Uploaded July 2013 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Ducks in the sink. These baby ducks, ducklings, are having a blast swimming and diving underwater in the old sink.
Pekin Ducks swim at just days old, but their feathers are not fully developed enough to keep them warm and dry. CHECK OUT DUCK GEAR! teespring.com/stores/duck-gear-2. Baby ducks are not producing the oils needed as a water barrier to shield the cold water from their sensitive skin. Their mothers, in nature, keep a careful watch on the ducklings and don't allow them to swim in the water for extended periods of time. If a human is raising baby ducks, they MUST NOT allow the ducklings to swim unattended and for long periods as they could become cold, fatigued and drown. Be very careful when introducing them to the water as ducklings. It's best to start the baby ducks in a shallow enough pool or in this case, a sink where they can touch the bottom. I started with the baby ducks in a shallower pool, but when they started diving, I gave them some more room to dive under the water. After they burned off the bulk of their energy, I took them out so they could dry off under the heat lamp. You will notice them shivering if it's too cold, so have a warm towel ready for them to stand on when they get out of the pool. They will shake that water off and start drying, but you don't want them to get a chill, so get them back under that heat lamp as soon as you can. Make sure they can move away from the heat lamp in case they get too hot.
There is a lot of great information online about how to raise ducks as pets. Do your research before buying ducklings, so you are ready to give them a proper home and a healthy diet. Most of your local farm supply stores, who sell ducks and chickens, can advise you on feed and nutritional needs. There is also plenty of information on feeding ducks on the internet, as you know. Most people don't know that bread is not good for ducks. You may have, or seen people take a loaf of bread to a park to feed the ducks. The ducks go crazy for it, but that doesn't mean it's good for them. Bread is considered junk food for ducks. Avoid feeding your pet ducks bread, popcorn, crackers and stick to treats like meal worms, crickets and other natural foods. These snacks provide the protein that a ducks need. You are going to be adjusting your pet duckling's diet as he or she grows. The protein requirements change as they grow, so make sure you are buying the feed you need at their different life stages.
Raising baby ducks requires some work and time, so make sure you are prepared to care for them just like if you got a new puppy. It is also recommended to raise pet ducks in pairs. It could be considered cruel to raise just one duck by itself. If they are kept outside, they need to be sharp in their instincts in case there is a run in with a predator. Ducks are codependent and there is a feeling of safety in numbers. It's said that ducks who are raised alone tend to lack in the natural flight instinct and confidence. Hanging around and relying on humans too much is not a good thing. They need to be as independent as they can and having a buddy will keep them acting more like a duck than the human who is raising them as pets. It's also good to raise your ducklings near a safe pond so they can get in the water for safety if something comes after them. Make sure the pond is free of large snapping turtles that will eat a duck if the opportunity presents itself. Duck are much happier when they have access to water. Water is a natural safety zone for them and if they don't have a place to run away to, then they won't ever feel safe. If you do have your pet ducks in a pen, keep a clean pool for them to bath and play in. Make sure you have a separate source of clean water for them to drink. The duck pool gets nasty pretty quick and should be cleaned daily. Coyotes, foxes and dogs are not friends of the duck. Pet ducks are a free meal to them so don't give them the opportunity to get at them. Lock them up in a suitable duck pen at night to keep the ducks from becoming a meal for the creatures of the night. I hope you like the duckling video! For more information on raising baby ducks click tractorsupply.com/know-how_pets-livestock_chicken_tips-for-raising-ducks-and-ducklings
Ducks in the sink. These baby ducks, ducklings, are having a blast swimming and diving underwater in the old sink.
Pekin Ducks swim at just days old, but their feathers are not fully developed enough to keep them warm and dry. CHECK OUT DUCK GEAR! teespring.com/stores/duck-gear-2. Baby ducks are not producing the oils needed as a water barrier to shield the cold water from their sensitive skin. Their mothers, in nature, keep a careful watch on the ducklings and don't allow them to swim in the water for extended periods of time. If a human is raising baby ducks, they MUST NOT allow the ducklings to swim unattended and for long periods as they could become cold, fatigued and drown. Be very careful when introducing them to the water as ducklings. It's best to start the baby ducks in a shallow enough pool or in this case, a sink where they can touch the bottom. I started with the baby ducks in a shallower pool, but when they started diving, I gave them some more room to dive under the water. After they burned off the bulk of their energy, I took them out so they could dry off under the heat lamp. You will notice them shivering if it's too cold, so have a warm towel ready for them to stand on when they get out of the pool. They will shake that water off and start drying, but you don't want them to get a chill, so get them back under that heat lamp as soon as you can. Make sure they can move away from the heat lamp in case they get too hot.
There is a lot of great information online about how to raise ducks as pets. Do your research before buying ducklings, so you are ready to give them a proper home and a healthy diet. Most of your local farm supply stores, who sell ducks and chickens, can advise you on feed and nutritional needs. There is also plenty of information on feeding ducks on the internet, as you know. Most people don't know that bread is not good for ducks. You may have, or seen people take a loaf of bread to a park to feed the ducks. The ducks go crazy for it, but that doesn't mean it's good for them. Bread is considered junk food for ducks. Avoid feeding your pet ducks bread, popcorn, crackers and stick to treats like meal worms, crickets and other natural foods. These snacks provide the protein that a ducks need. You are going to be adjusting your pet duckling's diet as he or she grows. The protein requirements change as they grow, so make sure you are buying the feed you need at their different life stages.
Raising baby ducks requires some work and time, so make sure you are prepared to care for them just like if you got a new puppy. It is also recommended to raise pet ducks in pairs. It could be considered cruel to raise just one duck by itself. If they are kept outside, they need to be sharp in their instincts in case there is a run in with a predator. Ducks are codependent and there is a feeling of safety in numbers. It's said that ducks who are raised alone tend to lack in the natural flight instinct and confidence. Hanging around and relying on humans too much is not a good thing. They need to be as independent as they can and having a buddy will keep them acting more like a duck than the human who is raising them as pets. It's also good to raise your ducklings near a safe pond so they can get in the water for safety if something comes after them. Make sure the pond is free of large snapping turtles that will eat a duck if the opportunity presents itself. Duck are much happier when they have access to water. Water is a natural safety zone for them and if they don't have a place to run away to, then they won't ever feel safe. If you do have your pet ducks in a pen, keep a clean pool for them to bath and play in. Make sure you have a separate source of clean water for them to drink. The duck pool gets nasty pretty quick and should be cleaned daily. Coyotes, foxes and dogs are not friends of the duck. Pet ducks are a free meal to them so don't give them the opportunity to get at them. Lock them up in a suitable duck pen at night to keep the ducks from becoming a meal for the creatures of the night. I hope you like the duckling video! For more information on raising baby ducks click tractorsupply.com/know-how_pets-livestock_chicken_tips-for-raising-ducks-and-ducklings
