I have had my ducks hatch out babies and in a few days we will come out and there will be a baby that has drowned. Why would they drown? The water really is not that deep, and they are swimmers.
2006-06-30 16:03:07 · 8 answers · asked by C K 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
You really shouldn't let ducklings swim without their mother. Ducks produce a special oil that allows them to stay afloat. In the wild, the mother's oil would get all over the ducklings when they were under her, making it safe for them to swim. Without their mother, they really need be kept out of 'over leg deep water' until they are about 6 weeks old. By then their oil gland should be developed much better. Ducklings, being babies, also tire easily, and can't swim as long as an adult duck. Pie pans make great little "bath tubs" for ducklings. It allows them to bathe without the real threat of drowning. A duck doesn't have to have deep water to bathe. But they should still be supervised in the shallow water to see that they don't get chilled or whatnot.
2006-07-06 03:30:41 · answer #1 · answered by Sunnyshine 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They hatch out with only down and it is not water repellent also their oil glands are not very well developed yet. Later they get feathers and prune themselves by laying their heads back and sort of dipping their heads to bring out the oil to coat their feathers. The down on the babies soak up the water like a sponge- that is why they drown.
2006-06-30 17:35:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
properly, it fairly is genuine what the others have suggested approximately ducklings no longer having the water repellent oils yet, yet i do no longer agree that this suggests they are able to't swim. With ideal supervision, i think of you are able to enable them to relish the water slightly. basically verify the water is heat and extremely shallow (perchance 5 inches or so deep), do no longer enable them to stay in longer than 10 minutes or so, and dry them with a towel whilst they get out & placed them lower back decrease than the warmth lamp suitable away. I additionally do no longer advise doing this plenty, basically now and lower back, as there is definitely some threat. I raised 2 rouen ducks and enable them to swim from their first week. They have been basically superb. :] do exactly no longer flow away them to swim on my own and don't enable them to swim in chilly water. Their down is extremely absorbent, so it fairly is trouble-free for them to get chilled & die. it fairly is easiest to no longer enable them to, yet they particularly are waiting to swim and stay in the process the ordeal. ;]
2016-12-14 03:21:10 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was a baby duck so they must be like infants cause infants can drown in a little bit of water.. so but i dont know
2006-06-30 16:27:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
might be too young to follow it's mother in the water? or maybe a fish was picking at it, trying to eat it, but the duck was too big..all i can come up with.
2006-06-30 16:08:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm sorry to here that,i honestly didn't know that baby ducks drown.
2006-06-30 16:07:56 · answer #6 · answered by leo29sexy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its hard to say why...maybe the duckling was weak or sick and died in the water.
2006-06-30 16:24:46 · answer #7 · answered by eva diane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they forgot to put on life jackets
2006-06-30 16:11:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