Ducks... are for sure my new favorite homestead animal. Highly underrated in my opinion. Ducklings are adorable and ducks are a great addition to any homestead or small farm.
Young ducklings are super easy to care for. Easier than chickens in my opinion. And a lot less likely to die than baby chicks. Which is a win-win in my book.
More hardy, less likely to wake up to dead babies, easy to care for, and will grow to provide our family with delicious, nutritious eggs and meat? Yep. Plus, who can ignore this kind of cuteness? I mean C'mon. You need some ducklings on your homestead... pronto.
While ducklings are super easy to care for, they have different requirements than chicks. Before you get started with ducklings, knowing their different needs will help you care for them in the best possible way.
Caring for Baby Ducklings
1. Don't Brood Your Chicks and Ducklings Together
While you technically can, it's not the best idea. Ducklings love water. They will make a wet mess of everything they come in contact with. Wet + chicks = bad idea. Ducklings also grow incredibly fast. They'll be itty bitty when you get them and then wham... they're half-grown a week later. Since they grow so fast, they can potentially trample and kill the chicks. For these two reasons I do not recommend you brood them together.
2. Make Sure Their Feed is Unmedicated
Finding a duck starter feed is next to impossible in most places. Feeding your ducklings a regular chick starter is perfectly fine. Just make sure the feed is non-medicated. Medicated chick feed (which I don't recommend anyway) can kill your ducklings. They eat a lot more than chicks and can easily overdose on the medication. So, steer clear of the medicated feed bags and you'll be good. The medication is for coccidiosis, which ducks are pretty resistant to, by the way.
3. Add Brewer's Yeast to Their Feed
Unless you can find a duck starter/grower, chick feed is going to be the answer to your needs. Ducklings have a higher need for niacin for health than baby chicks do. A great, readily available, and fairly cheap, solution for niacin is brewer's yeast. Just add a tablespoon and a half to each cup of chick starter and you'll be good.
4. Keep Their Protein In Check
Little ducklings have fickle needs when it comes to protein. The first couple weeks of 20% - 22% protein is a great start for their feed. After the first couple of weeks, you'll want to reduce that down to between 16% - 18%. Finding a starter/grower that is that low in protein is difficult, around here anyway. So, to decrease that 20% chick starter feed I have sitting in the bin I just add some uncooked oatmeal to the mix and slowly increase it to decrease the protein percentage in the feed I have available.
Keeping the protein low enough helps avoid an ailment called angel wing that ducks who have too high of a protein diet during growth can succumb to. More on that another day, just know that it's easiest to avoid, but can be cured if caught.
5. Don't Put Them in the Pool (Yet)
Domestic ducks aren't quite the same as their wild counterparts. In the wild, a duckling's mother adds oil to their down to make them waterproof. Not happening in a domestic duck that was hatched from an incubator. Domestic ducklings can become waterlogged and die from being too cold or even drown.
This doesn't mean you can't let them play in the water. They love water and will play in it whether you want them to or not. We put a shallow pan in the bathtub a few times a week so they can play and splash around in the water while we clean out their brooder. Just make sure it's something they can get out of and don't force them to swim. Once they're fully feathered, give them a pool or a pond. They'll love you for it!
6. Speaking of Water...
Ducks need water. Obviously, right? But, they need lots of water. They drink an incredible amount of water. Adult ducks can drink up to a half gallon a DAY. Wow. They need to be able to dip their entire bill into the water in order to keep their nostrils clear of any debris. For this reason, do not use a nipple waterer (like our local farm store does ?). Some people suggest regular chick founts for ducklings. I don't. The reason is my ducklings dumped their huge 3-gallon fount approximate 3,000,000,000,000 times in a day completely drenching their entire brooder (see, ducklings and chicks just don't mix). So, we just use small bowls. They get in them and splash around, of course, but they don't spill them and they can dunk their heads to keep their nostrils clean.
7. Give Them Some Snacks (in moderation) And Lots of Greens
Leafy greens like chopped kale, Swiss chard, Romain lettuce, etc are some favorite treats of your feathered, webbed feet friends. Chop some up and throw them in their water dish for a fun show. Throw some in at supper time and you'll have plenty of duck TV to watch for a while. They can have greens as much as you care to share them with them. They're a great supplement to their diet.
