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Source:
Department of Animal Science © 1996-19997
Oklahoma State University
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Breeding ducks is different from breeding chicks. A box with a light bulb to warm the young may be used as a simple brooder. Heat is very important for the little ducks. Despite the fact that ducks need less heat in comparison with chicks, they should be warmed up to 90 degrees during the first few weeks. After the ducks are a few weeks old, the temperature may be gradually lowered. Bit by bit, they will get adjusted so that they may go without artificial heat.
As for bedding, no slick materials should be used in a box. Some breeders make use of wire. It is cut to the size of the box and covered with paper. It is essential to check the wire for sharp surfaces to avoid hurting the newly hatched ducks. Towels are also a good bedding for ducks.
Ducks - Birds - Feeding
The newly hatched ducks should always have sufficient supply of fresh water. Chick waterers are sometimes used for ducks. As the ducks grow, they will be able to reach the water and clean their heads in the chick waterer. Meanwhile, it is not recommended to use broad or deep watering bowls because the ducks will walk in the water, which is not acceptable. Also, they may drink dirty water and get ill or they may get wet in the water and catch cold.
When with their mother, the ducks are guided during swimming. Their mother allows them to swim for a while and makes them leave water to dry in due time. Her instincts allow her to do so. Breeders usually do not know what time is sufficient for little ducks to swim and get dry. Therefore, it is advised to set up a swimming hole and let the ducks enjoy water for a while. This is done daily in good weather.
Feeder is usually placed not far from water. Yet, one should not put a duck feeder and a waterer near one another. Otherwise, it will lead to the food getting wet and the molds developing, which can be lethal for the ducks. Mash is not recommended for the young. It is also unwise to feed the ducks medicated chick food.
Ducks - Birds - Breeders Links
Berg's Hatchery: Ducks - Includes cornish, turkeys, ducks and geese, specialty or exotic birds also available. Deliver to most areas in Western Canada.
C.M. Estes Hatchery - Broad range hatchery of landfowl, many breeds available. Rearing information and links. Located in Springfield, MO.
Cackle Hatchery - Supplying quality poultry through out the United States since 1936. Carry chicks, ducks, turkeys, gamebirds, guineas and other poultry.
CM Estes Hatchery: Ducks - Providing top quality poultry with a "whatever it takes" customer service attitude. MO.
Decorah Hatchery - Supplier of many breads of landfowl. Links to various poultry sites. Based in Decorah, Iowa.
Double-R Discount Supply - Live chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, incubators, poultry supplies, other equipment and supplies.
Guinea Farm - Largest fancy color guinea fowl hatchery. Sales include keets, fertile eggs, peafowl, llamas, and swans. Located in New Vienna, Iowa, USA.
Hoffman Hatchery Inc. - Offering a large variety of poultry, equipment and books to help with all aspects of your poultry experience.
Hoovers Hatchery: Ducks - Supplying many breeds of landfowl. Will ship small and large orders. Located in Iowa.
Ideal Poultry - a family owned and operated business founded in 1937 and located in Cameron, Texas. Raise Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Guineas, Bantams, Chicks, and more.
K & L Poultry Farm: Ducks - Day-old chicks in standard chickens, bantams, ducklings, goslings, turkeys, guineas, peacocks, quail, chukar, and pheasants; also incubators, brooders, and supplies. Georgia, USA.
McMurray Hatchery - Ducks And Geese - Books about ducks and geese from McMurray hatchery.
Metzer Farms: Duck and Goose Hatchery - Family-owned farm, offering live ducks, geese and egg products. We control every aspect of the business from breeding to shipping!
Meyer Hatchery - Offer ducks, chicks, turkeys, and game birds.
Morris Hatchery Ducks - Florida hatchery that raises ducks.
Moyer's Chicks, Inc. - Family run Chicken Hatchery since 1946 providing quality chicks in orders of 10 to 100,000. Order your broilers and pullets year round. (Quakertown, PA).
Mt. Healthy Hatcheries - Supplying day old chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pheasants. Located in Ohio.
Oakwood Game Farm - Hatchery of chinese ringneck pheasants and chukar partridges. Pheasant and chukar chicks, eggs, fresh and smoked game birds. Including started chicks. Located in Princeton, MN.
Privett Hatchery - Privett Hatchery has produced a Loose Leaf Notebook which includes 59 of the Standard Breeds which we sell.
Sunflower Ranch & Hatchery Call Menu - Raise Gray Calls, the miniature Mallards of the call duck world.
Townline Poultry Farm - Hatchery source for chicks, ducklings, goslings, turkey poults, and pheasants. Has debeaking available. Located in Michigan
Uncle Tom's Farm - Game Bird Farm and Hatchery - A small game bird farm located near Gardiner, OR; offering a wide variety of species including pheasants, quail, turkeys, ducks and geese.
Unicorn Woods Hatchery: Ducks - Hatch standard and bantam chickens for eggs, meat, and exhibition, also saipan junglefowl, giant quail, button quail, game birds, peacocks, guineas, turkeys, ducks, and geese. Also sell medicines and other sundries.
Welp Hatchery - Offering cornish rock broilers, bantams, rare and unusual breeds, egg layers, turkeys, ducks, geese and pheasants. Located in Brancroft, Iowa.
Welsh Harlequins - Kaibic's hatchery offer information on Welsh Harlequins.
