Ducklings sinking?

[bethgreene86]

We recently hatched six call ducklings from our own flock. This will be the second hatch we’ve had so it’s not new! They’re three weeks old. Anyway we recently switched their bedding from towels to shavings/sawdust (I kept them on towels longer than usual, as we have a very tiny one that I wanted to ensure didn’t fill up on bedding instead of crumbles). I swim them daily while cleaning out their brooder (it’s a big horse trough). Second swim after the bedding switch, they’re sinking! It’s pretty funny, but also now I can’t let them bathe unattended . Has anyone experienced this with using dustier types of shavings? I’m wondered if the dust dried up some of their natural oils, and they’re still not the best preeners yet.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

We recently hatched six call ducklings from our own flock. This will be the second hatch we’ve had so it’s not new! They’re three weeks old. Anyway we recently switched their bedding from towels to shavings/sawdust (I kept them on towels longer than usual, as we have a very tiny one that I wanted to ensure didn’t fill up on bedding instead of crumbles). I swim them daily while cleaning out their brooder (it’s a big horse trough). Second swim after the bedding switch, they’re sinking! It’s pretty funny, but also now I can’t let them bathe unattended . Has anyone experienced this with using dustier types of shavings? I’m wondered if the dust dried up some of their natural oils, and they’re still not the best preeners yet.

It’s not from the bedding it’s just what happens to ducklings until they are fully feathered swimming causes them to be water logged.

 

[bethgreene86]

It’s not from the bedding it’s just what happens to ducklings until they are fully feathered swimming causes them to be water logged.

Right but they were floating prior to the bedding change. Interesting thing, I drained the sink, let them stay in foot (like up to their feet) deep water preening for about ten minutes, and now they’re floating again. Obviously not as well as adults, but not completely sinking like they were before.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Wow! That's really cool I don't raise ducks but you said they preened and then we're fine so probably the bedding!

 

[BelovedBirds]

Right but they were floating prior to the bedding change. Interesting thing, I drained the sink, let them stay in foot (like up to their feet) deep water preening for about ten minutes, and now they’re floating again. Obviously not as well as adults, but not completely sinking like they were before.

Once the water level goes down, they will be able to touch the bottom slightly and float a bit better
They will need to dry, preen, and then they will be better oiled to float- currently they're still wet so they're still unable to float for very long.

Ducklings at this age definitely need supervising closely- they will need watching until about 8 weeks, if they get waterlogged they can become chilled or even drown- happens fairly fast. You mention that previously they would float, but I expect that as they've gotten older, they're having longer swims so getting wetter

 

[BelovedBirds]

Right but they were floating prior to the bedding change. Interesting thing, I drained the sink, let them stay in foot (like up to their feet) deep water preening for about ten minutes, and now they’re floating again. Obviously not as well as adults, but not completely sinking like they were before.

They're adorable, btw! Such sweet babies

 

[ruthhope]

Right but they were floating prior to the bedding change. Interesting thing, I drained the sink, let them stay in foot (like up to their feet) deep water preening for about ten minutes, and now they’re floating again. Obviously not as well as adults, but not completely sinking like they were before.

I get little ducklings to rehab each year from the wild that get waterlogged and left to drown by their mama duck. It happens in the wild. Its not bedding. The change in your ducklings' bedding is coincidental.

Please supervise your ducklings swim time!