Raising Baby Ducks for Beginners
Babies and spring go hand in hand, and this guide on raising baby ducks for beginners will walk you through some of the cutest. From what to have before you bring ducklings home to how to see them into adulthood, you’ll get the help you need to start everyone off right.
Raising chickens is more fun when you add a few ducks to the flock. Not only do they fit in well with chickens, they keep everyone on their toes.
Years ago, we got our first ducklings completely on a whim. Honestly, I never thought I’d be raising ducks—especially since we didn’t even have a place for them to swim. But my husband was all in on the idea, so we went for it.
I used to think chickens were funny, but they’ve got nothing on a couple of curious little ducklings. From the moment we brought them home, they’ve been nonstop entertainment. And when those amazing duck eggs started showing up? Total game-changer.
If you’ve been thinking about adding ducks to your coop, my advice it to go for it. Go ahead and add a few to your chick order. They’ll fit right in and bring so much energy and fun to your flock from day one.
Can you raise ducks and chicks together?
Absolutely, you can raise ducks and chicks together! Not only do they get along well, but they also bring so much personality to the flock. When raised together from a young age, they’ll quickly bond, learning to communicate and interact in their own unique ways.
Ducks bring energy and playfulness, while chicks add curiosity and adventure—together, they create a lively and entertaining dynamic in the coop.
Raising Baby Ducks for Beginners
Bringing baby ducks (ducklings) into your life is an experience your entire family will enjoy. While they may seem similar to raising chicks, ducklings have their own unique needs and quirks that make them extra special.
Whether you’re adding ducks to your existing flock or starting fresh, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from setting up a brooder to keeping your ducklings safe, happy, and growing strong into duckhood.
Prepping the Brooder for Your Ducklings
Just like chicks, ducklings need a warm, dry, and secure place to call home for their first few weeks of life. This is where a brooder comes in. A brooder is essentially a warm, enclosed space that protects your ducklings while they’re too little to fend for themselves.
Here’s how to set it up and how ducklings’ needs differ from the needs of baby chicks:
Size and Space
Make sure your brooder is roomy because ducklings grow quickly and need plenty of space to move around. Unlike chicks, ducklings are a bit messier, so add in shortcuts on your end that will make cleaning up easier to do.
Brooder Box
Use a sturdy container that can handle the wet. If using a cardboard box, be sure to add extra bedding to soak up any spills.
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Flooring
Use bedding like pine shavings. Avoid slippery surfaces like newspaper, as this can cause leg injuries (called splay legs). If using a cardboard box as your brooder, keep the bedding thick to keep things dry.
Waterproof Setup
Ducklings love water—but they’re not great at keeping it in their drinking dish. Set up the brooder to handle splashes by placing waterers on a raised surface or in a plastic tray to catch spills. We like to use a milk jug for this set on a tray. This has worked well over the years and is easy to set up and clean up.
DIY Milk Jug Waterer
This simple DIY waterer is super effective and, best of all, completely free to make!
What You’ll Need:
- A clean, empty milk jug
- Marker
- Scissors
- Baking sheet
- Cooling rack
- A 3-4 inch rock
How to Make It:
- Use a marker to draw a half-circle on one side near the bottom of your milk jug.
- Carefully cut out the half-circle, and don’t forget to smooth down any sharp edges to keep it safe for your ducklings.
- Place the cooling rack on top of the baking sheet and set it in a flat spot in the brooder—corners usually work great!
- Fill the milk jug with fresh water and place a clean rock inside to weigh it down.
This jug works surprisingly well. The tray catches any water spills, the cooling rack keeps everyone—chicks included—dry and mess-free, and the rock ensures the jug stays securely in place.
Lighting and Heat
Like chicks, ducklings need gentle heat to stay warm their first weeks. Use a heat lamp or brooder plate to maintain 90°F for their first week, gradually lowering it by 5°F each week until they’re comfortable at room temperature. (Ducklings, however, feather faster than chicks and may not need supplemental heat as long.)
Plan for your ducklings to stay in the brooder for 3-5 weeks, depending on the weather and how quickly they grow feathers. Once they’re fully feathered and temperatures are warm (around 70°F or higher), they can transition to the outside.
Special Care for Ducklings
Ducklings drink a lot of water compared to chicks, which is both endearing and, admittedly, a bit messy. Here are some special needs unique to ducklings:
- Fresh Water: They need constant access to clean water to drink and rinse their mouths and nostrils. Dump, clean, and fill every day to ensure they have fresh water available at all times.
