When ducklings can swim: the right age for swimming, which affects timing

Ducks are waterfowl. It seems that they are supposed to swim from birth. However, this approach will harm the he alth of the bird or destroy it. Novice poultry farmers should know exactly when ducklings can be allowed to bathe. Birds will feel better if they take water treatments. Therefore, you need to responsibly approach the first bath.

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, then they can get cold and get sick. The protection of adult birds consists of feathers and fat. Fat lubricates the body of the duck, so in the water it does not get supercooled and does not get wet from the inside.

Until 3-4 weeks, the duckling has no lubrication, as the gland begins to produce fat on the 20-25th day. Replacing down with feathers starts from the ninth week and can last up to 3 weeks. Therefore, the minimum age at which ducklings can swim in open water is 3-4 weeks.

Before that, you need to teach the chicks to swim. Make a small pool from a suitable container, such as a basin. So you can watch the chick and help him. It is necessary to let the young animals into the pool for 30-60 minutes. They cannot swim for a long time, as they can freeze. After the specified period, pull out the ducklings, wipe them and put them in a warm place to warm. A heating pad can be used as a heater.

After reaching 20-25 days, the brood can be sent to open water. It is advisable to use ponds up to 1 m deep for swimming, with a high content of fish. The more birds, the more diverse plankton appears in the water. The availability of food raises the fish population.

You need to watch the temperature of the water. If it is below 14 ° C, then the ducklings cannot be started. It is also important to keep them separate from adults. Otherwise, the older generation may kill or drown the young; beware of predatory animals.

Getting ducklings out of the pond is not easy. To teach them to leave the pond on their own, you need to apply a little trick. From birth, before feeding, give a conditional sound signal. For example, hitting a metal object. Over time, the ducklings will develop a conditioned reflex and, having heard a familiar sound, they will run to feed.

Before launching the chicks into the water, they do not need to be fed. Then you should give them some food at 10-11 o'clock. After that, in the evening, before leaving, play the prearranged signal, and the ducklings will come out of the water to feed.

What could affect timing?

The timing of allowing birds to swim can 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 he alth of young animals.

Cold weather can also affect 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.