4 chicks and a duck, making a mess of their bedding!

[pricefarm]

A couple weeks ago I got 4 Rhode Island Red chicks and a baby Pekin duck. They all get along great and are growing fast! However, I have them in a tub in the bathroom with a heat lamp and they are making a MESS of their bedding. I think the main reason is due to the small dish of water I have to keep for the duck (to play in and enjoy). First I tried pellets on the bottom (like they were in at the feed store), but the water would matt it all down into an awful wet mess (to the point were changing it once a day was not enough. So then I tried straw thinking that would solve it but same issue! I don't want to separate the duck from the others but this water mess is really getting under my skin. What can I do to keep the water out of their bedding?! Help!

 

[Kittymomma]

The joys of ducks! They're sure cute, but oh so messy! I had two so I seperated them from the chicks and then used some bricks to elevate the water and put the water dish inside a small litter box. Bedding, brick, litter box, water pan. This way the litter box caught most of the spilled water and the mess wasn't so bad. I don't think that set up is good for chicks though so maybe you can get another duckling to keep yours company.

 

[vlapinta]

Try using a container like a cool whip container with a lid and cut a small hole on one corner about twice as wide as the ducks head. He needs to be able to get his beak in and dunk it in the water but not big enough that he can make a mess. I use this and I also give my babies a bath once or twice a day so they can play this really cuts down on the mess.

Vicki

 

[pricefarm]

Yes, I do love my little duckie so but he is oh so messy! The cool whip container sounds like a good idea, I'll have to give it a try!