Raising Ducklings - 5 Important Components When You Want to Raise Ducklings Successfully

Did you just bought a few ducklings you fancy at
a local store? Or are you contemplating of
buying a few? Did you just receive some
ducklings as gifts? If you answered yes to these
three questions, you must be wondering how you
will be able to raise your little ducklings.
Here are a few hints in raising ducklings on
your own.

There are only a few basic things that you need
to ensure that your ducklings remain healthy and
grow into beautiful, mature ducks. These five
basic elements in raising ducklings are a
brooding area, proper bedding, heat source,
feeds, and water.

1) Brooding Area
This refers to the area where your ducklings
will live. You will have to choose a feasible
area before any baby ducks arrive. The brooding
area can be a small building, or a corner in
your garage or barn. If there will only be a few
ducklings, you can use a cardboard box. This
should be an enclosed area to protect the
ducklings from rodents, dogs or cats. Maintain
cleanliness in the area. You always have to keep
it dry and well-ventilated with ample light.

2) Bedding
You have to cover the brooding area floor with
absorbent materials to serve as bedding, like
straw or hay. Avoid using wood shavings or chips
because they might cause serious health
complications in case the birds eat them. Any
wet spots have to removed and replaced on a
daily basis. Make sure to look out for moldy
bedding as it can be harmful to your ducklings.

3) The Heat Source
Raising ducklings can be fun if you know how to
care for your baby ducks. Caring for your
ducklings is never complete without providing
them with a heat source. You can use a heat lamp
with an infrared bulb. Regular bulbs are not
recommended because they do not emit enough
heat. It will all depend on how many ducklings
you have. If you only have a few ducklings, you
just need a 50 watt reflector bulb to warm them.
You need to maintain a temperature of 98°F
for the first 10 days. You need to decrease the
temperature by 5°F each week by raising the
lamp. Continue decreasing the temperature until
it reaches to 70°F, usually after 6 weeks.
Make sure that the lamp doesn't come in contact
with the ducklings.

4) Proper Feed
The fourth important element in raising
ducklings is giving them the proper feed. You
will need to use un-medicated chick or duck
starter. You can also feed them with finely
chopped fruits and vegetables. They also eat
small insects and worms. Avoid feeding them with
whole grains, dry bread, and birdseed.

5) Water
You have to make sure that the water level is
kept at ¼" deep to keep ducklings from
drowning. The ideal item to use is the one that
has a jar in the middle which automatically
dispenses water into the surrounding circular
area as needed.

You will definitely enjoy learning how to raise
ducks and going through the journey of raising
ducklings first. You will soon find out that it
is not as hard as you think. You just have to
make sure that any element mentioned here is not
left out and you will be on your way to raising
your first ducks.

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Are you researching for more tips on raising
ducklings? If you feel you still need guidance
on where to start, consulting existing duck
owners and farmers will surely be a big help. If
you would like to learn more about raising ducks
correctly, please visit:
http://www.howtoraiseducks.com

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