Ducklings update and food question

[xx_li_xx]

Hello, me again,

Do ducklings need constant access to food or can we feed certain times of day a couple times a day?

Our little ones are a week old tomorrow and oh my the mess! They are being cleaned out almost hourly - haha. They are lucky I love them. They can empty their whole drinking all over their brooder in about 10mins, food everywhere, mixed with the massive amounts of poop 7 ducklings make ... I’m trying to think o ways to help keep the mess a little less than it is now - of course still expecting absolute mess

The ducklings appear to be doing really well other than the mess, they are in our room in a brooder - our room is covered in air fresheners haha- to be honest though the smell isn’t as bad as I thought, that or we are just use to it ... I do clean them tons though. They love to come out of the brooder and play- zooming around like little mad heads, they love cuddles and prefer to sleep on top of the brooder than under it. They love bath time and have had one venture outside so far but the weather has since been awful. ... the big ducks got to see them, lots of quacking from the big ducks and they were so desperate to get through the mesh to get to them- I did video it but not sure how to upload videos here , and they just genuinely seem to enjoy making the biggest mess they possibly can haha.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Such cuties! By 2weeks old it was warm enough outside here I could have them outside on the lawn all day here, they can certainly spread water a long way! I know people that brood them in the bath/shower in a spare bathroom and can just quickly rinse it clean but I don't have one. I have found sitting their water dish up on top of something like a cake cooling rack over another dish the same size as rack helps keep the brooder way drier. I'm sure others will chime in with their tricks and tips too so look forward to reading those
Edited to add: that may work to control the spread of food too. And yes if you are feeding regularly then taking food out shouldn"t be a problem

 

[Sue S]

Yes, ducklings are messy but so cute!!!! I used these water & food containers & they worked really well, didn't have a lot of mess. I also used pine shavings it seemed to help with the odor, but I still cleaned the brooder out daily.

 

[DuckyDonna]

This is the first waterer I use. It's over a rectangular plastic box with hardware cloth over the top. I did end up putting that Dollar Tree rubber shelf liner over that which made it easier on their little feet. Makes it just about mess free! Just 2 cool whip containers with the tops cut out.

 

[FortCluck]

This is the first waterer I use. It's over a rectangular plastic box with hardware cloth over the top. I did end up putting that Dollar Tree rubber shelf liner over that which made it easier on their little feet. Makes it just about mess free! Just 2 cool whip containers with the tops cut out.View attachment 1931590

I buy plastic containers at Dollar tree and cut holes like you do to your containers. There's barely any mess at all. I also do their food that way too and they didn't waste as much

 

[DuckyDonna]

and after they outgrow that I do this: The juice bottle inside the cut out milk jug has a hole about the size of a dime near the bottom of it on the side so just enough water comes out. Here is a link to the YouTube video for making it.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Then for food buckets I use these once they get bigger and they work great. I've got 3 of them and use 2 in the runs and have another kept clean for back up. There is very little waste especially if feeding pellets.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just make sure you don't end up with this..

can't help it I love to show this pic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duckling-in-a-bottle.286957/#post-3489096

 

[DiYMama540]

I had not seen that before!! Thank you for making my day!!

@xx_li_xx you have to upload your videos to YouTube and then you can share the link here! Love the pictures! Especially the grown ducks looking after the babies! Have they gotten to interact at all yet?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am glad you liked it I giggle every time I see that pic.

Those ducklings are sure adorable and messy and cute and messy!