Everyday common items in your pantry can be used to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions in your pets, ducklings included. Sugar water has a variety of uses in ducklings. This article explores the uses of sugar water for ducklings.
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Sugar water for ducklings:
You may have heard many speak about the benefits of sugar water for ducklings but you may not know how or why this solution is good for the birds here is why:
Sugar water and your duckling:
Giving your bird sugar water is an easy and quick way to get glucose, carbs, and calories into the bird’s body.
It is often given to humans to replenish the body but it can also be given to chicks and ducklings to stay hydrated and to get a boost of energy.
The sugar in the sugar water is broken down into glucose, and this is what will fuel your bird’s body. This drink will spike your duckling’s blood sugar levels boosting their energy levels.
Uses for sugar water for your ducklings:
Sugar water can be given to your ducklings in a variety of scenarios including:
Once you get the ducklings:
You can give your duckling some room-temperature sugar water after they hatch.
The ducklings will likely be very tired after going through the very tiring hatching process. Giving the bird sugar water will give them a temporary boost of energy.
The sugar water will also help the birds recover from the stress of shipping if the ducklings were shipped. Shipped birds will likely arrive very thirsty after the trip and need to drink something.
These birds drink about half a gallon of water a week at one week old so don’t be alarmed when they drink a lot
When the ducks are lethargic:
Ducklings can become lethargic for a variety of reasons, giving these birds sugar water will give them a boost of energy when the birds are acting sluggish.
You would still need to find the reason why your bird is being sluggish and address this, sugar water should not be given to ducklings long term
Fruits rich in sugar like grapes, watermelon, berries, mango, and cherries can also be given to ducklings to give them an energy boost.
When ducklings are ill:
Sick ducklings rarely want to eat anything. The bird’s body tries to diverge all its energy towards healing the bird, it does this by causing the bird to lose its appetite.
Doing this keeps the bird’s body from having to use energy to digest foods but rather uses the energy to heal the bird.
Having no appetite and eating no food can cause the bird to become weak. Give the bird sugar water to get some extra calories into the bird’s body
Doing this will also help the bird stay hydrated which helps the bird overcome its illness.
Thankfully if the bird refuses to eat or drink you only need to feed the bird a little sugar water to get some calories in so the bird doesn’t have to drink too much for it to make a difference.
Just don’t mix the bird’s sugar water with the bird’s medication.
How to make and serve sugar water to your ducklings:
You can make a sugar water solution for your ducklings by mixing in 1/3 of a cup of sugar with 1 gallon of water, make sure that the temperature of the water is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pour some of this solution into a shallow dish that the birds can drink out of but don’t use a dish that is deep enough for birds to drown if they dip their heads in.
You can serve the sugar water to your ducklings and allow them to come over and drink the solution.
If the birds aren’t able to get to the water on their own, because they have no energy left, then you can dip the bird’s bill into the sugar water yourself.
You can also give your birds electrolytes to boost their energy and hydrate them. Both commercial and homemade electrolytes will work.
Warnings when giving sugar water to ducklings:
Sugar water may offer a variety of benefits for ducklings, and may be useful in a variety of situations, but this drink should still only be given sparingly and in safe quantities to the ducklings.
If you give ducklings sugar on a regular basis then this can cause the bird to start developing health issues which can eventually shorten their lifespan.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other duck related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Duck poop black , White duck poop, Duckling Weak After Hatching, How To Make A Duck Diaper Out Of A Sock,
