I have no experience with ducklings, but I've raised chicks and goslings... and I would not feed them bread and milk mash. Bread just doesn't have that much good in it and most of it is composed of only one or two grains. Non-medicated starter like you bought will be much better. You can make it into a mash with warm water or milk. I haven't given mine milk - although my goose book okays it - because I felt water was more natural and the starter has plenty of protein. One caution about feeding a mash... it should be mixed fresh in a clean bowl at every feeding. It can spoil quite quickly, with disasterous results.

They also need lukewarm water available and I would put stones or marbles in it in case they fall in while drinking... It gives them something to stand on to climb out.

They may need help learning to eat and drink. Dip their bills in the water to give them the idea... that's usually all it takes. For the food, tap in the dish with your index finger... pretending your finger is a ducking head, LOL. They will usually imitate that. Once you have the first ones eating and drinking, the later hatchlings will likely learn by imitation.

Do you have a brooder set up for them? They will need litter such as shavings to absorb the mess and water. I fould it useful this time with the goslings to put in an old hand towel... it seemed to give them better traction those first couple of days. Be prepared to throw it out after!

You will need some kind of heat source. Ducklings need about 85 - 90 degrees F. to start, decreasing by 5 - 10 degrees each week. A heat lamp will do the job, but so will a regular bulb. Make sure they can get away from the heat if they need to.

Hope this helpos... and that some of the real duck people chime in to agree or disagree with my suggestions.

Thank you so much!
I don't think I will try mash at all unless I am desperate. I have a "make-do" brooder box that I think I will move the older ones into tonight - there is just no room for the hatching eggs, them jumping around and a food dish & water dish right now! I dipped their beaks in water this morning and again at lunch - not sure what they thought of that! They are certainly very active little things! I don't need to be worrying about getting them swimming do I??
I have a couple of old teatowels for traction so far and yes, I see that I'll just be throwing them out!
I'm glad that I didn't listen to the "circle of life" lectures and just leave the eggs to die. This (so far) has been a great experience for my family and we all feel like we are doing a good thing.

If you are feeding chick starter, it is easier for baby waterfowl to handle if it is made into a mash. Just add warm water and stir to moisten it all to a porridge-like consistency. When you start feeding chopped grass, clover and dandelions, you will also need to supply chick grit or coarse sand for their gizzards.

It sounds like ou are doing a great job! 7 out of 10 is a very good hatch.

I would make sure that the water container is not deep enough for them to swim in, as ducklings drown easily. They can also get hypothermia if they get too wet. Most feed stores have special water containers for baby birds, they kind of resemble an upside-down bucket in a tray.

The tea towels are a good idea, because ducklings can get "splayed leg" of they are on a slippery surface. I've found peat moss with some straw works well too.Good Luck!

I start my Calls on wire(hardware cloth) and the large ducks on the ground. They need to be able to get the entire bill in water to keep nostrils clean. A wire bottom save a great deal of mess and allows good footing. Chick starter, medicated with Amprol or non med is fine; I always use medicated. I have best luck with a 100 watt incandesceant bulb, several good reasons to not use a heat lamp. Greens are important, niacin pills can be crushed and added to feed( chicken feed is deficient in N for waterfowl. I cant recall the amount of N without looking it up. They can have access to bath water at about 3 weeks, some allow it earlier.

Thanks everyone for your advice - it all helps!

I have made the ducklings a mash out of the chick starter and supervise while they are eating...since they also want to wallow in it, what a mess! They also insist on jumping into the water dish (its quite shallow) but I have to keep scooping them out and I hope they don't get a chill....maybe I will have to come up with something else for water. The temp in our homemade "incubator" holds at about 88-95 degrees.
They are so active and quick that I get tired just watching them - little guys are into everything, especially the oldest, he seems to be quite the trouble maker and everyone else follows his lead.
This morning, the 6th duckling had just hatched and number 7 was not far behind. I suspect he will be hatched by the time I check in at lunch.

Hurray - number 7 has arrived, with a little assistance.

When I look at all these little ducklings it makes me happy that I didn't listen to all the people I had called for assistance. Everyone told me they were dead - don't bother...they are only eggs anyway.

Makes me happy too! What a "feel good" story.

If you're tired of fishing the ducklings out of the water dish, you could add some stones to it. That way they just get their feet damp. Just leave one or two places where they can get their bills in to clear their nostrils.

Enjoy them while you have them in your care... and feel good that you have given them their lives, when many people would not bother to try.

(BTW, what part of Ontario do you live in? I'm in Prince Edward Country, near Belleville.)

Hello maggie_j, I am in London, ONT...so really not that far away.
Sad news, I found one of the ducklings dead when I checked them...don't know why. No. 7 seems to be the runt of the bunch and is very weak, I don't know if he will make it either and all his siblings jumping all over him don't seem to be helping!
Time to call the rehabber. I hope he can take them - I don't want to kill the poor things with my ignorance!

Mama_duck, you are doing fine with those ducklings. Some losses are inevitable, even if you do everything right. Hope you get hold of your rehabber soon... it will be a load off your mind.

If the runt is still having a rough time, you might try dividing the pen with some wire mesh and putting the runt and one of the less aggressive duckings in there. They'd need their own food and water, of course, but it would give him a rest and a chance to get stronger. They'd likely need to go back with the main group at night for warmth. Just asuggestion... I don't know what your set-up is like.

It's tough to lose even one. I had to cull a crippled chick this morning. It was likely a B Vitamin deficiency, but in spite of treatment he was just getting worse. This morning he was unable to use his legs at all... I guess I didn't catch it in time. Won't make that mistake again!

The area around London is lovely.. so green and I suppose you have the Carolinian forests, if you are far enough south. It's green here too, but not quite as fertile.

I'd like some advice as well. We're brooding some chicks and four ducks together. I'm using Start-N-Grow (medicated) from Southern States; however, in reading this morning, I see that a lot of folks say that medicated feed for ducklings is a no-no since they eat a lot more than chicks and can overdose. Any thoughts on that or thought on the specific product we're using? Southern States brochure does say that this product is okay for ducklings, but there's a lot of conflicting info out there.

Thanks!
Mark

No idea about the specific product, Mark. Here in Canada our brands are different. You could try starting a new thread. My understanding is that some of the newer medicated foods are considered safe for waterfowl... but that's just what I have read.

Personally I always use an organic starter for my birds. For waterfowl, it is best mixed with tepid water to avoid a choking hazard. And have water available in a separate bowl as well. Once they are also eating green, grit is necessary for their gizzards.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. The ducklings went to a rehabber late last week - it was a really nice place and the animals there are very well taken care of. I'm so glad to have had the experience....

Check it out: www.salthaven.org

I'm not doing so well with this computer chat stuff . . . this is the second day I have tried to get an answer and do not know what I am doing wrong with the computer. Anyway, Mama Mallard deserted 7 of her 11 eggs due to the fact that a raccoon had eaten 4 of the 11 for dinner. I want to save their lives if I can. I figure the mother sat on the eggs for the last time May 28. What do I do? I live on a lake that has a lot of different birds and ducks.

I think I need to be the first message and not one of many . . . help.