Freshly hatched ducklings need a safe and warm environment to grow strong and healthy. If you create a safe place and provide them with plenty of food and water, your curious and playful ducklings will be able to "sway" and swim on their own before you know it. Read on to learn how to make them feel at home, feed them the foods they like, and protect them from harm.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Creating a Nest for the Ducklings
Step 1. Find a box that acts as an incubator
Once out of their shells and around 24 hours have passed, during which time they begin to get used to their new environment, the ducklings are ready to be moved to an incubator. A plastic container, a sturdy cardboard box or a large glass aquarium are all equally suitable for this purpose.
- The box should be well insulated, since ducklings need to stay warm. Don't choose one with too many holes in the sides or bottom.
- Cover the bottom of the container with wood shavings or old towels. However, avoid using newspapers or other slippery material. Ducklings are still unsure on their paws in the first few weeks after hatching, and can easily slip and get hurt on surfaces such as plastic or newspaper.
Step 2. Install a heating lamp
When they are still young, ducklings need to stay in very warm places during the first few weeks of life, so that they can gradually get used to the cold air outside the eggs. You can purchase one of these lamps from food stores or hardware stores, and mount it on top of the container.
- Use a 100 watt light bulb for the first time. For very small ducklings, this should create just the right amount of heat.
- Make sure that a part of the nest is away from the heat, so that there is also an area where the little ones can cool off if they wish.
- Make sure that the bulb is not too close to the ducklings, otherwise they may overheat or, if they accidentally touch it, even burn themselves. If the box you are using is shallow, position the lamp higher using wooden blocks or other sturdy support.
Step 3. Check the position of the lamp
You need to periodically check where it is, to ensure that the ducklings always receive an adequate amount of heat.
- It is important to change the amount of heat and the power of the lamp according to the behavior of the ducklings as they grow.
- If you see that they all tend to gather under the lamp, they are probably too cold and you should move the bulb closer or increase its wattage.
- If, on the other hand, you notice that they are moving away and their breathing seems labored and heavy, they are most likely too hot; in this case you have to move the lamp further away or install a lower power one. To feel comfortable, ducklings need to be warm and calm in their position.
Step 4. Adjust the lamp as the ducklings grow up
Over time they need less heat. Move the lamp to a higher position or change the bulb to a less powerful one for the occasions when they sleep under it.
Part 2 of 3: Providing Water and Food
Step 1. Always provide them with plenty of water
Place a shallow drinking trough inside the box so that they can dip their beak, but not the whole head, into it. Ducklings like to be able to wash their nostrils when they drink, but if the bowl of water is too deep, they will tend to climb up and risk drowning.
- Replace the water and clean the bowl every day to make sure the ducklings don't get sick from drinking dirty water.
- If you are concerned that the water container is a little too deep and that the ducklings are unable to drink safely, you can cover the bottom with pebbles or stones to make it safer.
Step 2. Start feeding these little birds with weaning granules
They usually don't eat during the 24 hours after hatching, as they are still absorbing nutrients from the yolk inside the egg they hatched in. After this period, they gradually begin to eat some granules, tiny balls of specific food for ducks that you can find in pet stores. Get a plastic feeder, fill it with food and put it in the incubator.
If the ducklings seem reluctant to eat, try adding a little water to make the food softer to ingest. You can also add a small amount of sugar to the water during the first few days, to help them get off to a good start and provide them with the energy they need
Step 3. Feed weaker puppies with duck egg yolk
Those that are really very weak may require a diet richer in nutrients, such as those present in the yolk, before being ready to eat other food. Prepare a duck egg yolk puree and make sure they eat it until you see them more interested in weaning food.
Step 4. Grant them constant access to food
Make sure they can eat all the time and that they always have food available. They need to be able to eat whenever they are hungry, as they grow very fast at this stage of their life. They also need to drink to be able to swallow, so always keep your water bowl full.
