Ducklings require high protein duckling or waterfowl food that does not have medication in it, while chicks require high protein food that has medication to retard coccidia infections. Duckling require lower brooder temperatures than chicks.
Things You'll Need
- Brooder that will accommodate both ducklings and chicks
- Brooder lamp
- Divider for brooder
- 2 brooder thermometers
- 2 feeders
- 2 waterers
- Pine shavings
- Divider
- Feed for chicks
- Feed for ducklings
- Chicks
- Ducklings
- Coop with food and waterer
- Grit
- Pool
- Oyster shell
- Layer feed
Instructions
Set up the brooder with a divider. Turn on brooder lamp.
Measure temperatures in both sides of the brooder with brooder thermometers. The chick side needs to be 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the duckling side needs to be 90 degrees. Adjust the brooder lamp and divider accordingly until you get the right temperatures.
Add pine shavings to floor of brooder.
Fill waters and feeders and place the feeders in their respective sides.
Place ducklings on the duckling side and the chicks in the chick side of brooder.
Watch the chicks and ducklings. If they huddle under the brooder, they are too cold. If they stay at the furthest edges of the brooder away from the heat, they are too hot. Adjust the lamp accordingly.
Change food and water every day for chicks and ducklings. Add a shallow bowl of water for ducklings to splash in.
Change pine shavings when they get wet or once a week.
Once a week, lower temperature of brooder by 5 degrees, until the brooder is at 70 degrees.
Move chicks and ducklings to coop and start to offer grit along with their food.
Offer a baby pool where your ducks can swim.
Change to layer feed when your chickens and ducks begin laying. Offer oyster shell as a free feed option.