Are you looking forward to purchasing some ducklings, or have you purchased ducklings and are looking for how to take care of them? Fear not! While they are a different species altogether from chickens, many of the requirements are the same. These hardy little buggers have a few basic requirements, and fulfilling those will set you up to have happy, healthy waterfowl.
Having had its fill of food and water, this lazy duckling enjoys a nap in natural sunlight.
1. Ducklings need WATER! While this may seem like a "duh" statement, they REALLY need water. Lots of it. Ducklings will drink significantly more water than chicks of a comparable size, and it is essential for ducklings to have water available AT ALL TIMES.
2. Ducklings can't get wet. While it seems counterintuitive to #1, ducklings require access to water but shouldn't be able to soak themselves. "Water off a duck's back" comes from the application of oils to feathers from the uropygial gland, a large structure located at the base of the tail. In ducklings, this gland is not developed, so water can soak straight to the skin and cause problems. When their feathers get wet, they can no longer retain heat, and a soaked, chilled duckling is a goner. This requires some creativity on the part of the duck keeper. We use the broiler plasson, which has a narrow, shallow lip that does not allow ducklings to sit in the water. We also raise the drinkers to chest height to discourage soaking.
3. HEAT! Ducklings are too small to produce enough heat to survive, and in the wild would rely on their mothers to protect them and shelter them. Ducklings need a reliable heat source in the form of a heat lamp or heat plate to maintain body temperature. As you can see below, we often use both in combination.
With multiple heat sources, ducklings are able to seek out the best area for different times of day to maintain body temperature.
4. NIACIN. Ducklings require supplementary niacin and unmedicated chick feed. Niacin can be found in some chick starter feeds, but make sure to check the label. Without niacin, ducklings can have developmental issues or even die. Niacin can be added to feeds that do not contain it in the form of brewers yeast, which is available at most health food stores. Sprinkling niacin over feed is a fine way to add it in.
5. PROTECTION from the elements and predators. Wind and rain can chill your feathered buddies. Keep them protected by having a solid-sided brooder with ventilation but that protects the ducklings from exposure. Ducklings are also susceptible to predation from a huge number of predators, including snakes, rats, hawks, owls, cats, dogs, weasels... you name it. A solid, predator-proof brooder is a must. And no, in areas with snakes, chicken wire is not adequate to keep snakes out. Hardware cloth is the way to go.
6. SUNLIGHT! While this isn't necessarily a REQUIREMENT per se, providing the ducklings with sunlight stimulates the production of all kinds of healthy hormones in your developing ducks. Sunlight can also be a supplementary heat source, can suppress molds and bacteria in bedding, and it makes the ducklings happy. Consider a screened window in your brooder design.
7. Minimize PEEPING. Are your ducklings making lots of noise? Peep-peep-peep-peep-peep-peep. This is the sound the duckling makes to let mama know that it's not ok and needs something. If your ducklings are quiet, they are more than likely happy, though don't fall into a false sense of security. A loud duck that goes quiet with no change from you could be a dying duckling; if a duckling gets too cold it will slowly stop moving around and fall asleep. So look for a quiet, active duckling that occasionally naps.
The first 72 hours post hatch are the most critical. Minimizing stress by fulfilling all of the above requirements is important, but also consider minimizing handling, especially by small children. It is exciting to think about getting your duckling out on the grass or water as soon as possible, but doing so can lead to stress or a chilled duckling.
Keeping lots of ducklings in a large brooder? If you have low nighttime temperatures, carefully herd your ducklings to the heat source at or just prior to sundown. Ducklings can get "stuck" in a corner where they have used their bodies to heat up the bedding, but when temperatures drop, they are unable to maintain the heat, and the ducklings on the outside of the group can die. If they are carefully herded to the heat source, they can move away from or towards the heat as needed.
By considering and preparing for the sensitivities of your new ducklings, you can set yourself up for success. Whether you are raising ducks for eggs, meat, pest control, or as pets, they are incredibly rewarding, not to mention entertaining, at all life stages.
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