Instructions
Feed your baby ducks a proper diet. When ducks are young, they require a diet that is high in protein to help them grow. Feed your ducklings a diet of 20 to 22 percent protein in the form of non-medicated starter mash or crumbles. Never feed your ducklings food meant for other birds or medicated chicken or duck feed. For treats, feed your baby ducks scrambled eggs, earthworms, finely chopped lettuce or diced tomatoes.
Provide your ducks with a constant supply of water, both to drink and swim in. Change the water in their drinking reservoir at least once a day. For your duck's swimming area, provide a ramp leading in and out of the water---ducks can sustain serious leg injuries climbing in and out of a pool. Also, avoid chlorinating the water in your duck pond.
House the ducklings in a secure shelter, large enough for the duck to flap its wings and move around freely. The shelter should be large enough to accommodate the duck pond, and house the ducks to protect them from the elements. Baby ducks are small and can easily escape and be eaten by predators; completely secure your shelter. The shelter does need to be winterized to protect your ducks from the elements.
Manage your ducks' bad behavior to avoid raising aggressive animals. Ducks raised in captivity get bored and can sometimes exhibit aggressive behavior. Provide your duck with a lot of hands-on attention when it is young to help control these behavioral issues before they become a problem.
Check that your ducks are healthy. Ducklings can sustain injuries to their wings, legs and contract other avian diseases. Check your ducklings regularly for signs of health problems. If they exhibit any, contact your vet to have them treated properly.
How to Care for Ducklings
Hatching chicks and ducklings is a rewarding experience in that you experience the miracle of life first-hand and feel the accomplishments associated with successfully raising a bird from egg to hatchling. Once the hatching process is complete, it is important to provide your ducklings with the proper food, water, shelter, and health care to help them grow into maturity. Your pet ducks depend on you to provide them with the care; they cannot fend for themselves, as they would normally in the wild.