Rural Gardening: Ducks, 0 by smedgekles

smedgekles wrote:
No medicated chick starter is correct. The babies need non medicated chick starter and lots of water to drink close to the food. They have to have water to eat.
If they don't have their oil yet they don't need a pond or a source of water to get into on their own because they can get water logged and drown since they have no momma to oil them. As they get older and get their oil, you can have a water area they can splash around in. At first we got a kiddy pool and made a ramp so they could get in and out. They love it. When they are smaller it is best to keep an eye on them, as they get older and can get in and out on their own they will be fine. Unlesss of course you have an inground pond that they can get in and out easily rather than a kiddy pool.

They also love tomatoes, cut up of course, some cut up lettuce is good too. As they get older they can eat hen scratch or cracked corn. They love lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, and canteloupe. We just put the shells of the melons out there and they eat it out. WHen they are frown we just throw the butt ends of the lettuce (like leaf lettuce ends) and they eat it off. You can also get them some worms and they will go nuts for those.

When they grow up they will need a nesting area, but generally if they have a pond, the grown ducks will sleep on the pond. They don't sleep a lot at night like a chicken, they do swim and forage around and nap during the day.

Ducks are a lot of fun and fun to watch, I think you will enjoy them.