HOW CUTE!

[celina]

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/

their poultry board is great, and will have tons of answers for you

[UPSyours2]

http://kaibicshatchery.com/index.html

http://kaibicshatchery.com/raisingducks.htm

Caring for Ducklings
I have never lost a baby duckling or had any problems with leg deformities. If you follow these directions you can raise ducklings successfully.

The first and most critical rule is DO NOT FEED DUCKLINGS MEDICATED CHICKEN FEED! I cannot stress this enough, it can kill ducklings. Ducklings shouldn't eat medicated feed because ducklings consume a lot more food and water than chicks or turkey poults. They can easily overdose from medicated chick starter. The best choice of food for ducklings is a waterfowl starter. I had a difficult time finding waterfowl starter in my town. I finally found some manufactured by Mazuri. If you cannot find waterfowl starter buy non-medicated chick starter. If you use a non-medicated chicken feed, you will have to supplement with niacin. Ducklings require two to three times the amount of niacin in their diet than chicks. If you do not provide Niacin your ducklings could develop leg deformities. Niacin is a cheap supplement found in drugstores. Buy the 100mg tablets, crush them and add to one gallon of water.

Keep the ducklings warm and dry. Cold ducklings won't eat very well and wet ducklings will die if they aren't dried and warmed properly. Drinking water containers should be small enough so the ducklings can't climb in them and become soaking wet. They will try to swim in their water conatiner if they are too large.

Try to keep the bedding dry. This can be very difficult with ducklings, they love to make a mess with their water. I have found putting the water container in a bowl will help catch the excess water that is spilled out. Try to keep the water container away from the area the ducklings sleep.

Provide a constant supply of fresh water. Ducklings will really suffer when drinking water is not available especially right after they eat, they can choke.

Ducklings love small, chopped up pieces of lettuce and greens added to their water. I let baby ducklings play in a shallow pan of water for about ten minutes daily. Do not leave them unsupervised in the water, they can drown or become chilled. Don't allow them to play in deep water that they cannot stand in until they are two weeks old. Ducklings love eat their greens while they splash around in water. Another favorite treat is floating fish food. Thoroughly dry the ducklings before returning them to the brooder box.

On warm days, you can let baby ducklings outside to eat grass. You should supervise or put them in an enclosed pen so they aren't killed by predators. Once ducklings are six weeks old, they can withstand temperatures fifty degrees or lower. Please review the page on raising baby chicks, it will have some helpful information on rasing ducklings too. If you have any questions feel free to E-mail me. questions@kaibicshatchery.com

http://www.liveducks.com/faqs.html

Quack FAQ's are written by Live Ducks fans like you. We are not trained or licensed professionals. The information published on this page is based on personal experience and research. This information should never be substituted for a professional waterfowl expert or avian veterinarian's advice.

I found an abandoned duck or nest what should I do?
Ducklings are rarely abandoned by their Mothers, who are often watching from a distance until the humans leave. It is best to leave the baby alone unless you are sure the Mother has been killed or is hurt. If you have already "rescued" the baby, immediately put it in a warm, dark, quiet place where it will not be disturbed, such as a box, never in water. Immediately contact a Rehabber or animal control for further instructions. For more information on what to do and why babies often appear to be abandoned: click here

I am thinking about getting a duck, any tips?
Forget everything you have been told by breeders and pet store owners - they are in the business of selling ducklings to make money. They will tell you a duck is an easy pet, like a hamster. Not true. After reading our article: "Are You Ready for a Duck?" if you are prepared to take on the responsibility of caring for a duck, read the rest of our "Quack Q & A", "Duck Care", and get some information from other resources on our "Links" page.

A duck lives a long, long time, and requires special daily care to keep it from getting sick or injured. Taking alittle time to educate yourself and prepare your family for life with an exotic pet is imperative. You will understand and appreciate your duck and give him the quality of life he deserves.

What do ducks eat?
Read my Care & Feeding page for basic duck and duckling feeding information.

Contrary to popular belief, bread and crackers are a dangerous food for ducks - occasional feeding of this is so-so, but your duck will suffer malnutrition if proper feeding is ignored. Chocolate is NOT safe for ducks and dogs. Avoid nuts and seeds. Duck have a different digestive system than most other birds and can't handle many of the same foods that are safe for some birds.

What they can eat off the menu: Aside from pelleted mash, their staple food (what they eat on a daily basis), they enjoy vegetable trimmings, algae, plants, snails, meal worms, night crawlers, coy food, feeder goldfish, and expensive landscaping.

Chopped, hard-boiled eggs are good for a treat. Some foods that are OK for adults are not particularly safe for a duckling, especially anything containing breads and certain dry foods, so check with your vet first.

Ducks in the wild eat a variety of plants, insects, and native foods that will differ from region and from breed to breed. Humans should never feed any ducks, including wild ducks. Read why

How do I keep ducks out of my swimming pool?
Try floating colored objects such as kid's toys or inflatables in the pool. If that doesn't discourage them, a pool cover will do the trick. Be careful not to use anything with rope or strings that can entangle or strangle a duck.

Is chlorine safe for ducks?
We asked our veterinarian, our fish doctor and a pond specialist - all say yes, chlorine is safe for ducks and turtles. Not for fish.

