What Kind of Bedding Does a Baby Duck Need?

Raising baby ducks entails work. The process can be rewarding but must be done properly. Before bringing ducklings home, become educated on them and their needs. Purchase supplies and materials required for their care and set up their shelter. All types of ducklings can be raised in the same manner.

  1. Newborn Shelter

    • A plastic container or crate can serve as the first means of shelter. Cover the bottom of the container or crate with straw or hay. Avoid using smooth materials, such as newspaper, as they can cause the ducks to develop leg problems. Change the bedding daily; failure to do so can result in dangerous mold growth. Keep baby ducks warm by using a heat lamp with wattage between 40 and 100. Monitor the behavior of the ducks and adjust the wattage accordingly. If the ducks huddle together, increase the wattage; if the ducks spread apart and pant, lower the wattage.

    Larger Shelter

    • Once ducklings outgrow their plastic crate home, you can either build them an outdoor enclosure or buy them a dog kennel. If using a wire cage, cover the entire bottom with bedding, as any exposed area can harm the feet. Coating the bottom of the shelter with hay or straw is still the best option and should be changed daily. Using wood chips or litter as bedding can cause choking and health problems if ingested. Shelter is essential for safety against predators and weather.

    Diet

    • Duckling feed which contains at least 20 to 22 percent protein should be used for the first 3 weeks. After that time, feed can be supplemented with fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and cracked corn along with small animals such as worms, garden snails and slugs. Refrain from giving bread to baby ducks; if bread becomes wet it can swell up and choke them.

    Drinking

    • Baby ducks need water to drink and swim in. Drinking water needs to be fresh and cleaned out twice a day. You can use a water dish with a reservoir or a shallow dish with clean pebbles inside. The pebbles will prevent the ducks from submersing themselves too far underwater. Ducklings need to rinse their nostrils underwater, but going any deeper can cause them to drown.

    Swimming

    • Ducklings must never be unsupervised when swimming because they can drown or be drowned by adult ducks. When they are fully feathered, around 35 to 40 days old, they can be left unattended. Plastic kiddie pools are preferable to inflatable ones; ducks have sharp nails and can easily pop inflatable pools. Because leg injuries can occur from ducks entering and exiting pools, provide a ramp or steps for ducklings to use. Change the swimming water when it becomes cloudy.