We have three ducklings that are about 3-1/2 weeks old. Two of them have had a major growth spurt in the last week or so. The third has grown some but is still quite small...way less than half the size of the other two. So I'm wondering are the larger ones males and this is just a normal difference between males and females...or maybe the other way around? Or is there some other reason why this little one isn't growing as well? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Stacey Grazey Acres www.grazeyacres.com

-- Stacey (grazeyacres@aol.com), April 06, 2002

Answers

Do all the babies have the same father? Different species are different sizes......

Also, you might want to just sit and watch quietly for a while. The larger ducks may be keeping the smaller one from the food, or picking on it. Might require that you block of a portion just for that one so they're still basically all together, but the larger ones can't get at the smaller one. They need to be together, but feeding time might be a different story?

-- V (WraitheLadyA@yahoo.com), April 06, 2002.

Stacy, along with the above mentioned items also there are sometimes "sports" born in the animal world(or you might have a "runt"). If this little ducklings is otherwise healthy it might be a "sport" and be the start of a bantam strain. Make sure it gets plenty to eat and drink and see how things go. You shouldn't notice much difference at all between the sexes at this young age as far as size. Have fun, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 06, 2002.

We have ducks on our farm and we recently got 15 new baby ducklings. I am having the same problem one is way smaller than all of them and dont seem to be growing at all. they are all different breeds. I was ttold nnot to feed them medicated starter feed, but i cant find anything else I, I need to know what to feed the babies. thanks

-- keely (photobykeely@yahoo.com), April 21, 2002.