HELP Keep Duckling House Dry/Clean!

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I have tried several different variations of designs for my Indoor Duckling Housing over the last Year... and for the life of me have been Unable to find a proper way of doing so...
Ive tried every different waterer and feeder on the market... several different types of Bedding... but I can Not seem to keep their "quarters" Dry and Clean! Ive even tried separating their eating place with their sleeping place... but they still found a way to make it all a nasty poop filled water-park!
So frustrated... I have to keep my ducklings in the house for another 3-4 weeks because of the cold and wet where I live... So they have a big galvanized tub right now... I do have a 4x2 chick-n-hutch I could use... but Not sure at all how to go about this!
Any Help would be SO appreciated!!! Thx!
 
Hi, i am afraid with ducklings you can only manage "damage limitation!" :o Do you have the drinker on a stand? you can get a low plastic stand- it has a mesh top so the water fall goes in the mesh- try to put the food/water at one end and the other end should stay fairly dry- I use shavings and take out the wet daily- if they cant get in the water it helps- what drinker do you use? They are very messy- so are goslings but not as bad as ducklings- just need to manage as best you can- if the weather improves they can go out during the day at 3 weeks- hope this helps, regards, David :)
 
I tried a regular poultry waterer and dog/cat dishes, and right now they are sitting on a "stand" just high enough for them to dip their face and beak, and I do have the water a ways away from the rest of the "house", but its still a nasty wet mess all over... Hence where all my frustration comes from Lol I feel as if Ive tried nearly everything :D Today Im going to try getting cloth cage-liners (the ones made traditionally for rabbit cages and such) they are supposed to soak up water and yuck pretty well, so Im thinking with those it will help keep where they sleep fairly dry. I just feel so bad that I can clean there pen every evening, but come morning they are waddling through a watery nasty mess... :(
Also... How can I manage to keep their Water itself clean?? It seems the very moment they dip their beaks, it turns cloudy and mucky... and no matter how much I change it, it stills remains mucky all day long...
We live in Northern Iowa right on the Minnasota border so its still *Very* cold up here... lately its warmed up to the low upper 20's and low 30's... but its Very Wet and snowy out still, and will remain so for at least another Month (ducklings are 3 1/2wks old now) Any suggestions there??
Thx a lot! :D
 
Hi, can you not put them on wood shavings? that will soak the water up and you only need to remove the wet/dirty bits- as for keeping their water clean- you can't i am afraid- they like to dabble in the water with their food etc and as long as you change it at least once a day it will do no harm- maybe in a week or two's time -if the weather improves just a little you could put then in the chicken house outside- keep them in for a week and then start letting them out- as long as it isn't frozen solid- at the age they are they shouldn't need heat in doors- they are much hardier than chickens which need heat for six weeks or so -
regards, David :)
 
Hi,I've had the same problem with my ducklings.I've been keeping mine on vet bedding,over here it is available to buy from pet shops,online and mail order.
It looks like a sheep fleece,with a green backing.Moisture goes through,the top stays dry.I also remove their water for night time only.I was putting newspaper underneath,but,it must be smaller/take up less space thanm the vet bed or else they eat the newspaper........ :o .
Mine are now going out for the days,but it is a lot milder here than what you have to contend with.
 
David - I was keeping them in wood shavings @ first but was noticing they were trying to eat them as much as their food... I heard it wasnt good for them if they did that? Maybe thats wrong? Also, I knew with them being cold hardier than chicks that they could go outside sooner... but how cold is Too cold do you think? It usually doesnt get up to even the 50's here until later April-ish... is that OK? The ducklings are 3 wks old right now... Pls let me know! Thx so much!
Lydia - I wil definetly look into that Vet Bedding in the meantime! THX! :D
 
Hi, at the age they are they will not eat shavings for long- they now know what food is and it will not harm them to eat a few shavings. Do you have adult ducks outside? or are these your first ducklings? In a few weeks they will be fully feathered-and should be alright outside- if they have a warm , draught free house at night, I am afraid the mess is just a downside of hatching/raising ducklings- very cute but sooooooo messy :o They will soon be bigger and can go out, good luck, David :)
 
Ducklings are messy aren't they.I suppose my three are ducks now,although they haven't started laying yet so still babies/teenagers.
Because of the frosts we are still having,mine are out all day,(once the frost has gone)and still coming in at night.They are fully feathered but because they slept in my lounge as fluffy ducklings,as soon as it's dark they sit on my doostep waiting to go to bed.I open the door and they run into their crate.
As soon as it isn't freezing at night,they will be moving into their duck house,they will need to change their routine,which will be a shock for them.
I do love them,but not going to miss the mess or duck pooh smell......
Do let us know how you get on Pachpoultry,vet bed might not be worth the outlay if you're only going to be using it for a week or two.I already had a cupboard full,from where I use it as dog beds,so opted to try it.
I think just not having water within their reach at night helps the most.
 
