Indian runners HELP

[goldfishcracker]

So i have 8 year old indian runner ducklings and they keep foraging through the straw bedding and eating it, is this normal? Will it hurt them?

I feed them chick starter but they seem to be more interested in the straw..

 

[DwayneNLiz]

So i have 8 year old indian runner ducklings and they keep foraging through the straw bedding and eating it, is this normal? Will it hurt them?

I feed them chick starter but they seem to be more interested in the straw..

so long as it is not moldy its fine, but straw molds VERY quickly and cause botulism
i would put them on pine shavings and give them an area to range on grass, they love to eats grass, bugs, worms, etc

 

[goldfishcracker]

so long as it is not moldy its fine, but straw molds VERY quickly and cause botulism
i would put them on pine shavings and give them an area to range on grass, they love to eats grass, bugs, worms, etc

I just had to gentle pull a 20cm piece of straw out of one of my ducklings beak because it was scared it would choke,i have woodshavings but arent they dangerous. I think my ducklints would definitely try to eat them

Also i cant put them on grass just yet since its very cold outside and i cant get the heat lamp out there. Thanks

 

[DwayneNLiz]

I just had to gentle pull a 20cm piece of straw out of one of my ducklings beak because it was scared it would choke,i have woodshavings but arent they dangerous. I think my ducklints would definitely try to eat them

Also i cant put them on grass just yet since its very cold outside and i cant get the heat lamp out there. Thanks

pine shavings dont mold like straw does, it is much safer
they wont eat much if any

and take a look at this duck brooder set up so that it doesnt get drenched so quickly

 

[goldfishcracker]

pine shavings dont mold like straw does, it is much safer they wont eat much if any and take a look at this duck brooder set up so that it doesnt get drenched so quickly

alright thank you so much! Ive replaced their coop with pine shavings P.s cute ducklings!!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

alright thank you so much! Ive replaced their coop with pine shavings

P.s cute ducklings!!

Great! Pine shavings actually have some sort of an antimicrobial trait
And not my ducks, they were a friends

 

[goldfishcracker]

Great! Pine shavings actually have some sort of an antimicrobial trait
And not my ducks, they were a friends

Awh is it okay if i put paper towels over the shavings to stop them from eating them? They seem to be eating the paper towels though. Is this dangerous? Thanks

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Awh is it okay if i put paper towels over the shavings to stop them from eating them? They seem to be eating the paper towels though. Is this dangerous? Thanks

Lol you can, I did for prob the first week, and they'd nibble but not really ingest much
Same with the shavings, they'll quickly figure out that they aren't food