They'll also enjoy meal worms (I love giving our birds mealworms, it's hilarious to watch). Fresh watermelon, a bit of cooked pumpkin, scrambled egg, and just about any other treat you give to your chickens is fine to give to your ducklings in moderation. Do not give your ducks slices of bread. Just don't. Do, however, provide them with some chick grit if they're not able to get outdoors.
8. They Love to Forage
If it's warm enough where you are, take your baby ducklings outside to get some exercise and forage around! They love looking for bugs and any other interesting things they can find. Exercise is important to these little waddlers, especially since they grow so quickly. So take them out, weather permitting, for a short time each day and let them explore their world. Then, you can put them back inside and let them warm up in their brooder.
9. You Can Decrease Their Brooder Temp More Rapidly
Yet another reason not to brood chicks and ducklings together. Ducklings brooder temperature can go down by roughly 10 degrees (from 95) a week instead of the typical 5. Young ducks let you know if they're cold (just like chicks they will huddle together), and they'll let you know if they're hot (they will try to get away from the heat source and/or start panting). Ducklings are typically ready for the outdoor world by 6 weeks of age (which seems so young in comparison to chicks!), as they feather out more quickly. As long as the temperature isn't dipping below 50 at night, they'll be fine.
10. They Need Lots of (Dry) Bedding
In short, ducklings (and adult ducks) are messy. I'm not going to lie and say they're the cleanest, driest animals around, that's a far cry from the truth. Any time they find even a little bit of water, they will be in it. They eat by taking food in their mouth and then getting a drink of water (so make sure they have water available any time they have food available). This makes for a wet, mucky mess. I don't tell you this to discourage you from raising ducks (I still think they're an amazing addition to anyone's homestead), but to let you know you're going to need to dry bedding in their brooder at least 2-3 times a day. I've heard pellet bedding is a great material to use in duckling brooders. I haven't personally used it because we have an enormous amount of pine shavings. But if you're in the market... you could definitely try it.
11. Use a Plastic Brooder (or line one with plastic)
And make sure it's big enough for these quickly growing giants. We have a homemade, wooden, brooder for our chicks (stay tuned for a tutorial!), but it doesn't work out very well for ducklings. I strongly encourage you to find something plastic and make sure it is large. A kiddie pool, a big tank, a spare bathtub, anything plastic and large. If you don't have anything plastic or don't feel like keeping waterfowl in your bathtub (c'mon it's not really that bad), then you need to line whatever you have in plastic. They will surely make a mess with water and you are going to want something that will keep that water contained so you don't wind up with a dripping, sopping wet mess underneath their brooder.
12. Enjoy Them
Ducks are by far the most entertaining little fowl I've ever raised. They're playful and more personable than chicks. Chickens, of course, have a special place in my heart but these guys and gals are amazing and oh so adorable. They grow super fast so enjoy them while they're little fuzzballs of energy splashing around in their water bowl. Then, you can enjoy their antics in the barnyard and some huge, regularly laid, fresh eggs (or some delicious, healthy meat).
Ducklings and ducks absolutely have their challenges. I've heard many say they're too messy. I tend to disagree (my chickens are messy little critters too). I think they're well worth their challenges and will provide our homestead with lots of comedy, friendship, delicious eggs, and meat for a long time. I don't see us giving up on ducks any time in the near future and I'm glad we've decided to add them to our homestead.
Valeri Berg says
You are NOT alone. I am also duck obsessed. Duck TV is better than cable. The only thing I might add to your post is if you handle your ducklings often they learn fast that a warm people lap is a safe and great place to snuggle. I wanted my ducks to be enjoyable for my 5 yr old granddaughter also. When babies I would sit outside on my lawn, put several ducklings in my lap and hand feed their greens. Oh my my granddaughter is obsessed. When she comes to visit 1st thing she does is grab a bunch of greens and runs outside. When I hear the giggles, I know she has a lawful of grown ducks vying for her attention. It has taught her gentleness and appreciation of all things homestead. She also nags me about more greens in our garden for her quackers.
Danielle McCoy says
Great tip, Valeri! We love handling all of our fowl. It helps keep them tame and my daughters love loving on the birds in their lap.
