Duck mom!

[Lauren-pope]

Have they imprinted on you? xxx

Well they follow me, and when I take them outside they do there own thing but don't go super far!

 

[Hybridchucks]

sounds like sorta imprinted...still not ok to set free though....

 

[Lauren-pope]

Oh okay, thanks for the advice!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Oh, sorry--that's what I get for paying more attention to the replies than to the question.

However, I do know a way to cut down on the mess. Have you got a rabbit water bottle? Ducklings are very good at adapting to drinking out of one, and if you put a dish under it, they make a lot less of a mess than if you just give them a regular chick waterer. They can't pull out as much water, it's always clean, and you can use hay as bedding under it because they're not getting it as wet.

They'll still need changed more often than chickens will, of course, but it worked really well for fourteen mallard ducklings.

 

[Lauren-pope]

Thanks! Yea I change them once a day, I got some finer pine shavings and they don't seem to eat them which is great, cause I read some stuff about that. And I put there water on a dish to raise it. They are still messy but it's at the opposite end of where they sleep. They are growing so fast I can't believe it I'll soon have to build them a bigger pen in my garage!