My baby duck is 3 weeks old. How soon can I put it in water?

Question

I dont wanna be neglecting it. If any one can take better care of it than I can, then I wont mind letting you have it. Let me know. I was gonna take him to Potters Park Zoo here in Lansing, Michigan.

Answer 1

they swim as soon as theyre born!

Answer 2

While ducks swim as soon as they're born, but yours was probably hatched in an incubator. This means it doesn't have the oils on its feathers to shed water. Wild ducklings would get the oil by rubbing against their mother. Since your duck would just get soaked and possibly chilled, you should wait until it grows its adult feathers.  

Answer 3

I do agree with Rockefellow.  Momma is not sharing the oils with the baby so he or she needs oil of his or her own!  Wait until full-grown duck feathers appear...  Hey Rocker... I voted you thumbs Up!

Answer 4

A baby duck can swim on the day it hatches.  But if you mean letting it go on its own, then that will take at least 5-6 more weeks.