PREPARING FOR YOUR ORDER
Day-old ducklings and goslings require slightly different care than baby chicks. Understanding the unique needs of waterfowl versus chicks is key to raising healthy birds.
A Few Key Differences
- Waterfowl are messy. They splash water and can quickly create unsanitary conditions. Their brooder will require frequent maintenance to remove wet shavings and keep feeders and waterers clean.
- Ducklings and goslings grow faster than chicks. Housing them together can lead to trampling or smothering smaller birds. For the safety and health of your flock, brood waterfowl separately from chicks.
- Waterfowl need Niacin (Vitamin B3) for proper leg development. Choose a starter feed formulated for waterfowl or supplement a general poultry starter with brewer’s yeast (about 1–2 tablespoons per cup of feed).
- Ducklings and goslings should not be given medicated chick feed. Because they eat more than chicks, they can ingest too much medication, which may lead to toxicity. Coccidiosis is far less common in waterfowl, so medicated feed isn’t necessary.
- Maintaining proper male-to-female ratios is critical. For ducks, aim for 1 male per 3–5 females. For geese, 1 male per 2–4 females is ideal. Too many males can result in aggression, injuries, or even fatalities.
Housing and Brooder Space
House baby waterfowl in a clean, draft-free, predator-proof indoor space such as a shed, garage, or barn. If other livestock are present, ensure the poultry has a separate, protected area. If reusing a brooder, sanitize it thoroughly to prevent the spread of disease to your new flock.
Have your brooder and heat lamp set up and tested at least 24 hours before your ducklings or goslings arrive. After traveling through the mail, they’ll need to settle in quickly.
Use a brooder that’s bigger than you think you'll need—ducklings and goslings grow fast. Start with at least 1/3 square foot per bird and expand as needed.
We recommend large stock tanks or wooden boxes for brooders. If your brooder has corners, round them out with cardboard or a brooder ring to prevent piling and suffocation.
Bedding
We recommend pine shavings (as it is highly absorbent and good for traction) or chopped straw. Spread at least 2–4 inches of bedding on the brooder floor.
Always inspect bedding for mold before use. Buy pine shavings in paper bags when possible to reduce the risk of moisture buildup.
Avoid:
• Newspaper (slippery)
• Treated woods like cedar (toxic)
• Sawdust (respiratory issues)
Heating Requirements
We recommend using a heat lamp instead of a brooder plate. When fire safety guidelines are followed, heat lamps offer more consistent warmth for waterfowl. For more information,
read our blog about heat lamps.
Start by hanging your lamp about 18 inches above the brooder floor, aiming for 90–95°F at chick level. Use a thermometer to monitor temperature.
Drop the temperature by 5°F each week:
0–1 week 90–95°F
1–2 weeks 85–90°F
2–3 weeks 80–85°F
3–4 weeks 75–80°F
4–5 weeks 70–75°F
5–6 weeks Begin weaning off heat if ambient temps stay above 65°F
Happy birds will be eating, drinking, exploring, and sleeping. Cold birds will be huddling tightly under the heat lamp. Hot birds will be spreading out to the edges and avoiding the lamp.
Water for Consumption
Make sure room-temperature water is plentiful and available at all times. Cold water can shock young birds.
Ducklings and goslings need to be able to submerge their entire bill to clean their nostrils and maintain healthy mucous membranes.
Chick waterers are okay temporarily, but they’ll outgrow them quickly. Some growers use shallow dog bowls or buckets with holes cut in the side.
Safety Tip: Add clean marbles or rocks to bowls to reduce drowning risk and discourage swimming.
To reduce mess in the brooder, insert a small narrow tray with a wood block of the same thickness inside. Cover the top of the tray with hardware cloth and place your waterer on top. Water will drain into the tray, rather than your bedding.
Water for Play and Development
It is not advised to allow waterfowl to swim before at least 3-4 weeks of age. This is because incubator birds do not get oil transfer from their mother to repel water.
They won’t produce enough of their own oil until 3–4 weeks old (sometimes later). Without it, they can chill or drown.
Safe swimming tips:
- Wait until they’re at least 3–4 weeks old.
- Use shallow, lukewarm water.
- Supervise swimming closely.
- Dry them off after swimming (towel or under the heat lamp).
- Look for water beading on feathers—that’s a sign they’re oiling and ready for longer swims.
Waterfowl Feed
Do not give waterfowl medicated chick feed—ducklings and goslings are likely to overdose.
Instead, feed a non-medicated starter formulated for waterfowl or general poultry starter supplemented with brewer’s yeast for Niacin.
Protein:
20–22% for weeks 0–3
16–18% grower feed after 3–4 weeks
Consult your local feed supplier for recommendations. Clean, dry feeders and constant access to fresh food are essential.