Ducklings and shavings?

[TheDuckCrew]

Are ducklings okay to live on shavings? Our babies keep eating them, and if they could be bad for them, I would like to know as soon as possible if hay would be better. Thank you!

 

[katharinad]

Mine are one pine wood shavings after they are 3 weeks old. Not earlier then that, because they will eat it. After 3 weeks it is not a problem at all. They will try it, but give up right away.
Katharina

 

[maralynn28]

Mine were eating them so much, more than their actual food crumbles, I was worried about their digestion and put a pillow case over the shavings but YUCK the amount and grossness of the laundry!!! Then changed to puppy pads which I know others swear by but they didn't work for me...I really hated how filthy they got, and how many times I had to change them, plus they are pure waste. All this- in the first 2 weeks!!!!

Then switched to hay and have been using it ever since. Hay is cheap and compostable and the duckies don't really eat it. They peck at it but prefer their food and treats...

 

[ChickaChickaBoomBoom]

Great - just when I bought a big bundle of chips and filled the run up for the babies! Well, I guess I may have to look at another option. I've had hay in there with the mom and dad, but it get's so messy and unwieldy that I figured the chips would be nicer for the newbies. Sigh...

-Dave

 

[OmaBird]

I use shaving at the bottom of my brooder but then I cover them with alfalfa so they don't eat any bedding.

 

[crj]

I have my runner ducks in a dog crate. I used cardboard as the base and pine shavings. It didn't work. Then I tried newspaper..... that didn't work either. I swear, they are like goats. They will eat anything and everything. I now use towels. Old towels. Mine are 4 weeks old today and yes they make a mess. But, the mess is easy to clean. I roll up the towels and empty them outside. Then I run a hose over them and toss them in the washer. I really can't wait till I get my pen finished for them.......... ugh. They grow so fast! Chickens don't even grow this fast.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I use shavings or pellets for mine from a week old on. They do eat it, but usually not much, I've never had a problem with it.

 

[micaheart]

WHen they are really little, I used paper towels. After a few days when I felt confident that they knew what their food was, I moved to pellets. Then maybe at about 3 weeks old, I switched to shavings. Yes, they nibbled, but spit them out. Make sure they have plenty of easy to find food and water and they will leave the shavings alone. Eventually, they realize the shavings are not food.

 

[duckyfromoz]

My just hatched ducklings are on a towel for the first few days - until they work out where food and water is- Then I change over to shavings. I havent ever had a problem with them eating the shavings. They do riffle through them and sometimes will pick some up- but they dont swallow them in quantities enough to be a problem.

 

[newchickmom09]

I have shaving down in my brooder with a towel over them right now. When my ducklings are about a week old I will take away the towel and just have them on the shavings.