Do my ducks wings need clipping?
Wild ducks fly or migrate to food sources and to escape predators. Domestic ducks like Pekins and Indian Runners have been bred in captivity for hundreds of years making their body weight too heavy to allow flight. If you have reason to be concerned about your duck flying away, don't clip the wings yourself unless you are familiar with wing anatomy. Ducks have blood vessels in their feathers, an accidental nip can cause bleeding and lead to infection and death. Best to see a vet.

How long do duck eggs incubate?
Most domestic duck breeds incubate their eggs in 28 days. The eggs hatch within 24 hours of each other. Before you incubate duck eggs, be sure you can provide them with a permanent home for their entire life. A domestic duck cannot be "released" into a lake or pond with wild ducks.

Are ducks safe around children?
Ducks are usually friendly and great fun for kids of all ages to feed - at a distance. Without strict supervision they should never be trusted with a small child, as is the rule with any pet. Ducks are prone to pecking and pinching and can be seriously injured or killed if mishandled.

My ducks are messy, is there anything I can do?
No doubt about it, ducks are messy, and can be managed with some ingenuity. We feed them mash pellets twice a day and restrict them to a designated area using sturdy plants and wire fencing. Droppings are cleaned up at least once daily to prevent pests and odor.

Can a duck be potty trained?
No, ducks do not have the physical anatomy required (a sphincter muscle), so they can't "hold it" until they reach a litter box or designated area. You can, however observe their patterns and learn when they do most of their pooping and schedule their indoor visits around that time. Or you can diaper a duck using a variety of materials, including baggies, Preemie disposable diapers, or a diaper harness, custom made by Nancy Townsend. See her website for pricing and ordering information.

How long do ducks live?
It's a fact that a wild duck can live 20 years or more. The world record is a Mallard Drake that lived to a ripe old age of 27 years. Domestic ducks typically live 10-15 years in captivity. Those same domestic ducks you see in your local ponds and lakes - abandoned by their owners to fend for themselves typically survive less than three years. Bread, crackers and "people foods" are devastating for all ducks.
Learn More

Do ducks see in color?
Yes, ducks see color, depth and have pretty much the same view as humans.

Is my duck a boy or a girl?
Males tend to be larger, prettier in coloring, and have a softer quack. Mature male ducks, called drakes, have drake feathers on their tail that curl upwards.


Females often have less colorful markings so they can hide from predators while nesting. Females have a loud quack, their features are finer, beaks and feet are smaller and body more streamlined. The scientific way to tell the difference is called "sexing". Vent sexing takes training and skill. Check with a veterinarian for more information. Straight run ducks are not a breed, they are ducks that have not been sexed.

To tell the sex of ducklings that are not fully mature, you need to bring the duckling to a professional duck sexer or a veterinarian. Live Ducks does not provide instructions for duck sexing. Duck genitalia is internal and a duckling can be injured or killed with improper handling.

How do I care for baby ducks?
These websites explain and/or have links to basic duck care, how to hatch ducks and more:
- Live Ducks - Our own webpage, packed with information on care, feeding, shelter and health.
- The Poultry Connection
- Raising Young Waterfowl: Ducklings and Goslings

Which breed makes the best pet?
There are several domestic duck breeds, each having slightly different characteristics. Ask the owner of every breed and they'll say theirs is the best. We have begun a Domestic Breed page to show the contrasts and similarities between the various common breeds most chosen as pets.
Go there

Where can I buy a duck?
There are several options: pet store (not advised), animal shelter, farm, and mail order. We purchased our ducks from a farm in California called Metzer Farms. They raise ducks for a variety of purposes, including for sale as pets. Check with them for details regarding sales and shipping. Beware of breeders selling ducklings with "warmers". The warmers are live male chicks, so you'll end up with more than the ducks you ordered.

To find hatcheries that sell fertilized duck eggs ready to incubate, see our Links 'n More page.

Do ducks make good pets?
Absolutely, but it takes a disciplined person to be a duck owner. Ducks require far more upkeep and a bigger commitment than a dog or cat. Our article "Are You Ready for a Duck?" is a must read if you've never owned a duck. Read stories from duck owners to find out from other duck owners what's really involved in caring for a duck.

[Valerie in WA]

Bed them on straw - there's a reason not to use pine? or is it cedar? shavings - I think they eat them.

Keep them warm. 95*F the first week, 90 the 2nd, 85 the 3rd and on down to about 70. Make sure they can get away from the heat lamp too, in case they get to hot.

Ditto the above on water.

I fed mine NON-medicated chick start, plus niacin supplement for the first few weeks.

Most breeds will be mature and fully feathered at 6 to 8 weeks, and will then need very little shelter.

Run - don't walk - to your library and get Dave Holderread's Storeys Guide to Raising Ducks OR his previously published book - I think it was something about a backyard duck flock. He is an excellent authority on ducks!

[Mamaw]

Thanks all. I have decided to let DH live....Ying and Yang are really cute little guys. They are adjusting well to their pen and seem to love the heat lamp. They are eating, drinking and making a mess! So far...so good.. Hope DH does not decide to bring home anything else for a bit