- Food: Feed ducklings a non-medicated chick starter or, even better, waterfowl starter feed. Ducklings grow fast and need higher niacin levels for strong bones, so you may want to sprinkle brewer’s yeast on their food.
- Swimming: Ducklings may love water, but they lack the waterproof feathers of adult ducks. This means they aren’t ready for full-on swimming until they’re a bit older. If you’d like to let them swim earlier, make sure it’s supervised, in shallow, warm water, and always dry them off thoroughly and keep them warm afterward.
Where to Buy Ducklings
Ducklings are widely available at feed stores, hatcheries, and even online. Wherever you choose to buy, research your source to ensure they’re reputable and prioritize healthy, vaccinated birds.
SLCG Pro Tip: Plan on getting at least two ducklings—ducks are super social and need a buddy to keep them company from the start and as they grow.
Popular Duck Breeds for Beginners
Some beginner-friendly duck breeds include:
- Pekin Ducks: Friendly, large, and excellent for meat or eggs.
- Khaki Campbell: A prolific egg layer, laying up to 300 eggs per year.
- Runner Ducks: Quirky and comical, these are great layers and foragers.
- Buff Orpington: Gentle and easy to handle with moderate egg production.
Each breed has unique traits, so choose based on your goals, whether it’s eggs, meat, pest control, or simply entertainment.
Duckling Growth Timeline and Milestones
Ducklings grow fast—like, seriously fast. In just a few days, they’ll start to outgrow your little chicks by a mile. Here’s what you can expect as they grow:
- Week 1: Fluffy down, lots of naps, and tiny bursts of energy. Watch for healthy eating, drinking, and movement.
- Weeks 2-3: They’re getting bigger and bolder. Wing feathers start to emerge, and their personalities show.
- Weeks 4-5: Most breeds begin feathering out, especially on their wings and backs. If the weather is mild and they’re mostly feathered, they can head outside.
- Weeks 6-7: Fully feathered and growing into their adult body shape.
- Around 20 weeks: Most female ducks (hens) start laying eggs, though this can vary by breed and season.
Setting Up the Coop for Ducks
If you already have chickens, ducks and chickens can usually share a coop—with a few tweaks:
- Roosts: Ducks don’t roost like chickens, so they’ll need cozy, floor-level sleeping and nesting spots. A thick layer of bedding in a corner works perfectly.
- Easy Access: Ducks are a bit clumsier than chickens, so make ramps wider and easier to navigate.
- Water Access: Ducks need water 24/7, even at night. Use spill-proof containers inside the coop and keep a large water dish outside—especially if you don’t have a pond or swimming area.
- Nesting Boxes: Ducks aren’t picky about where they lay eggs and rarely use nesting boxes, so don’t stress too much about those.
For their outdoor space, be sure to include a shallow pool or water source. While swimming isn’t a must, ducks are so much happier when they have water to splash around in.
Safety Tips for Ducklings
Ducks are endlessly curious—sometimes a little too curious—and can find themselves in trouble more easily than chickens. Here are some practical tips to keep them safe:
In a Brooder
- Monitor Temperature: Keep an eye on the brooder to make sure they’re not too hot or too cold.
- Supervised Swimming: Always watch ducklings during swim time to prevent chilling or even drowning.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Too many ducklings in a small space can lead to stress and injuries.
- Clean Regularly: Damp, dirty bedding can cause health issues like respiratory problems or infections.
In a Coop
- Secure Housing: Make sure their enclosure is predator-proof, especially at night. Ducks are easy targets for raccoons, foxes, and other predators.
- Provide Adequate Space: Growing ducks need room to stretch and flap! Aim for at least 4 square feet per duck in the coop.
- Supervised Free Ranging or an Enclosed Run: Letting ducks free range is great, but it’s safest to supervise them or provide a secure, enclosed run to protect them from predators and other dangers.
Raising baby ducks for beginners can be such a fun and rewarding adventure for the entire family. By following a few simple tips, you can keep your duck flock healthy, happy, and thriving. Start with a brooder that’s just right for your ducklings, give them the right food from day one, and make sure they have a spill-proof water setup to keep things dry.
With a little care and attention, your ducks will settle into their new home and bring you joy for years to come.
