I am new to this!! Please help!!

[themightysteph]

I'm having a problem with my ducklings soaking the bedding their brooder is a little toat container. I did have a 100 gallon trouph that I used last year but it must have gotten miss placed or thrown away now I can only have 4 or less ducklings at a time

I keep putting shavings in it every time they are wet then I change them every other day. If I take out water at night they will be ok?

 

[Blacksmithchic]

Wet-ness is just something you have to live with and maintain with ducks, their instinct is to splash and dabble water with their bills, and things are just going to get wet. Don't take water away from them, even at night...they are water fowl, remember, they need water. You're just going to have to live with changing the bedding, and if I was you I would do it every day to avoid mold, bacteria, and parasites. There's no way to keep ducks dry...they don't want to be dry.

 

[themightysteph]

Wet-ness is just something you have to live with and maintain with ducks, their instinct is to splash and dabble water with their bills, and things are just going to get wet. Don't take water away from them, even at night...they are water fowl, remember, they need water. You're just going to have to live with changing the bedding, and if I was you I would do it every day to avoid mold, bacteria, and parasites. There's no way to keep ducks dry...they don't want to be dry.

I know!! they are getting big so fast and I don't have a big enough brooder

 

[Blacksmithchic]

Also will my Bailey Paisley and Arroura be ok with out water at the night time? So I can change there bedding so it's nice and dry for them to sleep? Or will they become dehydrated?

That's why I told you it's best to keep ducks and chickens separate, they are completely different kinds of birds and require different things. Your ducks want to be wet, they are water fowl, and they want water constantly. I never remove their water at night, and I change the bedding every day...it's part of maintaining healthy ducks, and it's part of the responsibility you take on when you bring ducks home.

Chickens want to be dry and warm, and I keep their bedding dry and clean as well.

These two species of birds are very different...to me, keeping chickens and ducks in the same house/environment is like keeping a lizard with a fish...they are totally different animals with different needs, and they should have their own spaces with the things they need available to them.

 

[Amiga]

I think you may be interested in these links. There are ways to manage the water. Soaked bedding can be a health problem.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321





These photo's are the watering station for my adult ducks. But you can put a duckling waterer in it just as easily. There is no splash in the rest of the bedding.

 

[Blacksmithchic]

I think you may be interested in these links. There are ways to manage the water. Soaked bedding can be a health problem. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10 https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321 These photo's are the watering station for my adult ducks. But you can put a duckling waterer in it just as easily. There is no splash in the rest of the bedding.

GREAT suggestion Amiga, I forgot about those links. Those systems do require more space... I can't come up with a way to make that same thing work inside my duck sleeping house outside. Some say the ducks don't need water overnight, but I fill their waterer up full every night and find it nearly empty every morning so obviously mine drink a lot at night. They have a fresh pool and a full waterer every day, which they muddy up by the time I get home from work, so I know they aren't dehydrated...maybe I just have thirsty girls.

 

[BaileyPaisley]

That's why I told you it's best to keep ducks and chickens separate, they are completely different kinds of birds and require different things. Your ducks want to be wet, they are water fowl, and they want water constantly. I never remove their water at night, and I change the bedding every day...it's part of maintaining healthy ducks, and it's part of the responsibility you take on when you bring ducks home.

Chickens want to be dry and warm, and I keep their bedding dry and clean as well.

These two species of birds are very different...to me, keeping chickens and ducks in the same house/environment is like keeping a lizard with a fish...they are totally different animals with different needs, and they should have their own spaces with the things they need available to them.

That was only a one night situation. Arroura was lonley after loosing Nugget. So my ducks went one night without water. Arroura will be getting to her new home tonight. Thank you for all your advice to all of you it really helped me. I'm going to purchase more chickens in the summer then bring Arrora home. I'm really looking at the breed silkies does anyone know anything about silkies? Also I'm not looking for a meat bird nor a layer I just love there character and personality. My ducks and chickens are my companions not to severe as food. So does anyone know about silkies?

 

[Amiga]

Please keep us updated!

 

[BaileyPaisley]

UPDATE ARROURA- she has made friends with a baby bunny who is also being fostered! The family loves her very much and she will live the rest of her life with her chicken friends!

QUESTION- I let bailey swim in the bath and when I took her her out of the bath her rump looked kinda hairless is this normal she is 8 days now? :/

 

[jaybird fogarty]

I was wondering how old they have to be before they swim