[Kathie]

Hi,  We have 6 two week old call ducklings, can anyone tell me if we need to put a drinker in their house at night please?
Thanks in advance

[orchardlady]

No need for a drinker in their house at night, however make sure they have plenty of water during the day as ducks can suffer terribly and even choke on their food if they don't have access to water. Make sure they cannot get into it as down covered ducklings can get chilled and die, they can also drown if they cannot get out of the water. Ensure they can get their head in the water as ducks use water to clean their eyes and to preen. I use a small tupperware box with a big stone in the bottom to stop it tipping and weld mesh over the top that they can get their heads through but not their bodies.

Best of luck with your ducklings.

Orchardlady

[Kathie]

Thanks for that OL.  We did have 7 hatched by a broody hen, one died a week ago, s/he was strangled by a feather caught around the neck and we have just had to rescue another that was stuck under mum the same way, can you suggest anything that we can do to prevent this? OH has suggested we trim hens feathers.
Thanks again

[orchardlady]

Hello Kathie. My apologies for not coming back to you earlier, a very busy weekend! I have never come across this problem before. I must admit I have never raised ducklings with a broody hen only chicks with hens. It sounds like a quite bizarre situation that a duckling could get caught in this way and well done rescuing the other one that got caught. I think it highly unlikely that it got stuck in her vent. I have no real ideas I'm afraid. I suppose you could trim the feathers on the mother hen but I just don't know if that would help. If she is continuing to be a good mother apart from these problem I personally would continue with what you have been doing so far. I'm sorry I can't be of more help and I hope all goes well. If you do decide to remove them from the broodie hen you can brood ducklings without artificial heat. Let me know and I'll tell you what my book says about it. It's a bit long winded so I'll not copy it down now.

Take care and I hope the ducklings thrive.

Orchardlady.