Let ducklings swim? Alternate cage lining? (Ducks)

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I'm raising ducklings for a school project. Right now they are 6 days old. We have bought a kiddie pool for them to swim in, is it alright if they swim? I have read on a website that you should not bathe babies, but can they swim?

Also, right now I am lining their cage with newspaper, but I have read newspaper is too slippery for hatchlings. What else can I use that won't be a complete mess?

-- Katie (kd_dancer12@hotmail.com), April 20, 2001

Answers

Response to Let ducklings swim? Alternate cage lining?

Hi Katie,

Don't let them into the pool until they are feathered in. When they have that cute fuzz on them they aren't producing the "body oil" that they need to repel water. So if they get wet now they also can get very chilled. Feed them unmedicated feed, wetted down...so it looks like the oatmeal you eat for breakfast. I've used newspapers for a long time now and had no trouble with it. Just be careful and if they have trouble with it...legs spraddling out...then switch to something else. Wood shavings, etc. Good luck with your babies!

-- Deborah (bearwaoman@Yahoo.com), April 20, 2001.


Response to Let ducklings swim? Alternate cage lining?

The first answer here is a good one. The reason cute little ducklings can swim right away when hatched by and cared for by mom duck is her oil rubs off one them. They can swim, they just have no oil on their little feathers. They will get waterlogged, sink and drown. Also, if they can get into the water containers their down will get wet and they can catch cold or worse- they don't know their down has no oil and LOVE water. They are MESSY, MESSY, MESSY- and I love them! good luck.betty

-- betty modin (betty_m9@yahoo.com), April 21, 2001.

Put something in the pool so they can stop swimming if they get tired. Babies don't coast and think they have to paddle all the time. I almost lost my first babies because of this. The smell might not be so bad if you change to wood shavings instead of the newspaper.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 21, 2001.

I keep mine in the tub or shower until they go outside, it is easier to hose down the tub than to change bedding. If you let them swim use warm water, and start them in the sink. Since it is for school, try rubing mineral oil on your hands, and then 'pet' some of the babies, watch to see if they swim better?, or if they float better?, or if the water does not soak in as much? They comb water out of their fluff with their bill, so will the oil help? use only a few drops and rub your hands together well, there should be just enough oil to give the slightest gleem to the fluff when the light shines on it. On the top side of the tail, right where it starts to wiggle, is the gland that makes the oils for the feathers, watch and you will see them rub their head on this spot, and then rub all over. You can touch the bump of the gland lighly and rub softly, then you can feel the oil on your finger. My ducks learned to enjoy a forced air heater, some even liked the hair dryer, watch them closely if they ever look like they want to go to sleep while wet they are exausted and you need to dry them with a warm towel or hair dryer, (don't let them get so tired if they go to sleep wet they may die.) If you have a cage put the paper under so they walk on the wire, [provideing the holes aren't too big of course]

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), April 25, 2001.

You may give them a bath at 7 days, but provide a wide board for them to walk up out of the water. Limit their time to 10-15 minutes, then take them out, hold them in a towel for a minute, and put them in a box or dog carrier with a heat lamp on them. Litter or woodshavings will be better for their legs to walk on.Be careful and count how many ducklings are out, as we had one dive down and come up in the little airspace under the board. We rescued him, but it was a scary moment.

-- seraphima (djones@kodiak.alaska.edu), April 25, 2001.


I have been raising ducks for about 1 year now. I placed my latest ducklings in a container with wood shavings, but I almost lost one when it tried to eat them and got it stuck in it's throat! Luckily, with a great deal of neck rubbing and water, we managed to dislodge the wood shaving and the duck is now fully grown.

I'm not sure of other alternatives, but I would take care using wood shavings after my experience.

-- Peggy (woodwardbp@hotmail.com), August 08, 2001.


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