Ducklings on Sand

[tomzr2]

At what age is the most appropriate to put ducklings on sand?

 

[destinduck]

any age

 

[tomzr2]

Have read they may eat to much of it. Maybe just a rumor? Ducklings are making a total mess in the wood chips. Wanting to move out to the sand lot with shavings in the house.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
If you don't have them feeder or dish trained they might eat sand. Never heard of a overdose, they can use some sand as grit in their gizzard.

 

[Amiga]

My ducklings were on towels till four weeks old - tried shavings a couple of times earlier, but they ate them - not just a nibble here & there, but a chow down.

Now they are on aspen shavings (I am allergic to pine), but seem to only eat a few here and there.

My point is that my limited experience has been that some ducklings may stuff themselves on bedding, until they are a little older. Holderread wrote of a duckling that starved because it filled up on grit.

And there are many counter examples. Any changes I make I watch closely at first to see what the ducklings do. Most go well, some I stop immediately.

 

[WadeMD]

I have allowed mine into the yard, where I have sand in the future bed of their run (mixed mostly sand with some river pebble in it - masonry mix). They definitely love to "sift" the sand, especially in the water, but I have not seen any really eat it (if they do, its not much). They do however eat pebbles alot - even some that seem absurdly large. They always chew on them for a minute (I guess deciding if its OK to use/eat it) and then either drop it (which promptly makes the nearest one grab for it) or swallow it. In a few days I have seen no problems with them messing around the sand.

 

[pringle]

I used sand when I had some baby pekins.It was really easy to clean the poop but you have to make some sort of thing so that no water gets on it as it takes a long time to dry.