Caring for Ducklings and Goslings
Raising ducklings and goslings is a rewarding and delightful experience for any poultry enthusiast. When it comes to caring for these adorable feathered friends, it's important to note that their needs differ slightly from those of baby chicks. While many aspects of care are similar, there are some key differences to consider.
Heat Requirements
Unlike baby chicks, ducklings and goslings do not need as much heat due to their rapid growth rate. While chicks require a stable and relatively high temperature during their first few weeks, ducklings and goslings can thrive with slightly less heat. This is because these waterfowl species grow and feather out at a quicker pace compared to chicks.
Water Management
One notable difference in caring for ducklings and goslings is their relationship with water. These little ones are messier with water than chicks and thoroughly enjoy playing in it. Therefore, it's essential to provide them with easy access to clean water for drinking and splashing around. However, it's important to monitor and maintain the cleanliness of their water source more diligently compared to chicks to ensure optimal health and hygiene.
Playful Nature
Another special consideration for ducklings and goslings is their innate love for play. These waterfowl babies are naturally more active and playful, so providing them with opportunities for enrichment and play is crucial for their well-being. Incorporating shallow water containers or a small kiddie pool for supervised splashing and swimming can contribute to their physical and mental development.
NOTE: DO NOT MEDICATE WATER FOR DUCKS OR GEESE!
We recommend that the ducks and geese be raised separately from the chicks and turkeys because of the bedding management. Ensure the water fount and base are sturdy so that you do not knock over into the litter. Never offer food without water. Ducks and geese can be turned outside at an earlier age than other birds depending on the weather. Goslings love to eat grass and weeds and will begin grazing as soon as they are turned out.
DO NOT let baby ducks and goslings out on a pond as they will drown since they do not have a mother to help them. Their down absorbs water. Once they have feathered out, (2-3 months depending on the breed) they can go on the pond. Ducks and geese can be raised together; Once they are grown, ducks and geese can free range with other birds.
DUCKLING
Listed below are some tips to help you start strong and healthy with your new ducklings.
• Brooder temp 90 degrees to start then drop 7 degrees per week. When fully feathered (around 6 weeks, then can go outside (weather depending).
• Water at all times. Ducks need water when eating or they will choke.
• Feed first 3 weeks 19-21% protein. NO MEDICATED FEED! IT CAN KILL THE DUCKS. Then switch to a duck grower 18% protein till adult. We carry waterfowl feed here.
• Supplements – Ducklings need 18 mg/lb of niacin. What is Niacin? Niacin is a crucial B vitamin and is essential for bone development, digestion, skin, and nervous system function for waterfowl. Our feed has this but most feeds don’t have enough so you will need to supplement. Things that have niacin: brewers yeast, peas, oats, Vitamin B liquid drops. Recommend purchasing brewers yeast and adding it to feed daily or Vit B to water. Research dosages.
• Treats - You can put herbs in water and frozen peas. A favorite of ours is peppermint. This is not meant to replace food, an occasional treat. A balanced diet is critical.
• Outdoors – take them outside in a supervised and contained area. They will love exploring and eating the grass bugs and soil. It is healthy and fun!
• Swimming – ducklings can’t swim unsupervised. NEVER LEAVE ALONE. By about a month old they can swim independently. Remember, they haven’t developed the special oil on their feathers until a month old so they could potentially drown.
GOSLING
Brooder
Your brooder is the place your goslings will call home for the first weeks of their life and it is important that it is set up properly for them. Goslings grow quickly - make sure your brooder provides enough space or they will quickly outgrow it. You will want to allow at least 1.5 square feet per gosling in your brooder. Use an appropriate bedding in your brooder. Paper towels are great for the first few days while they are learning what to eat and what not to eat. After the first few days, you can switch to something like pine shavings, peat moss, or straw. Make sure to replace soiled and damp bedding regularly. Don't brood on newspaper as the slippery surface does not give them any grip and and can lead to them developing splayed legs. They will also need a source of heat. A heat lamp is most commonly used to provide this. Keep the temperature under the lamp at 85 to 90 degrees for the first week and lower it five degrees after that. Their behavior will tell you if they are warm enough. If they are huddled under the lamp they need it to be warmer. If they are as far away from the lamp and each other as possible and panting, they are too hot and the temperature needs to be lowered. I brood using a heat plate brooder so they will be used to that but will take to a heat lamp easily. If you have a heat plate or want to use the heating pad method, both of those will be fine as well.
Feed
Goslings will require feed different than what adult poultry eat while they are young. Make sure to provide a feed with enough niacin, an essential nutrient for waterfowl. They need 55-65 mcg per pound of feed. Check your feed. It may not have enough niacin for them, since it is formulated for chicks and chicks do not need as much niacin as waterfowl. Our farm carries custom NON-GMO fresh waterfowl feed. If you don’t have access to this it is recommended to add supplemental niacin. You may do this by either adding Brewer’s Yeast to the feed, or adding a supplement such as Poultry Nutri Drench, Liquid B Vitamins to their water. If they do not get enough niacin, they will develop leg problems such as bow leggedness.
Grass is also greatly beneficial to goslings. Just like adults, they are made to eat grass. If temperatures allow it would be excellent to allow them access to grass to graze for a little while each day. If it is too cold to allow them outside, giving them fresh grass clippings will suffice.
Water
Goslings will need access to water at all times. Being a waterfowl, they will be messy with it. The best solution to this is to make sure you have a very thick layer of bedding in the brooder to absorb what the splash out and use a waterer that cuts down on the mess. Traditional chick waterers will allow them to splash all the water out and make a giant, stinking mess. A simple solution is to use an old one gallon milk jug. Cut a hole just big enough for the goslings to reach their heads in to drink and cover the edges with duct tape to smooth out any sharp edges. Fill the water level to a little below the hole. This will greatly reduce the amount of water they can splash out into the brooder. Check online for examples
Geese need to be able to fully submerge their nares (nostrils) in water to clear them, so make sure the water is deep enough to allow this.
Swimming
Nothing is cuter than a gosling taking its first swim, but some precautions do need to be taken. They can have their first swim within a week of hatching as long as they are being brooded indoors where temperatures are regulated. For the first week, just let them have access to a shallow pan with warm (not hot!) water just deep enough to reach the top of their legs. You can let them play for about 5 to 10 minutes to start with. Don’t leave them unattended at this time. After their swim, pat them dry. A mother goose would have applied her oil to her babies to waterproof them, but incubated babies do not have this advantage and they could become chilled, so drying them is a good practice. After patting them off, put them back into the brooder to finish drying. At 3 to 4 weeks old you can introduce them to a small pool that is easy for them to get into and out of. It is very important that they be able to get in and out of it easily or they could become exhausted when unable to get out and drown, or get chilled and die.
In conclusion, raising ducklings and goslings can be a truly wonderful experience. While similar to caring for baby chicks in many respects, it's essential to be mindful of their reduced heat requirements, their affinity for water play, and their need for extra attention to maintain a clean environment. By catering to these specific needs, you can ensure that your ducklings and goslings thrive and grow into healthy, happy adult birds.
Note: This care guide is intended as a general resource and should not replace personalized advice from a qualified veterinarian or poultry specialist.
Wishing you a delightful journey in duckling/gosling care,
The Sugar Feather Farm Team