Hey guys! My husband decided yesterday that we needed to buy ducks. So...I put the ducklings in with our bantams (they're about the same size) and we've got a water problem. Their water container has never leaked, and doesn't appear to be leaking now. However...all around the water dish (I've got it on a saucer), the bedding is soaked. The only variable is the ducklings. The saucer is not filled with water, so I really don't think the container is leaking. When the ducks drink, they kind of scatter the water with their bills, but the water seems like way too much to be the result of that. Any ideas on what could be happening here?
Also, when do I need to give them someplace to swim? We have a 3 acre pond for when they are mature, but I know I'll need something for them before then. Just don't know when. Thanks guys!
Eileen
Ducklings and Water Container
Ducks spend a lot of time dabbling in the water and sending it everywhere - your water container isn't leaking. Our ducklings enjoyed a daily swim in the bathtub.
We have one little duck and 5 big ones. The little duck, which is seperate from the big ones of course, can make the biggest mess with water. Yes, they spatter and an ounce of water seems to become a gallon, lol
Our ducks got their oil at about 1-1/2 weeks of age. We have a little kiddie pool with a ramp in his day pen that he can get into and swim. (the little duck is now 5 weeks old)
You will enjoy watching them swim, it can be hilarious, they love splashing around.
Well, it was definitely them splashing in the water. The bottle doesn't have a leak. So...wet woodchips were not going to cut it. Soggy newspaper also a "no". So I bought a 12ft X 1ft strip of AstroTurf, and cut it to size in the container. I'm going to have a couple so I can take one out and immediate replace it while I go hose of the DISASTER they made. Oh my WORD they are messier than my chickens! Thanks for the tip on when to get them swimming!
AstroTurf, what a good idea! Yes ducks are MESSY and they don't get better with age.
The duckling will also keep the Bantams so wet they sometimes stay to cold and do not make it.
Astroturf.....something else to put on my list of duck supplies to get. I may not be getting my ducks until after summer now :( Too many unexpected expenses have been popping up.
yeah ducks and geese make big wet messes i wouldent leave them in with the chicks for long.They will keep everything wet and the chicks get too damp to stay warm.They also grow really fast and will step on the chicks before long.
Right now they are in a separate brooder (with the astroturf). After that, I'm probably going to put them in what we call "the isolation chamber" which is really a small coop the former owners used to isolate broody hens. Once they outgrow that, we'll be trying to get them on the pond. I'm worried about them preferring our swimming pool over the pond since it's closer to the house though!
They may not prefer the swimming pool but they still use it.
Okay, I came up with a solution (kind of) that works (kind of) to keep the duck pen dry (mostly). :)
We have them in a poly horse trough and on one end, I've got pine chips, in the middle, we have astroturf and on the other end, a metal turkey roasting pan (disposable) with their water container in it. Most of the water ends up in the pan, and it's funny because when I do a water change, if I don't take the pan out immediately, they all jump in and splash around. They are growing RIDICULOUSLY fast. They no longer fit in the sink, so we're using a galvanized tub for them to swim in when we clean out their pen. They seriously look an inch taller every day and they're eating (and pooping accordingly) like horses. Anyway, thought I'd share!
Oh I want my baby ducks.. I am so hoping she is sitting on fertile eggs...