Duck Eggs and Diapers

[foxygoober]

I couldn't figure out what diapers and eggs had to do with anything until I read the further posts. . .I might mention the diapers to hubby, he wants the ducks to be our pets (they were intended for a different home once they got their feathers)

 

[cmcourt]

I checked out the link and they are adorable. However, doesn't wearing a diaper make a mess of the duck's bottom?

 

[DuckLover179]

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Not if you change it properly

 

[Funsizeracing]

So how often to you have to change a duck's diaper to keep the duck clean and stink free?

 

[DuckLover179]

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When it starts to smell, or drag. Just like a baby. I don't have them yet, but I think it's around once an hour.

 

[pascopol]

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I am not an expert on how many times a day duck empty itself.

But the average data on most of birds is a bird poops about 200 times a day.

Do your own math if you want to keep your duck "CLEAN AND STINK FREE".


I do not really want to make detailed comment on keeping ducks in diapers in home, bed or wherever.


Trying to keep out of trouble.



LOL

 

[Duck_feeder]

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That average is not accurate for domestic birds (ducks or otherwise). The reason birds poop so often is because they poop before taking flight to reduce their load and conserve energy. They can't control it, it's a reflex action that is part of the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight reflexes). Birds that fly less often, poop far less often. Also, birds in the wild eat constantly during the day, thus they need to poop constantly during the day. Pet birds can be fed only a few times per day which makes them poop less often.

I'd say our ducks poop anywhere from once every 15 minutes to 45 minutes depending on what they've been up to (they have access to food and water 24/7). It takes anywhere from 1 to 4 hours for their diapers to require changing (much like a human baby's diaper, you'd don't necessarily need to change the diaper immediately if it is mostly liquid). We always give our ducks a bath after being diapered.

 

[nettie]

If the duck's bottom is a bit messy when it comes time to changing (if they are not going into the tub) we recommend wiping it, with a natural/sensitive wipe just like you would with a baby. Normally they don't get poop all over their bottoms, but it happens sometimes. They can poop a couple times before needing to be changed.

Usually if we plan on keeping them diapered for awhile, (like on a car ride to the vet, or long bouts of couch snuggling) we don't let them have access to food/water other than peas as treats. This helps cut down on poops per hour, thus changing less often. I tell people to use the rule we use in caring for babies and toddlers in preschool.... If it sags or smells bad, change it. If it's been two hours or more, change it regardless as to how much poop may or may not be in it.

The very longest we ever go is maybe 4-5 hours without changing if they are not eating, since they don't go that often. But whenever they go for long bouts in a diaper harness, they immediately go into the bath tub when done.

To get back on track with the OP's original question.... When I first got victor, I was so sure he was a boy. While driving the 14 hours it takes to get from Chicago to Alabama (I lived in AL briefly) when the ducks were about 5 months old, I'd set up the back so they couldn't fall to the floor. I had a baby crib bottom folded out over the back and elevated them so they could easily see out the window. While stopping in Tennessee for gas, I noticed Victor was sliding around on his belly in the back seat. I picked him up to see if his harness was uncomfortable or if he needed a change, and low and behold, all I found was an egg. The very first one I ever got from any of my ducks, and it came from Victor. lol...

Basically we found that if you diaper your duck and you might expect and egg to come while being diapered, jst don't tuck in their tail feathers (let them hang out the back) so there is plenty of room for poop and/or an egg.

 

[Baralak]

Lol.. Thank you all for your comments... and I guess this has also become a icebreaker for those that never had heard of a diaper for a duck. I plan on getting my ducks one once they get older. I have 3 rouens that are 3 weeks old, 1 Welsh Harlequin, and one Swedisih Blue. I just don't want to have to buy a bunch of them at different sizes.