Sarah says
My favorite trick for brooding ducks is to put their water on top of mesh platform with a cake pan underneath. As they drink and clean their bills the water goes into the pan which keeps the brooder drier.
Danielle McCoy says
We tried that with marginal success and gave up lol. I've heard a lot of people say that, though. Thanks for the tip!
Laura Padilla Bailey says
Iam still a city girl but have really enjoyed my move to my Husbands country home. I started with Chickens and just bought him 3 ducks. This article is great and yet I still have some questions. How do you get the ducks back into the house ? I am afriad if I let them out they will run away, they are really fast. Also, will I have to keep puting the ducks up in their house at night until they are how old or will I be able to keep a floating house on the pond to keep them safe? Will they always be dependent on us to feed them or will tey eat out of the pond (bugs and plants?) They are running ducks, and you are right they are growing fast, soon they will be to tall for the plasic tub and boy they are messy, can't wait to get them out side.
Thank you for your site.
Danielle McCoy says
Hi Laura! Sorry it took a few to get back with you!
My ducks go back into the house on their own. We put them in it one night and then let them out the next day. They went back in on their own minus two who stayed running around the yard until I showed them where home was. I just caught them and put them in. They got the hint. They haven't ever tried to run away or disappeared. They just meander around the property and go back to their house at night to go in or be let in. I would probably leave their house in a dry area. It doesn't have to be big, just a dog house size will be more than adequate. I would recommend feeding them a layer ration just like you do your chickens when they become laying age. They can forage as well as eat the ration. Ducks eat ... a lot and need the nutrition. You'll have to feed them like you do any other domesticated livestock. They can probably go outside any time if you haven't put them out already. You can always make a temporary pen and let them have supervised time outdoors until they get used to their surroundings and find out where their house is! I hope this helps.
Angelica Sweet says
Hello! I live in Phoenix Metro area. There are a pair of Mallard ducks that visit my yard twice a year. This year they left me one egg. I successfully was able to hatch Mr. Moby Duck. The question I have is, should I purchase a companion duckling for the little guy? I don’t want him to be lonely when I’m not around. Thanks!
Danielle McCoy says
Hi Angelica. I would probably purchase a companion... but, that's me and I like ducks haha.
Amber says
I have 4 baby ducks I am wondering when is the right time to put them out in their new pen?
Danielle McCoy says
If it's warm and sunny out during the day, they can spend the daytime outside when they're around 3-4 weeks old. They need to be fully feathered to regulate their temperature, which is around 9 weeks old. So, at least 9 weeks old, and if it's still chilly out, I would probably keep them in for another week or so. Good luck, and enjoy them, they are a lot of fun.
Sandy Cornell says
I have a question, one duckling just goes around in circles, is there something wrong with her?
Alice says
We had 4 little ducklings in our inground pool one day. We tried scooping them out with the skimmer. They can swim really fast. They all got out and scattered. I don’t know where they came from.
Dianne Arndt says
How to prevent Salmonella when handling ducks? I keep reading on the internet news about outbreaks. I am a new duck owner and this is a family concern.
Billy Martin says
Hello my name is Billy. We currently have 11 ducks of various species on our homestead. I just placed a order from the hatchery for 50 White Layer Ducks. They will be shipped the week of December 9, 2019. We are getting a lot of demand for duck eggs in our area and will be trying to fill that void. We have alot of chickens and I'm trying to convince my girlfriend that we need to increase with ducks and decrease with chickens. Lol. We have a pond and I'll be building a permanent housing unit for all the ducks by the pond so they will have access to it 24/7. I know it takes 4-7 months before laying begins but patients will pay off. Love your articles. Picking up some really good pointers. Thank you and God Bless You from Far-Mar Acres in S.E. Kansas
Danielle McCoy says
Hi, Billy! Nice to meet you! We have a regular duck egg customer here that I gave a couple of duck eggs to when she was purchasing some chicken eggs. Just to try. She's a convert. LOL She loves them. I'm glad you're finding some valuable information!
Mary says
How do you sex ducklings? I just got 2 today because the previous owner abandon them and I have no idea if they are male or female.
