Duckling Bedding

[Amiga]

You can try pine shavings, in my experience many ducklings don't actually eat them, but they pick them up, realize it's not tasty and spit them out (lots of head shaking with this realization.)

I imagine they are somewhat similar to babies and puppies in that they don't really have a way of interacting with the world other than with their mouths.

Of course, some could just straight up be eating pine shavings, I've never really been that impressed with my ducks smarts.

Mine would eat shavings as ducklings. sigh.

 

[DuckGirl77]

Mine would eat shavings as ducklings. sigh.

Yeah mine would eat them like they were treats when they were a few days old!

I don't know why; it's just wood!

 

[dotknott]

Yeah mine would eat them like they were treats when they were a few days old!   I don't know why; it's just wood! 

To be fair, they also eat bugs.

 

[Duck Drover]

Mine will eat spilled food off the shelf liners so it is instinct to eat from the floor of the brooder. I had a Call duckling that would only eat off the floor instead of from the feed dish, even while the rest of the ducklings were eating from the dish.

I have read too many stories of ducklings dying from eating shavings and every other bedding material so I stick with the shelf liners. They are easier to clean and they have never caused harm to our babies.

 

[MandBducks]

Thank you everyone for the input. I really appreciate it!

 

[holysmokinkitty]

Has anyone tried. Shredded coconut husk. We used to have a snake and we used to get these solid blocks of shreddedc coconut husk that would expand insanely and pretty instantly when you added water to them. The stuff took no time to dry after adding the water to expand. Snakes kinda have this pee /poop ( I call it a schploop) thing very much like ducks, so I wonder if this wouldn't be the best thing? I just want.to know if coconut is safe for ducklings or toxic.?I will do more research and get back to you all!but any input would be appreciated!

 

[Amiga]

I have occasionally used coir (coconut fiber) as part of the material in the day pen during wet spells for just the reasons you cite. The source I found says it's not salty like some brands. We have had no problems using it.

I do make sure to fully hydrate it before putting it in the pen - my nightmare is that if they find a piece that is not rehydrated, and small enough to swallow, it would choke them or block their digestive tract. With ducks, I think it pays to have a vivid imagination - because they can get themselves into unimagineable trouble sometimes.