Indoor duck cage help

[Mrichard0930]

hey everyone I have month old “white layer ducks” and they seem to be nothing like my pekins. They are making a huge mess in our indoor cage. I have an extra large dog cage. I put down tarp then the cage and another tarp inside pulling up the sides n zip ties. Three boot trays line the bottom inside. Then we put a lot of straw. We use the usual water feeder red water feeder from tractor supply. I don’t understand how after just one day they get water everywhere. Then their bellies are in the wet straw abs I feel bad. I try to get them outside in pool everyday due twi hours. I started putting then in my tub cuz due to work I am not able to clean it daily. Is there s better way of giving them water to keep it cleaner? Is it bad they get wet bellies at only month old? Can I maybe take their water away overnight or do they still need the food and water 24/7? Any help is appreciated cause I don’t want to put them outside yet but it’s lookibg like I may. Thanks

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Why don't you want to put them outside yet? Sounds like a great time to do so.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe try something like this except larger and with more than one hole since you have more than a few ducklings. the bowl you use should be heavy enough they can't knock it over. you can put it on a broiler pen so the water that gets spilled still goes into the try not on the straw. And at 1 month they can go over night with out food and water. I am just now taking food and water out over night for chicks at 1 month old. Although if you have a secure place out side for them and your temps are still warm at night and they are feathered in you could probably go ahead and put them outside too.

 

[Mrichard0930]

Why don't you want to put them outside yet? Sounds like a great time to do so.

We love very rural area there’s just two little duckies when we watch outdoors hawks fly over I’m just paranoid we are still working on turning out shed into a cage for them . We just moved here in June. We live on a mountain side next to huge forest there’s Fox bob cats plenty of raccoons. We need an extremely good shelter built before I feel comfortable enough thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can sure understand about secure housing.

 

[Mrichard0930]

Maybe try something like this except larger and with more than one hole since you have more than a few ducklings. the bowl you use should be heavy enough they can't knock it over. you can put it on a broiler pen so the water that gets spilled still goes into the try not on the straw. And at 1 month they can go over night with out food and water. I am just now taking food and water out over night for chicks at 1 month old. Although if you have a secure place out side for them and your temps are still warm at night and they are feathered in you could probably go ahead and put them outside too.

Oh I didn’t think of that to put boiler -we thought it was pouring out since it’s gravity fed so we have two round cemebt blocks in there. Clearly that’s not issue they just make a huge mess with water, I will try that like a flat pan or something I’ll have to think of something not too big but big enough thanks

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

We love very rural area there’s just two little duckies when we watch outdoors hawks fly over I’m just paranoid we are still working on turning out shed into a cage for them . We just moved here in June. We live on a mountain side next to huge forest there’s Fox bob cats plenty of raccoons. We need an extremely good shelter built before I feel comfortable enough thanks

So, your not ready for them to go out? I'm in a pretty rural area too in fact We have those same predators. We got our ducklings out at 7 weeks. If I had everything around and the temps were cooperating they would have been out at 4 weeks.
Where are your pekins?

 

[Miss Lydia]

They really are messy little things.

 

[chickens really]

Yes...Messy is the right word..
I make these..

 

[Miss Lydia]

No matter what you make for them they will manage to make a mess but if you try some of these that are posted it may help contain it some. Until your ready for them to be outside .