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Three Parts:Making a Duckling HomeProviding Water and FoodRaising Ducklings into Healthy DucksCommunity Q&A

Ducklings that have just hatched from their shells need a warm, safe environment to grow up strong and healthy. If you create a home free of hazards and provide them with plenty of food and water, your curious, playful baby ducks will be able to waddle and swim on their own before you know it. Learn how to make ducklings feel at home, feed them what they like to eat, and keep them safe from harm.

Part 1
Making a Duckling Home

  1. 1
    • The box should be well-insulated, since the ducklings need to stay warm. Don't choose a box with too many holes in the sides or the bottom.
    • Line the bottom of the box with wood shavings or old towels. Avoid using newspaper or other slippery material. Ducklings are still wobbly on their legs for the first few weeks after they hatch, and they can slip easily and hurt themselves on surfaces like plastic or newspaper.
  2. 2
    Install a brooding lamp. Baby ducks need to be kept very warm in the first few weeks after they hatch, to give them the chance to get used to the chilly air outside their eggs. Buy a brooding lamp at a feed store or hardware store and affix it to the top of the brooder.
    • Use a 100-watt bulb to start. For very young ducklings, this should create the right amount of heat.
    • Make sure part of the brooder is located away from the heat, so they have a place to cool off if they need to.
    • Make sure the bulb isn't too close to the ducklings. This may cause them to overheat, or if they touch the bulb, they could get burned. If you're using a shallow brooder, prop the lamp up higher using blocks of wood or another sturdy prop
  3. 3
    Check the placement of the brooding lamp. Periodically check the lamp’s placement, ensuring that the ducklings are getting an appropriate amount of warmth.
    • If the ducklings are scattered out and breathing heavily, they're most likely getting overheated, and you need to move the lamp further away or use a lower wattage bulb. Comfortable ducklings should be warm and settled.
  4. 4
    Adjust the brooding lamp as the ducklings grow. As the ducks grow older, they will need less heat. Raise the lamp or change the bulb to a lower heat when they stop sleeping under it.

Part 2
Providing Water and Food

  1. 1
    Give your ducklings plenty of water. Put a shallow drinking bowl inside the brooder that is deep enough for the ducklings to dip in their beaks, but not their entire heads.[2] Ducklings like to be able to clear their nostrils as they drink, but if you give them access to deeper water they could climb in and drown.[3]
    • If you fear the bowl you have is a little too deep for your ducklings to drink from safely, lining the bottom with pebbles or marbles will make it safer for them.[4]
  2. 2
    Feed the ducklings starter crumbs. Ducklings don't eat for the first twenty-four hours after they hatch, since they're still absorbing nutrients from the yolk inside the egg they hatched from. After that, they graduate to starter crumbs, tiny pellets of duck food available at feed supply stores.[5] Buy a plastic feeder, fill it up, and place it in the brooder.
    • If the ducklings seem hesitant to eat, try adding a little water to their food to make it easier for them to swallow. You can also add a very small amount of sugar to their water for the first couple of days to help them get off to a good start and give them energy.
  3. 3
    Feed weak ducklings duck egg yolk. Very weak ducklings may need a little extra yolk nutrition before they're ready for starter crumbs. Feed them a bit of mashed duck egg yolk until they become more interested in the starter crumbs.
  4. 4
    Give the ducklings constant access to food. Make sure the ducklings have access to food 24/7. They need to be able to eat whenever they're hungry since they grow so quickly at this stage of life. They also need water to help them swallow their food, so keep the water bowl full at all times.
  5. 5
    Switch to adult duck food. When the ducklings become adults, after about 16 weeks, they're ready for adult duck food.
  6. 6
    Avoid feeding ducklings food that isn't made for ducks. Many foods humans eat, like bread, don't provide them with the nutrition that ducks need, and some can even make them sick.[6]
    • Even if the ducks are interested in food such as bread, it is not good for them.
    • Don't give ducklings food made for baby chickens. It doesn't have the right nutrient makeup for ducklings.
    • Never use medicated feed for ducklings. It can cause organ damage.

