First Day Instructions:

Be sure you have some flexible time to pick up your birds from the post office and make plans to be home the first day and night to watch them. Sometimes the chicks do not arrive when expected.

 

Have your brooder area set up and heating source tested. This will ensure the birds can go straight into the brooder as soon as they arrive. Refrain from handling or playing with the birds the first 24 hours. This is an extremely important step. Your chicks will need the time to calm down from the stress of the trip. First couple of weeks should be a room that is between 50°-75° constant temperature with no known draft. We recommend for the 1st day to have the drinking water at 98 degrees (or very warm). The birds are small with little weight on them upon arrival. They will drink a lot of water, which if too cool, will rapidly reduce their body temperature, put them into shock and make them sick.

 

When placing the birds in the brooder, take each in your hand and hold their head between your fingers. Do a quick dip of the chick’s beak into the water, and then let go of the chick. You should see the chick look up and start swallowing. Do not repeat once the chick has grasped the technique. Normally, the chicks will NOT start to drink, eat, or move around until their body has warmed.

 

At floor level, the temperature needs to be 100°-105°F directly under the heat source for the first few days. Then the temperature should be lowered to 100°F for the rest of the week. Be sure to have plenty of room available for the chicks to walk away from the heat source in case they become too warm.

 

Lay paper towels on the brooder floor sprinkled evenly with food. This has been known to help them recognize their food. Remove the paper towel once the chicks catch on and show interest in the feeder. This method should ONLY be used the first day.

 

Heating Instructions:  

Always use brand new bulbs. We have found that using a drop light with reflector shield is a good source of heat to get them started for the first couple of critical days. Use a 75, 100, or 150-watt bulb. A guide is one brooder lamp per 8 goslings 25 chicks. Hang a reflector light from something secure to ensure that is does not fall and hurt the birds or burn anything, or use a radiant heater from Sweeter or Brinsea's Eco glo. The wattage of the bulb you are using will factor in how high or low you hang it. Make sure to use a thermometer at floor level under the light to be accurate. Again, make sure there is plenty of room for the chicks to walk away from the heat source.

 

Is there enough space for a cool zone on the other side of the brooder? See Space for a visual on comfortable chick behavior. Follow the same care as for baby chicks except, ducks and goslings do not need as much heat as baby chicks because of their rapid rate of growth. They will require more care in that they are messier with water founts.

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After two weeks, it is best to provide a heat source other than by light bulbs, such as an infrared hanging heater or a radiant heat. It is better, because the constant bright light from bulbs can stress the birds and cause health issues and picking. You will have to watch the birds for piling up during this transition.

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WARNING: DO NOT MEDICATE WATER FOR DUCKS OR GEESE!

The ducks & geese should be raised separate from the chicks & turkeys. Make sure the water fount and base are sturdy, as you do not want it knocked over into the litter. In extreme shipping situations, water may be given in fifteen-minute intervals for the first hour. This will help to prevent water logging. 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; however, do not raise them with any other chickens, turkeys or other birds. Because the ducks and geese are messier with water, they can cause your other birds to get sick and possibly die. Once they are grown, ducks and geese can free range with other birds as long as the size of the area permit it.