Once ten days have passed, the ducklings are ready for a growth feed, consisting of the same ingredients as the granules, only larger in size
Step 5. Switch to adult duck food
When the ducklings become adults, after about 16 weeks, they are ready for regular food.
Step 6. Avoid providing them with foods that are not specific to this variety of birds
Many foods for human consumption, such as bread, do not provide ducks with the nutrients they need, and some can even make them sick.
- Even if you see that they appreciate foods like bread, know that they are not suitable for them.
- If you wish, you can make some very thinly sliced fruit and vegetables and give it to them as a snack, but make sure their main meal is always duck food.
- Do not give ducklings specific food for chicken chicks, as it does not contain the nutrients suitable for these birds.
- Never feed them medicated food, as this can cause damage to their organs.
Part 3 of 3: Making Adult Ducklings Healthy
Step 1. Encourage the ducklings to swim
These animals love to swim and can start as early as day one if you let them. However, avoid leaving them unattended when they are in the water. Baby ducks are covered in plumage that is not waterproof, and their bodies are still too delicate to swim alone.
Step 2. Create a small pool from a painter's tray
This is an excellent solution to start training the little ones to swim. You can monitor them closely, and the slope of the tray creates a ramp to help the ducklings get in and out of the water safely.
- Don't let them swim for too long or get cold. When they have finished swimming for a while, dry them gently and put them back in the incubator so they can warm up.
- You can also let them sit on an electric warmer covered with a clean towel for a few minutes.
Step 3. Allow adult birds to swim without assistance
When the ducklings have changed their plumage and developed waterproof feathers as adults, they can swim without your supervision. Depending on the duck breed, full plumage should show between 9 and 12 weeks of age.
Step 4. Watch out for adult ducks
Be sure to constantly monitor the ducklings while they are developing their plumage and learning to swim, especially if you take them to an outdoor pond. Larger ducks that share the same body of water may try to drown or kill the young.
Step 5. Keep pets away from predators
Ducks, especially young ones, can prey on larger animals. You should go to great lengths to keep them safe.
- If you are keeping your specimens in a garage or outdoor shed, make sure other animals cannot enter. Foxes, wolves, and even large birds of prey could harm ducks if you are no more than vigilant.
- Home-grown ducklings need to be protected from cats and dogs that might attack them - or play with them too hard.
- Once you have moved the animals from the incubator to a larger enclosure, make sure there are no free accesses for predators.
Step 6. Try to maintain some emotional detachment
While these soft and sweet animals are irresistible to cuddle, you need to avoid them making a very strong bond or imprint with you. To make sure you are raising independent and healthy adult animals, enjoy the show as they play with each other, but don't over-join their activities.
Step 7. Move the animals to a larger space
When they get too big for the incubator, move them to a large dog kennel or an enclosure with a deadbolt door. Feed them adult specimen food and allow them to spend the day swimming and playing in the pond. Be sure to take them back to the enclosure in the evening to protect them from predators.
Advice
- Do not feed the ducklings grapes or berries.
- Don't give them onions, caged or free bird seeds and any kind of bread. You can feed them weaning food specifically for ducks, peas, corn, green beans, lima beans, cooked carrots, hard-boiled eggs, crickets, worms, small fish food, grass, milk and turkey feed.
- When the ducks are in the water, you can feed them dog or fish food (by floating it in the pond) in very small quantities. Switch their diet to non-medicated food specifically for waterfowl or poultry. You can find it in pet stores.
- If ducklings get sick, call your vet or do some research online to find the right solution.
- If you have other large pets, such as dogs or cats, always keep the ducklings out of their reach.
- When stroking a duckling, always be very gentle, as it has very fragile bones.
- When dealing with ducklings for the first time, be sure to give them enough space to fit into the new home. How would you feel if, just set in a new home, you were relegated to a corner? Give them all the space they need.
Warnings
- Always keep clean water near their food bowl, ducks cannot ingest dry food.
- Never allow ducklings to swim unattended.
- Never leave them out unsupervised, otherwise wild animals could injure them.
- Never give them medicated chicken food!