No, not my first Ducklings... just the first I ever had to keep in the house in a pen/tub LOL :D
Thank you both for all your advice, its been a huge help! Im going to switch back to the wood shavings & use the cloth liners!
Also... according to the Weather Channel OL... it is supposed to remain in the upper 30's to mid-40's for the next few weeks! :shock: Which is awesome for here! of course, this *IS* Iowa, so you never really know whats coming Lol. I will probably keep a low level heat lamp up high just to make me feel better :D
Thx again!
 
pachpoultry said:
No, not my first Ducklings... just the first I ever had to keep in the house in a pen/tub LOL :D
Thank you both for all your advice, its been a huge help! Im going to switch back to the wood shavings & use the cloth liners!
Also... according to the Weather Channel OL... it is supposed to remain in the upper 30's to mid-40's for the next few weeks! :shock: Which is awesome for here! of course, this *IS* Iowa, so you never really know whats coming Lol. I will probably keep a low level heat lamp up high just to make me feel better :D
Thx again!
Click to expand...


So glad you also know first hand the aroma 'duck pooh' first thing in morning etc :D ,I was begining to think I was weird.
What breed of ducks are they? how many etc?
Duckling/ducks are lovely when they're not in the home :lol:
Iowa does sound very cold,maybe that's that's why I stay here with the mud :? .
 
Oh I definitely know that "Aroma"! Lol :? We have a few Khaki Campbells, Mallards, and Cayugas. First time for the Khakis and Cayuga breeds though, we've always had Pekins and Mallards.
You?
 
Cayuga's are stunning in their black irridescent feathers.Khaki's and mallards are also lovely,gorgeous colouring on all of them.Pekins are very cute,sometimes wonder if I should have opted for them.
My 3 are supposed to be utility/commercial aylesbury's,but,one is black with a white bib.She is the same size as the other 2,they are white with pinky/yellowy bills,although their bills are definitely yellower than when I got them.
They wouldn't win any prizes at a show,and I haven't got a clue what mixture/hybrid the black one is.I have got them for eggs,as opposed to eating,and,also,'cos I don't have enough room to keep geese.So chose a large duck breed that appealed.
They are cute,although compared to chickens seem a little more dense ;) .When I want them to go anywhere,I sort of try to herd them.
So I'm a very new duck keeper,not got your experience yet,but,the ducks are teaching me :D .
 
Oh I wouldnt say Im very experienced... Very Very New to it all myself! This is only my 2nd yr with Ducks! But just as you said... they teach me a lot and I learn more with each duckling :D Im a bit more experienced with my Chicks though... I completely agree with you about there "dense-ness" though! :lol: My Chicken Flock is definitely more on the "Brighter" side! But I truly Love them All! Ooh... and Yes... all so Beautiful! Actually, today I noticed that even @ 3 1/2wks, one of my Cayugas had a little yellowish/greenish tint on its chest! It was interesting. Ive never had Females, so never had the pleasure of Hatching or Layers yet... we've always got ours Hatchery Choice orders... so Hoping for some Fems this year! :D
 
Lydia: I also checked out your Website and Saved it :) Very nice!
 
Hi,
sorry for taking so long to post a reply,was typing one ages ago and my laptop ran out of battery,I saved it to post later,and now can't find the saved one :? .
I do hope you get your girl duckies this year,my 3 are outside now,and have been for a week.When it gets dusk,they sit on my doorstep to come into my house still :lol: ,maybe eventually they will learn where their new home is.......then again ;) ,maybe never :lol: .
Yours sound gorgeous,Cayugas are stunning,i'd love more ducks and sebastopol geese,but don't have the room :( .
Thank-you for the compliment about my website,I do need to update it.Just don't seem to get the time at the moment,and also add better pictures.I've always been a naff photographer.......
 
I've tried a few different things - the most successful is a garden plant tray with cardboard from boxes around the edge taped in place with newspaper changed morning and night...

I place water containers in a separate tray. When they are really young, they get a frizbee turned upside down, then they move up to various dishes as they grow and the water container increases in size.

For their bath, I use a paint roller tray but only give this to them for a short while to bath.

Do not put wood shavings down when they are young as they will eat them and can get impacted and die. I try to introduce shavings when they are outside but do be careful.

The most successful method I have seen is a box with a wire floor at one end where their water was kept. This obviously needs a tray underneath to catch the water...
 
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