Ducks eating bedding

[CDVAKCHICkens]

My Pekin and Appleyard ducklings continue to eat any bedding I use. They are 5 weeks old, I have raised them in a spare bathtub with pine shavings under shelf liner. Everything has been perfect with this set up. However, now they are getting older and almost ready to live outside. The problem is they eat any bedding ( shavings, straw/hay combo or Koop Clean, shredded paper) and they are even trying to eat small stones and sticks they find in their outdoor pen. Am I being an overprotective duck parent or is it ok for the ducks to figure this out on their own? I have read that Koop Clean is safe for chickens to eat, just not sure about ducks. Any help or suggestions for bedding are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Pekin and Appleyard ducklings continue to eat any bedding I use. They are 5 weeks old, I have raised them in a spare bathtub with pine shavings under shelf liner. Everything has been perfect with this set up. However, now they are getting older and almost ready to live outside. The problem is they eat any bedding ( shavings, straw/hay combo or Koop Clean, shredded paper) and they are even trying to eat small stones and sticks they find in their outdoor pen. Am I being an overprotective duck parent or is it ok for the ducks to figure this out on their own? I have read that Koop Clean is safe for chickens to eat, just not sure about ducks. Any help or suggestions for bedding are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

@CDVAKCHICkens Welcome to BYC

at 5 weeks old they should know food from bedding. Do they have food/water out during daylight. Ducklings eat alot so maybe they are hungry.

I'd keep their bedding to something that won't hurt them like hay until they are outside permanently and are foraging on their own. Maybe then they will stop eating their bedding. All ducklings will nibble what ever they can but at their ages they should not be eating their bedding. Make sure they are no going with out feed and water too.

 

[chickens really]

Have you given them any grit?....They need that.......Mine eat the bedding also and pick up all kinds of things...That's Ducks..


Good luck....

 

[CDVAKCHICkens]

Thank you for your replies. The ducks have constant access to their food, water and grit. Koop clean is made of chopped hay/straw and PDZ. Do you think this is a safe bedding choice for these ducks if they continue to eat it?

 

[chickens really]

Thank you for your replies.  The ducks have constant access to their food, water and grit.  Koop clean is made of chopped hay/straw and PDZ.  Do you think this is a safe bedding choice for these ducks if they continue to eat it?  

I only use Pine shavings....Straw also as warmth in winter .....

 

[Bennington99]

Hi just like to warn you that I read on here that many people use shavings , I used shavings at two weeks old they had plenty of food and water , they still ate the shavings , resulting in death , the ducklings I have left are now on tea towels so very sad as it could of be avoided

 

[chickens really]

I don't think pine shavings killed your Ducklings.....I have used pine shavings for years without casualties .....

 

[Bennington99]

I have used shavings before with no problems , but this time they ate the savings , I took them to our vet they deaths occurred because the digestive system was impacted with savings that then swelled with the water , which was so upsetting I just wanted to turn the clock back , I WOULD NEVER USE SHAVINGS AGAIN ,

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have used shavings before with no problems , but this time they ate the savings , I took them to our vet they deaths occurred because the digestive system was impacted with savings that then swelled with the water , which was so upsetting I just wanted to turn the clock back , I WOULD NEVER USE SHAVINGS AGAIN ,

So very sorry.

I always try and encourage using old clean towels at least for first week after getting our ducklings just because that is when they are learning what food is and will eat things like shavings. It's so hard to learn the hard way.

 

[chickens really]

That is very sad....Yes...Newly hatched I use piddle pads...Then pine shavings....