Care of Ducklings and Hatchlings

Ducklings bond closely with their human caretakers.

Hatching and raising ducklings can provide a rewarding experience for the hobby farmer. When fully grown, the waterfowl can create a sense of tranquility when swimming across a pond. Domestic ducks will also help trim the surrounding grass, eat pest insects such as mosquitoes and keep weed growth reduced. They have a gentle disposition and make ideal garden pets when hand-raised. Exceptionally hardy, hatchlings, ducklings and fully grown ducks require remarkably little attention to thrive.

Things You'll Need

• Container
• Heat lamp
• Litter
• Outdoor coup

Instructions

1. Place the newly hatched ducklings into an aquarium, large trough, plastic tub, cardboard box or commercial brooder. Affix a 250-watt heat lamp to the top of the container. Maintain the temperature at 90 degrees. Decrease the temperature by 5 degrees for every week of the ducklings' life until it reaches room temperature.

2. Line the bottom of the container with about 2 inches of corncob litter. Place a poultry food dispenser into the cage and fill it with commercial chick or duckling starter. Set a poultry water dispenser in the container. The hatchlings require constant food and fresh water. Feed the ducklings starter feed for the first 4 to 6 weeks.

3. Sift the cage litter daily to remove fecal matter. Scoop up any wet litter and dispose of it.

4. Relocate the ducklings to an outdoor coup or cage once they no longer require supplemental heating. Make sure the outdoor cage will successfully keep predators such as raccoons, cats and dogs from attacking the young ducklings.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the species, duck eggs require 28 to 35 days to hatch.

• Each hatchling requires approximately 6 square inches of room in the brooder to allow it ample growth room. As the duckling grows, it will require more room.

• Handle and hold the baby ducklings often so they becomes used to humans.

• Hatchlings rarely take food or water in the first 48 hours after hatching.

• Hand-raised ducklings grow attached to their human caretaker.

• Never feed ducklings bread because it will swell in their intestinal tract.

• Only allow a duckling to swim after it has become fully feathered.

• Never allow a young duckling to swim alone until fully grown.

References

• Duck Hobby: Raising Ducks The Care, Feeding and Raising of Baby Ducks
• The University of Maine; Hatching Your Own Chicks; Emeritus Robert O. Hawes; 2009
• Hobby Farms: All About Ducks
• Cornell University; Hatching Duck Eggs; William F. Dean, et al; 2008
• Urban Sustainable Living; Day Old Ducklings are Different; Frederick J. Dunn
• Poultry One: Raising Ducks In Your Backyard

Resources

• University of Minnesota: Hatching and Brooding Small Numbers of Chicks