Part 3
Raising Ducklings into Healthy Ducks

  1. 1
    Encourage the ducklings to swim. Ducks love to swim, and they'll start as soon as the first day after they hatch if you let them. Do not let them swim unattended. Baby ducks are covered with down, which isn't waterproof, and their bodies are still too fragile to cope with swimming alone at this stage.[7]
  2. 2
    Make a little swimming pool out of a paint roller tray. The paint roller tray makes a great environment for starter swimming.[8] You can supervise them closely, and the slope in the tray creates a little ramp to help the ducklings get in and out safely.
    • Don't let the ducklings swim too long, or they'll get chilled. When they're done swimming, dry them off gently and place them back in the brooder so they can warm up.
    • You can also let them sit on a heating pad covered with a clean towel for a few minutes.
  3. 3
    Allow adult ducks to swim unassisted . When ducklings are fully feathered with their waterproof, adult feathers, they can swim without your supervision. Depending on the type of duck, full feathers should be in place by 9-12 weeks of age.
  4. 4
    Be wary of older ducks. Make sure the ducklings are supervised at all times while they're still growing their adult feathers and learning to swim, particularly if letting young ducks swim in an outdoor pond. Older adult ducks that may share the same pond or water source may try to drown or kill the younger ducks.
  5. 5
    Keep ducklings safe from predators. Ducks, particularly when young, can be targets for predatory animals. You can free range your ducks when they are adults, but remember you may lose ducks occasionally to predators. You should make every effort to keep them safe from predators.
    • If you're raising ducklings in a garage or barn outside, make sure no other animals can get near them. Wolves, foxes, and even large predatory birds could harm your ducklings if you aren't careful.
  6. 6
    Keep some emotional distance from the ducklings. It's tempting to cuddle with the sweet, fuzzy ducklings, but if you get too close to the ducklings, they might imprint on you too strongly. To make sure your ducklings grow up into an independent, healthy adults, enjoy watching them play with each other, but don't join in the fun too much.
  7. 7
    Move the ducks to a larger space. Once the ducks are too big for the brooder, move them to a large dog kennel or a shed with a latching door. Feed them adult duck feed and let them spend their days swimming and splashing in a pond. Make sure to bring them back into their shelter at night to keep them safe from predators.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • How do I raise an orphan duckling?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    If you find an orphan duckling then following the steps listed at the beginning of this article should get you off on the right foot to raise them to a healthy adult.
  • Do ducks get red spots when their feathers start to grow in?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    As the feathers push through the skin, it can give the duckling the appearance of red bumps (a bit like goose bumps) under the skin.
  • What age can ducks start eating adult duck food?
    wikiHow Contributor
    At 16 weeks old. If it is before 16 weeks, or if you think it's too hard, add some water, as it will help to moisten the food.
  • Are there any types of human food that ducklings can safely eat?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes, there are such foods. Try such food as: Fried grasshoppers, tomatoes, cooked carrots, peppers, corn, peas, hard boiled eggs, milk and spinach.
  • I only have one small duck. Is it okay for a duck to be a 'single' child?
    wikiHow Contributor
    If you have no choice, then you'll have to provide it with plenty of interaction yourself, which could prove tiring and a challenge. Try to get more ducks, or perhaps even some chickens. Ducks like company, it helps them to maintain their social interactions and keeps them feeling safe.
  • What do baby ducks eat?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Worms, tomatoes, grass, little fish, bits of hard boiled egg, green beans, Lima beans, red beans, crickets, lemons, limes, bell peppers and black peppers are some good food choices for ducklings.
  • Why do ducks need to eat duck food?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Chicken food has different nutritional values that are suited more for chickens. Ducks eat a lot more than chickens do, especially ducklings vs chicks, which is why it's important to give ducklings a gamebird starter instead of chick starter. There are medications in chick starter that the ducklings could overdose on.
  • Can I leave ducklings alone aged 2 to 3 weeks old alone for a day?
    wikiHow Contributor
    They should be fine, provided they are strong and you provide them with lots of clean water and food. They should also have access to the heat lamp and be in a safe place.