Danielle McCoy says
Hi Mary. You actually can't. Hatcheries can, sometimes, but ducklings are difficult to sex. When they're a couple months old, you should be able to tell by their sounds. Ducks (females) will quack and are very vocal. Drakes (males) however, do not quack and are fairly quiet. They make a different noise. Another way to tell is once the tail feathers begin to come in drakes have a curly tail feather and ducks tail feathers are straight.
Bill says
Great Information. We recently bought 4 mature ducks, one drake and 3 hens. build them a pond with running water a house and safe pen. They are fantastic!! Our aim was to try and naturally produce some new ducks friends. Its worked, we have two sitting ducks. One is due in couple of days and the other shortly after. Hoping everything will work out. Articles like yours really helps. We have created a good habitat for them and hoping Mommy ducks will do alot of the hard work HAHA
Thanks again
I agree ducks are Great
Danielle McCoy says
Thanks so much for the compliment! Glad it's helpful!
Joy kilgore says
Taking care of abandoned duck for a week now wont be old enough to go on his own until sept 30th. Will it be to cold n not sure how? Considering he is attached to my husband
Danielle McCoy says
It won't be too cold. Does it have other fowl it can go with? They need other birds.
Joy kilgore says
No we found it abandoned but we live on lake st clair. There are other birds around but he only looks like he is a week old. He is Very needy of all our attention right now
Michael says
Thanks for the article. Really helpful. Seeing our ducks everyday makes me happy.
When I have my own house, I'd definitely rare some.
Paula P. says
Reading your 12 Things You Need to Know About Ducklings was helpful. Thank you. I wonder if you can help me with a couple of questions. A mother duck was killed and I decided to incubate her two eggs. One made it and other other did not, sadly. The duckling is almost 3 weeks old and seems to be thriving but I worry about socialization. I am thinking of getting two additional ducklings around the same age from a local farm. Do they have to be the same breed, though I don't know the breed I have now. And when do I introduce them? Currently, my duckling is in the house untiI he/she gets older. I don't know if I should wait until he moves outside to get the two ducklings or get them now to start bonding.
Danielle McCoy says
They don't need to be the same breed, but knowing if you have ducks or drakes can be beneficial. Drakes can cause fighting issues and you'll want at least 3-4 ducks for every drake you have. Ducks, like most animals, much prefer to have a buddy or two to pal around with in the yard. Introduce them on neutral ground (in the yard free ranging is a good option, but if you think they'll run, make a large, fenced in area) for just a short time. Then, let them meet through a fence for a full day (old duckling on one side, new ducklings on the other). After a few days of that, you can start letting them sleep in the same area. You can introduce them now so they have plenty of time to bond. Just make sure you have a safe, secure place for the new additions. Have fun!
Christene says
Hello. Have loved reading your article but can you tell me anything about wild mountain ducks?
I live in Australia and recently found 3 baby ducklings in my yard. I reckon they were only about 2 days old. They are now around 3 weeks old, just starting to get their feathers. We bring them in at night and outside in a pen during the day.
Are they different to domestic ducks as far as rearing goes?
Any advice and tips would be very helpful. I've never had ducks before not even chickens.
Thank you
Izzy Luescher says
@Christene,
Hi! I live in NSW (AUSTRALIA) and am looking after a Pacific Black duckling for WIRES rescue service (I am a volunteer member) and would like your feedback on how it went with your brood that you found abandoned(saw your post was from 2020 so I imagine you may no longer have them with you, but would surely remember how special it was and perhaps give me some tips)
I purchased a similar aged baby chick 🐥 to keep the days old duckling company, and indeed they are real buddies, huddling together at most times especially at night. I raise them in my bathtub overnight with a heatpad for under warmth and an outdoor covered and shade clothed pen during warm days. Its summer now so am careful they are not too hot out there. The pen is directly on the grass and moveable so I usually put it in half shade and provide water in a chicken feeder and grain (duck mash & crumbles). My question is: do they eat porridge (no salt/milk) water and semolina wet food too?
I tried that in a shallow dish and they seemed to enjoy it. Just don’t want to bloat their tummies.
Thanks for any advice, as I’ve never had chickens or ducks before.
