Best way to clean up after messy ducklings?

[RhodysMom]

I'm wondering what cleaning products are safe to use for cleaning a duckling brooder and waterer. My 3 Welsh Harlequin female ducklings are finally here and we love them so much already! However, they do make quite a mess and I'm wondering what the best way is to clean up after them. They've pooped on the walls of their brooder, in their waterer, in their food dish - basically, they've pooped everywhere! How should I clean this? I don't want to make them sick but don't want them living in filth either. Is soapy water ok or should I use Windex, plain water, or something else? Help! We're drowning in duckling poop!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm wondering what cleaning products are safe to use for cleaning a duckling brooder and waterer. My 3 Welsh Harlequin female ducklings are finally here and we love them so much already! However, they do make quite a mess and I'm wondering what the best way is to clean up after them. They've pooped on the walls of their brooder, in their waterer, in their food dish - basically, they've pooped everywhere! How should I clean this? I don't want to make them sick but don't want them living in filth either. Is soapy water ok or should I use Windex, plain water, or something else? Help! We're drowning in duckling poop!

I really like to use Oxine AH, I ordered mine online from revival health. here is a link about it,. it is so safe you can even mist your birds with it. http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm

 

[Amiga]

I used vinegar.

 

[RhodysMom]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll go with a vinegar and water mix for now and then look into the Oxine AH.

 

[Kevin565]

What type of brooder do you have? I've found raising them on sand to make a huge difference in smell and poop control.

 

[Mum]

What type of brooder do you have? I've found raising them on sand to make a huge difference in smell and poop control.

I'm guessing you mean it made a positive difference?

If so, which type of sand?

 

[HauiBali]

Broom and hose for daily cleaning, and a compact power washer (HW101) with high-pressure water + hydrogen peroxide for weekly cleaning.

 

[RhodysMom]

What type of brooder do you have? I've found raising them on sand to make a huge difference in smell and poop control.

I've got a Rubbermaid-style container with pine shavings. I only have 3 ducklings so fortunately cleaning is not an industrial-sized event. I've been scooping up the really bad looking spots, adding more shavings, mixing it up, and then adding a fresh layer to the top. I've done a full change of the shavings if it's really messy. Sand is a good idea. Is it like scooping cat litter? To be honest, I don't think they smell much. To me, it looks worse than it smells so maybe I'm doing a good job of controlling it or maybe my allergies are preventing me from getting the full "essence" of the duck brooder.

Mostly, I'm concerned about the chemicals that I use around the little ones. I don't want to cause any health issues but I want to thoroughly disinfect their stuff since they're little crap factories (I say that in the most loving way)!