Ducks are waterfowl. It seems like they are supposed to swim from birth. However, this approach will harm the health of the bird or kill it. Beginning poultry keepers should know exactly when ducklings can be allowed to bathe. Birds will feel better if they take water treatments. Therefore, you need to take a responsible approach to your first bath.
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At what age can ducklings be bathed?
Ducklings are ready to “take a bath” from the first days of life. But, if you allow them to swim in the early stages, they can become hypothermic and get sick. The protection of adult birds consists of feathers and fat. The fat lubricates the duck's body, so in the water it does not become overcooled and does not get wet from the inside.
Until 3-4 weeks, the duckling has no lubrication, since the gland begins to produce fat on the 20-25th day. The replacement of down with feathers begins from the ninth week and can last 3 weeks. Therefore, the minimum age at which ducklings can swim in open water is 3-4 weeks.
Before this, you need to teach the chicks to swim. Make a small pool from a suitable container, such as a basin. This way you can watch and help the chick. It is necessary to let the young animals into the pool for 30-60 minutes. They cannot swim for a long time, as they may freeze. After the specified period, remove the ducklings, dry them and place them in a warm place to warm up. You can use a heating pad as a heater.
Upon reaching 20-25 days, the brood can be sent to an open reservoir. It is advisable to use ponds up to 1 m deep for swimming, with a large content of fish. The more birds, the more diverse plankton appears in the water. The presence of food increases the fish population.
Getting ducklings out of the pond is not easy. To teach them to leave the pond on their own, you need to use a little trick. From birth, give a conditioned sound signal before feeding. For example, hitting a metal object. Over time, the ducklings will develop a conditioned reflex and, upon hearing a familiar sound, they will run to feed.
There is no need to feed the chicks before releasing them into the water. Then you should give them some food at 10-11 o'clock. After this, in the evening, before leaving, play the conditioned signal, and the ducklings will come out of the water to feed.
What can affect the timing?
The timing of birds' permission to swim may be affected by their physical condition. If they are sick, inactive, underdeveloped, then they should not be released.
Additional stress in the form of hypothermia can worsen the health of young animals.
Cold weather may also affect the timing. If the water temperature is below 14 °C, then the chicks are prohibited from swimming. Usually in the south of Russia birds begin to swim at the end of April, and in the north - at the end of May.
