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Questions on Ducks and their needs

laciegsd Apr 14, 2005 08:37 PM

I am thinking of getting three Rouen Ducklings next week. But before I do I want to know what they require from you all. Meaning housing, exercise pen?? Do you do this? LOL. I'm just trying to think of everything I need or will need. Like I live in Ohio. What do you do with ducks in the winter time in the cold states?? Um, I have a shed I don't use..could they live in that in the winter with straw?? And can I put them in this at night time so animals can't get to them? I was thinking (please correct me if I'm wrong) I could use chicken fencing to make an outside pen for them and a big baby pool. Will this be ok?
And more importantly I will be getting two day old ducklings. What do I feed? Duck pellets??? Or starter?? And if so for how long before they eat adult food??

Please tell me if I am off base on any of my thinking because I do not wish to get in over my head.

Erin

Replies (3)

muscy_mel Apr 15, 2005 06:06 AM

Hey,

Everything you suggested sounds fine.

Young ducklings (until about 2/3 weeks old) can be fed on starter foods such as Chickcrumb. But this is very rich in protein and thickens the blood, so don't feed this to the ducklings when the start developing their feathers, as the newly developing feathers will be to heavy for the wing muscles and could cause problems such as Slipped Wing AKA Angel Wing, and also Dropped Wing.
Once they reach that age they can eat mixed corns and grains. Also ducks love lettuce, grass, and small amounts of bread (as it sweels in their digestive tract).

If you get young ducklings, there are a few things to remember.
Always keep them warm and dry, many ducklings die within the first 2 weeks due to developing a chill. They shouldn't be allowed to swim for the first week, and even after then they should only be allowed for a swim for about 5-15 mins every couple of days. As they won't have their mother to keep them warm and dry, and they won't aquire any of her natural waterproof oils (ducklings until the age of about 2 weeks aren't waterproof).

As for their enclosure/pen,chicken wire is good, although make sure the ducklings can't escape between the holes, or even get caught and stuck. When they get older they shouldn't try to escape but if they do, just clip their wings.
Locking them up at night is a very good idea, its helps to settle them into roosting and protects them from predators. Straw or hay is a good bedding material as it keeps them warm and dry.
While the ducklings are young it'll help if you can provide them with a heat lamp to keep them warm.
For their exercise pen, try to give them as much space as possible, them more the better really.
And a childs pool may be ok, if they can both get in and out with no problems.

If you gt any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Mel X

laciegsd Apr 15, 2005 07:48 AM

Thank you for your help! I appreciate it a lot.

The ducks I'm thinking of getting are Rouen and will be 2-3 days old and will come into the store next Tues or Weds. I was going to get the last 5 ducklings that they had but I didn't understand the breed. It read "Mallard Straight Run". The man said that they were 100% Mallard and were mixed male and female so I said no way to those. As I don't want to clip wings. Been there did that to birds ranging in size from Finch to Amazon...I don't like doing it and the birds hate it more,lol.

So I am thinking Rouen is what I'd like. I did read somewhere on this board that I need an amber heating light..I got one yesterday. And I have a cage for them for the time being. They will live indoors in a cage for a little while as I'm not going to lose a baby to a chill or anything like it. THen from there they will be in the garage and i'm going to run chicken wire from my garage side door to an open pen area. But they won't get to go out in the pen til they can't get out of those holes you spoke of. I'm a mother hen in human clothing I heard from my fiance', lol.

I did call the store and they told me that they feed Waterfowl food to the ducklings. Will this be ok? I asked them about the starter food and the stuff you mentioned and they just advised me to continue with what they feed. Honestly are they saying this to get me to purchase their food from them?

Ok, I'm sure I will have more questions once I get them but I think for now I'm all out of them

Erin

Muscy_Mel Apr 16, 2005 11:17 AM

Hiya,

Everything your gonna do sounds good
If the ducklings are already feeding well on the foods that the store sell, then i'd keep to that, as long as their getting all the nutrients required. If you get any feeding problems then just try them on a different brand or rangeof foods.

Hope your lil ones do ok,
Mel X

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