Izzy
Woodford Island
NSW
Australia
Danielle McCoy says
I recommend checking this out... https://www.therusticelk.com/what-do-ducks-eat/
Debbie Jenkins says
Have a mallard hen that should hatch any day now. I incubated 9 of her eggs and have 7 babies. How old do the ducklings need to be to release them in an outside pen? Live in Louisiana so our winters are fairly mild, but can have days in 40’s, nights in 20’s. Not sure why my hen laid this time of year. Raised her and her mate from babies I got in April. The drake left when the hen began sitting on her eggs! Not sure what to do with all these ducklings thru the winter months!
Danielle McCoy says
You'll need to wait until they are fully feathered to endure temps that cool. I know that's mild for winter temps, and ducks are very cold hardy, but they need those feathers to help regulate their body temperature. They're typically fully feathered by 2-3 months. I'd say to plan on having them in some sort of brooder until they're 2-3 months unless they're in a well-insulated building with a heat source. I don't recommend using heat lamps in barns, coops, etc, though. Once they have all of their feathers in, they'll be able to regulate their body temp and go outside and endure the cool temps.
Megan R says
This was awesome to read. I’m getting ready to start a duck flock and have been reading everything I can find on it. Thank you!
Danielle McCoy says
Glad it helped! Good luck with your new duck adventure!
kevin says
thanks for the great knowledge shared
Christine says
Can baby ducks 5 weeks old swim in a pool for a long period of time with their mother? Do they know when to get out?
Danielle McCoy says
At 5 weeks I would supervise swims and make sure they can get out on their own. Around 6 weeks or so they can usually go unsupervised, but I'd supervise them the first few times regardless of age.
Jeanne Blake says
Thank you! This was very helpful for a first time duckling Mom.
Jade says
Hello! I just barely got a baby chick and a baby duck. (someone asked me to a dance with them. i love them, but i live in a place where i don't have enough land to keep them. what should i do?? i want my babies to have a safe place to live.
Danielle McCoy says
Hi Jade,
I would list them somewhere... perhaps craigslist for free or put flyers up at your local TSC.
Jessi says
Can I use well water with my ducklings or should I use spring water?
Danielle McCoy says
Yes, you can use well water
Hisham Sharif says
I have a small flock of ducks. A mother and her 8 ducklings and with your help it's more fum
Danielle McCoy says
Glad you're enjoying them!
Katelynn says
I have hatching baby ducks I need to care for.
Tamma says
We lost our 2 Rouen Mallards to a mink and I found 1 egg in the nest after. Now we have a single duckling, currently in a brooder with Bielefelder chicks. I now have more Rouen eggs in the incubator but they wont hatch until this chick is several weeks old. How soon can I put the new hatch in with the single chick or is the age difference to much?
Danielle McCoy says
Probably too much of a difference in age... but I don't recommend keeping the duckling in with chicks, either.
Ashley says
Hello! I have a wonderful first time mother duck sitting on her eggs and their due date is about to hatch. Since I have a momma duck, is there anything I need to help her with or do once the babies are born or will her instincts know what to do?
Danielle McCoy says
She'll do what's needed.
KrazyK says
My dog and cat found 6mallard ducklings running across our yard Monday night. Mother no where to be found. I’ve been keeping them in a large plastic tub in a spare room with a heat lamp. A shallow water bowl for them to get in and out to clean and drink. Having to clean and refill it 4-5 times a day. Ive been feeding them Purina flock raiser crumbles. I’ve had three die suddenly. One had a gash above it eye and last a couple of days. Then another died a day later. Then another dies another day later. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong that may have caused the last two to die suddenly. They became lethargic then died an hour or two later.
KrazyK
Allison Zam says
We have 3 baby duckling and want to get them used to being held but the fear of salmonella keeps us from letting them sit in our lap etc and worrying about sanitizing every thing around them as well as ourselves is not fun! Is there any way to know if they carry it? Do we have to be so vigilant about sanitizing?
Thank you for all of your information!
Danielle McCoy says
Unsanitary, dirty conditions will put your flock at a higher risk of carrying and transmitting disease. Hatcheries in the United States are testing for it more routinely and have numerous biosecurity factors in place to reduce the risk of contamination. Personally, I've found that backyard poultry rarely, if ever, carry it simply because they're usually kept in cleaner conditions than that of a commercial farm. Making sure you wash your hands after handling them is typically sufficient enough.