Its me again, in over my head this time!!! I'm duck sitting some brand new English runners, just a few days old. Boy do they drink alot of water!!! And they have made the floor around the brooder just a soppy mess!!!! I was told to just use newspaper in the change tray, but it gets soppy and wet in no time and then leaks out onto the floor. Is there something better to use with ducks? Would sawdust or shavings be ok or is it too unclean to use around the little guys? Thier feet wouldn't touch the shavings but I'd be worried about the mixture of dampness and heat and bacteria, is that silly? The kids want to feed them grass and dandelions, do you know when thats okay for them? Thanks for any help, always appreciated jazzy
Yep yep.... they are so messy !!! I tell you honey... I always use a bit of wood chips in my brooder boxes...(cardboard boxes or we made some of old plywood)(sawdust they will eat..so be sure and get the actual wood chips or shavings I think they call them..) NOT all cedar..you can use a touch of cedar in the box to help with the aroma of them....but in large amounts it has to strong of smell and it can over whelm and harm them in full doses...so just a touch mixed with the regular shavings.. I keep about 1 to 11/2 inches of it in the bottom... This helps absorb the moisture and if you keep it stirred around...sure does keep the mess down.. It won't hurt them...I have done this for years...It really will make your duck sitting experiance allot easier... I love Runner ducks..they are soooooooo neat to watch... I tried to have some one time, but it was back when we had problems with a very MEAN and KILLER mink...and I never could bring myself to buy anymore... Maybe someday I will try again because they are sooooooo unique.! You can also not give them as much water... Folks think that ducks HAVE to have lots and lots... but I never use a regular waterer like I do for chicks..they will mess it up in no time... Don't get me wrong..I make sure they have lots to drink..but I put it in a small like tupperware container..and give it to the enough at a time that they can drink it and get refreshed.. but not to play in and slop in..LOL They still love to drill tho... You could also try getting some large rocks.. and placing them around the inside of the waterer if you have one of those that you use a jar and screw the red lid on...Well it works with bowls too...this way they get water..but can't really slop it around too... Feeding them grass is good too.... that is allot of a duck or goose's diet..I'm not sure about the dandelions tho...I would really stir clear of those..cause I'm just not really sure... small treats of lettuce..grass .. weeds and stuff...would be really healthy for them.... If I can be of any other help please give me a holler... I have a article up about raising ducklings...you might enjoy reading...HERE is the link to it.... I would love to some photos of them if you get the time... Hope this helps you out some..
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