How to Raise Ducklings

Its hard to believe that just two weeks ago this duckling hatched from such a small egg. This Saxony duckling will weigh 7 to 8 pounds when grown. Give this breed room to stretch their legs as they are excellent foragers.

Snow white Pekins start out as yellow fuzzy ducklings until their white feathers grow in. Pekins don’t tend towards broodiness (the females don’t tend to sit on eggs to hatch ducklings), so artificial incubation usually is needed if you are interested in hatching Pekin eggs.

Male and female Saxonies are impossible to tell apart when just several weeks old. Until the ducks are fully feathered at 7-9 weeks old, they have trouble regulating their body temperature and need heat. Watch the ducklings and the thermometer in your brooder to gauge if they are warm enough. Warm ducklings will scamper around the brooder.

Rouen ducklings look nearly identical to Mallard ducklings, but are a far heavier and larger breed. Ducklings can be fed regular chick feed, but be sure it is unmedicated because ducklings eat more than chicks and there is a risk they could over-medicate themselves. Ducklings have higher niacin requirements than chicks, so add a sprinkle of brewer’s yeast on top of their feed to assist in building strong bones.