  • What can I do if my duckling won't eat?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Buy crumbled non-medicated grower feed and put it in a small dish. Sit with the baby duck to see if it approaches the bowl. If not, hold it gently and touch its beak to the food. You could also moisten the food to make it easier to swallow and have a small bowl of water next to the food. If your duckling still doesn't eat, a vet visit may be necessary.
  • How can I care for a duckling who was separated from his pack?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Give the duckling food, shelter and water. Talk to your local nature conservation agency to see if they can adopt the duckling and give him a home in the wild.
  • How should I hold my duck, if I should hold it at all?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Let it sit in your hands or if it tries to escape, just put it on its back and stroke its chest. However, don't do this for too long.
  • I have one baby duck and one larger duck. I don't know if I should get another duck around those age groups. Should I?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes, because it allows them to interact together and prevents fighting since they are too busy hanging out with their friends.
  • Can baby ducks eat long grass but have water near them?
    wikiHow Contributor
    It depends on how old your duckling is. If it's barley grass and a week old, no. Duck feed with water is your best option, because the grass could either cut the baby duck's mouth or the long strand could get caught in its throat and choke it.
  • How much space do ducklings need in the pen?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Ducklings need about 7 or more feet so they can spread out and not be cramped inside the pen.
  • Can different breeds of ducks live together?
    wikiHow Contributor
  • Mallard babies out of nest following mom when accidentally disturbed. One unhatched egg deserted. Put in warming box. How long to wait for possible hatch, or too late?
    wikiHow Contributor
    It is probably too late already because if it didn't hatch at the same time as the others, it probably wasn't fertilized in the first place but you could give it a try but it won't be certain as to how much longer you have. Another obvious sign that the duck is dead is the smell, so give it a good whiff and if it smells in the smallest bit unusual, discard it immediately because the smell will get increasingly worse and it might even explode and leave a rank odor everywhere.
  • Do ducks have to have a pond? I have five hens in a 50x50 area with native grasses but no swimming hole.
    wikiHow Contributor
    Ducks are happier with a pond but many people keep ducks without having a pond. They should have access to water deep enough to duck their heads in and to clean. Many people use a child's plastic wading pool.
  • What should day old ducks eat?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Ducks under 24 hours do not have to be fed, as they are still absorbing the nutrients from the egg. After this, you can try them on waterfowl crumbs, but if they do not like this, then try creating a 'mash' for them by mixing it with water. It is quite important that it isn't chick crumb otherwise they do not get enough niacin. Another option is to get a supplement and mix it in their food/water.
  • How do I wash my duck? Should I use soap?
    wikiHow Contributor
    No, you shouldnt use soap. Provide a large bowl of water and they will clean themselves. If there is oil or other debris, you may use Dawn to remove it.
Ask a Question


  • Don't try to feed ducklings berries or grapes.
  • Do not feed ducklings onions, wild bird or caged bird seed, or any type of bread. You can feed them starter duck feed, peas, corn, green beans, lima beans, cooked carrots, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, crickets, worms, small feeder fish, grass, milk, and turkey feed.
  • If you have other larger pets like dogs or cats, keep the ducklings away from them.
  • When you first get some ducklings make sure you give them enough space for them to settle into their new home. How would you feel if you just got to your new home and you are shoved into a small area? Give the ducklings some space to settle in.
  • Give your duckling heat, food, water, and everything else it needs to stay healthy and strong!
  • If you are in the duck pen, watch your step, since you don't wanna step on your ducks' feet.


  • Never leave your ducklings outside unattended, as a wild animal may harm them.
  • Never let your ducklings swim unattended.
  • Never leave ducklings unattended for the first day.
  • Never feed your ducklings medicated poultry feed!

Things You'll Need

  • A brooder box
  • A brooder lamp and 100-watt bulb
  • Hay or bedding such as clean towels or crumpled newspaper
  • Starter crumbs and grower's feed with a feeding dish
  • A shallow water dish
  • A paint roller tray

Article Info

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Categories: Featured Articles | Ducks

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