I have a question.

[Yetti]

As of now I have 6 Pekin Ducks that are growing like weeds. anyways I was wondering what everyone who puts them in a garage at night does to deal with poop? I have a 6 x 8 duraliner on wheels that I coop them up in and have their water feed & bedding in. by morning I swear its like they pooped 500 times! its nasty. there's so much poop I have to hose out the pen bedding and all. seems like I am doing something wrong but I don't know what?

 

[gofasterstripe]

Why are they in a tote, are they babies, and no your not doing anything wrong, they just poop alot. You can give them all the space in the world and they are still going to pop alot and make a mess and you are still going to have to clean it up. Thast what ducks do best

 

[TLWR]

Poop mixed with water makes it look like even more poop. Once they are old enough, take the water out. In the meantime, find a way to make the water mess to a min so it isn't mixing with all the poop making it worse.

 

[Yetti]

well I am trying a couple things. I put the water tank on a milk crate so as they have to reach in with their bills to get water. I think they were splashing the majority on the floor of the pen? secondly I took away their night light (7 watt) it was just enough to light the barn so as I don't trip in the dark. I did the water on the milk crate last night and the mess was half. I still need to figure out if they are sleeping or just staying up all night pooping?

 

[FarmrGirl]

Quote:

Yep... they're staying up all night pooping!

 

[DuckLover9138]

Wow, 6 Pekins is a lot! If they are old enough and don't need the light, you should just get a cage and leave them outside or put up wires. You might have to get used to the poop. You can always put paper towels (several layers) with newspapers on the bottom on the cage and you won't have to wash it as much.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

I think that they do dream of ways to make a poop mess even bigger. My thought is that if they are big enough take out the water at night. Otherwise I would be thinking of some way to make them safe outside since the poop is such a problem.

For me my birds have the whole big barn so usually they don't just mess in one spot. But in the brooder box or the brooder room that is a different story and I end up cleaning daily to every other day. Stinks but someone has to love them! Good thing they are so cute and funny otherwise the poo would have had me screaming from the hills (and sometimes after a good clean and they let it rip I do).

Hope you find the thing that is going to work for you- and share when you do as I am finding that just as I have the barn how I like it they change the rules on me, and I have to think of different ways to deal with the poo/food/litter or plugging holes that they somehow squeeze through!

 

[julie75]

Have you tried putting the water inside of something to catch the excess splash? Also, don't put any bedding near their water supply, this will help cut down on the mess made by the water. As far as the poop, no help there. Ducks poop, poop and then poop some more. The ducks being confined to one area makes it seem a whole lot worse. If they are old enough I would recommend putting them outside in a predator proof run, if not you'll have to continue to wash, wash, wash. Believe me you are not doing anything wrong, that is NORMAL when it comes to ducks. I have also learned that some foods will make the ducks poop a whole lot more.

 

[Yetti]

Thanks for the tips. as for the permanent outside pen? its a work in progress...I go in for a full knee replacement on the 20th of June and I am busting butt to get it done before hand. plus I am remodeling my bathroom to have a walk in shower so I don't have to fight the new knee. as for water proofing under the water jug? that was what the duraliner was for. 6'x 8' liner under the jug lol.

as for the night light I really think it helped. the bedding was almost spotless this morning and the poop was at a minimum from where I was just 2 days ago.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

Quote:
OUCH on the knee! Two years ago I had to have surgery and it was the best thing ever! I have been told in about 10 years or so I should plan on having my knee replacement- but they have come a LONG way in making them last! Good Luck!!!

Sounds like you are doing a lot around your house, hope all gets done before your surgery.