Things You'll Need:
- baby ducks
- chick feed
- a box
- a lamp
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Step 1
Find a warm and cozy spot for the hatchlings. As I mentioned in my previous article, baby ducks come out of the eggs all wet. It takes at least 4-5 hours for them to dry, and they do need to be good and dry before they are taken out of the incubator. Also, keep in mind that removing the ducklings from the incubator can be a shock to their system. Room temperature is a drastic change compared to the warmth of an incubator, which is around 90 degrees. Therefore, if your ducks hatch in the spring, it is a good idea to have a warm room where you can keep them for a while. A laundry room or bathroom is ideal, since it is small enough to keep at 85 degrees or so.
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Step 2
A duck's box is its' castle. At first, you will want to keep your baby ducks in a confined area. For this, you can use a small box, with paper in the bottom. I would recommend putting a plastic bag on the bottom too. Otherwise, the bottom of the box will get very wet, once the ducks start splashing their water. If you have a small lamp, position it so that the warmth of the bulb shines on the box. Don't use anything brighter than a 40 watt bulb, however, since you don't want to get them too hot.
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Step 3
Expect the babies to huddle at first, since this is their natural instinct. They tend to do this for the first day out of the incubator, and otherwise they will mostly sleep. If ducks hatch later in the year when the weather is hot, they seem to come out of the eggs more active. These little guys will be running around the first day, while spring ducks are generally sluggish at first.
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Step 4
What's for dinner, Mom? A good food choice for baby ducks is Chick Starter Feed, since this is formulated to have all the nutrients that they need. You can put the feed in a small bowl, and they will be able to eat this with no problem. Of course, you can expect them to scratch on the feed at first and play with it, and get it all wet. Don't be surprised if you end up throwing away most of the food early on. Soon, however, they will figure out what it is, and they will run to their food as soon as it is put in the box.
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Step 5
Like a duck to water. Like everything else, baby ducks need water. However, they are not quite ready for a lot of it, just yet. Initially, you should put a small bowl of water in the box with them. Be warned that they are going to splash this all over the place, and generally make a mess. And, as I mentioned above, they will get their food all wet. But that's just how they are. Don't worry about this too much, since ducklings don't need much water the first day or so. On the other hand, don't be tempted to put a larger container of water in with the ducks. I know it's cute to watch them play in the water, but they will jump in this, and inevitably, some will drown. This is sad, but true. So don't make this mistake.
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Step 6
Within a week or so, the babies will be ready to move from their box. If it is warm enough, they can go outdoors, and start enjoying the sunshine. It is still a good idea to keep them in a confined area for a while, since they are still relatively helpless. After all, you don't want them to become dinner for the neighbor's dog or cat. Bring them inside at night, since they are still not ready to deal with cooler temperatures. A tote box is ideal for this, since the plastic box will not get soaked with water, and the sides are high enough that the babies cannot jump out. Of course, always keep clean paper under the ducks while they are inside.
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Step 7
It is amazing how quickly your ducks can grow, and before long, they will be ready to assume their rightful place, proudly parading together around your pond. Between then and now, however, we still have a few more things to do, and I will discuss those things in our next lesson.
Comments
allnighter said
on 9/16/2009 u should never use paper for beding, it can cause leg problems
michelleperez said
on 8/21/2009 baby ducks are so cute! Is it true you have to keep atleast two?
uniquechoices said
on 8/3/2009 I want some ducks and chickens so bad. This was a great article on how to feed and care for your baby ducks. It will come in handy because one day I'll have some.
mbd1 said
on 4/24/2009 We found a duckling in the middle or local ball field. There was no mother around. Neither the local vet or feed store were willing to take it. Quackers is now living with us. I have the heatlamp, starter food, minimal water etc. However, I read that they need to be in pairs due to how social they are. Will it survive on its own or do I need to get another one? Help!!!
kittycooks said
on 4/20/2009 Ducklings are fun! Be prepared to give them a nightly bath in your bathtub before you can transfer them outside to a predator safe fenced wading pool area (in MN anyway!) as they grow so fast! Thanks for the article!