Things You'll Need
- Red-bulb infrared heat lamps
- Brooding area
- Litter
- Commercial chick waterers
- Commercial chick feeders
- Chick starter or other approved feed
- Day-old chicks and ducklings
Instructions
Preparing to Raise Chicks and Ducklings
Enclose a brooding area with a clean, dry floor. When raising chicks and ducklings together, allow 2 square feet of space for each bird. Depending on your barn setup, you may erect a temporary barrier in a smaller area (1/2 square foot per bird). Remove the barrier when the chicks and ducklings reach two weeks of age, giving them more space while still allowing access to the heat lamps.
Spread 4 inches of dry litter in the brooding area. Use shredded cardboard, sawdust, wood shavings, ground corn cobs, straw or peanut hulls. Keep extra litter on hand to remove damp spots and replace with dry, clean litter.
Hang one infrared heat lamp 18 inches from the litter and the other 20 inches from the litter to start. Keep the lamps several feet apart to warm two sections of the brooding area. Keep an eye on the birds: If they're crowded together under the lamp, lower it by a couple of inches. If they're crowded away from the lamp, raise it by a couple of inches. The University of Missouri Extension Service recommends one 250-watt infrared heat lamp for every 30 ducklings; more chicks may be kept warm with the same size lamp.
Provide the chicks and ducklings with chick starter food at all times. Ask your feed dealer for starter that's safe for both chicks and ducklings. Some types of feed contain ingredients that are harmful to ducks.
Provide the chicks and ducklings with clean, fresh water at all times. Check water levels twice a day. Use waterers that are too small for the little birds to fall into because they will drown. As they get older, they'll splash some water; change litter frequently to avoid dampness.
Turn on the heat lamps and have everything ready before introducing your new chicks and ducklings.
Continuing Care of Chicks and Ducklings
Raise the heat lamps by 2 inches each week for six weeks. Chicks need heat for a longer period than ducklings, so you may be able to eliminate one lamp earlier. As always, watch the birds' behavior to know whether they need more or less heat.
Transition the birds off starter feed and onto regular feed after a week to 10 days. Ask your feed dealer for rations that are appropriate for both chicks and ducklings.
Provide grit for the chicks and ducklings. They need this to help digest their rations. Feed dealers sell grit separately, or it may be included in the rations.
Allow the birds more space as they grow older. They may be pastured at three to four weeks, but don't allow them free-range until they're older. Let them out in the morning after the dew has dried and confine them at night with their heat lamps, food and water.
Ducklings are ready to eat in seven to eight weeks. If they're kept past about 11 weeks, they grow pinfeathers that make them difficult to pick clean. Chickens are ready to eat at eight weeks but can be allowed to grow to 12 weeks for broiling chickens.