Well, we have 10 2 week old ducklings in a cage in the duck/goose house down by the pond. My youngsters decided that they needed to go for a swim and released them all into the pond. We were able to catch all but one. The one that won't let us catch it is a ruin and swam all night and so far, all day today, so I was wondering how long he/she can keep it up and still be ok? To the best of my knowledge, the little thing has not come up to land yet.
On the plus side, one of our grown ruin hens, one that would not going into the pond before now, decided to 'adopt' this duckling about mid-morning and the duckling is following her around everywhere....in the water. Do you all think he/she will be ok?
How long can a baby duckling swim?
will probably get out when he's ready to :-) Especially if his new 'mom' tells him to.
MollyD
As long as he has the hen, he should be firne. Tiny ducklings don't produce the oil needed to be waterproof. They ge it from close contact with their mothers, so she will give him what he needs and bring him out of the water.
Might vary by breed cause my ducks had the oil from the time they arrived here. They got it from a gland at the tail and smeared it all over. Result was practically water proof babies! These were Cayugas. Can't say about other breeds.
MollyD
Thanks for the replies jyl and Molly....so far it is doing ok. Still on the water with 'mama' .....I think I well name him/her Lucy. However this breed gets the oil......wouldn't Lucy have sunk by now if she didn't have any oil on?
I would think she'd have sunk yesterday if she didn't have any oil. She would have gotten cold and water logged too.
MollyD
From what you all said, that's what I thought too.
Maybe it's the just wild ducks. That's what I'm the most used to as far as this goes. he mother duck will stay on the nest for almost 24 hours before taking them out. Were your babies incubator?.....
No, we got them from the hatchery almost 2 weeks ago. All 10 ducklings have been in a cage by themselves until yesterday afternoon until they were let out. The kids took them directly from the duck/goose house and put them right into the pond. Little Lucy hadn't had any contact with any of the other ducks until this morning, when the older one got in the pond and swam right up to her.
Now I'm a little confused as to how Lucy got any oil on her so that she can stay afloat, but somehow she is.
Since Lucy's been swimming since yesterday and the other duck only went out to her today I would say Lucy got the oil from that gland at the base of her tail long before she even went in the water.
Just like my little rascals!
MollyD
Molly, I'm thinking you must be right....otherwise she would have drowned by now. Thank goodness for it though! The kids and DH went into the pond, not a big deal because they go swimming in it all the time, and chased her around and around and even used a net on a big pole to get her (afraid of her drowning) and she gave them the slip every time!
Just watch, now that I've named her Lucy she will end up being a he, and I will have to call him Dodge instead!
LOL The Artful Dodger!
MollyD
Oh, definately by two weeks they are producing their own oil. They only need it from the mother for a few days to a week. Sorry, I misunderstood the age.
hee, hee....the artful Dodger.
whew, that is good to know jyl......I swear I learn 10 new things here every day! Pretty soon, my thinker is gonna be all filled up....... : )
ladybug just do what I do and toss out of your mind unnecessary things like where are the car keys, what was I going to do, now where was I suppose to put this LOL That will leave room for important stuff like when do ducklings get their oil gland working!
MollyD
Molly....LOL........too late I think....ha ha ha! ^_^
Oh looky.....my smiley worked....I learned that from another thread on here somewhere....now THAT is the truly important stuff to remember....lol ^_^
Well, I can't believe it.....both new 'mama' and baby are STILL in the pond. They stayed there all night, or must have.....or something would have gotten them. Our dogs keep varmet critters away up by the house, but at the pond they are unprotected if they don't go into the duck/goose house. Geez....I wonder how long they can keep it up?
They must be just floating on the water.
MollyD
Well, 'mama' and baby finally got out of the pond later this afternoon and came up to the house and barnyard with the other ducks.....it was the cutest thing ever....then one of our new dogs got a little too interested in Lucy so we had to catch her and put her back in the pen with her siblings. I really wanted to keep 'mama' and baby together, but better to be safe than sorry! I'm so relieved that everything is ok now!
.....now where in the world did I put those keys.........lol
Christy
LOL glad you got them into dry dock! Now give that mama a treat!
MollyD