Is only having cement bad for ducks?

[smileylife]

I only have a patio but it doesn't have any grass or dirt, it's all cement. We have a mini 'garden' but all the plants are in pots. My sister had said that letting ducks only on cement is really bad for their feet. So I'm wondering what I can do my duck doesn't damage their feet.

 

[Roy31]

Yea it is bad for there feet, they will get sores pretty easy of they keep walking on it. I have seen people put foam floor mats down and that works.

 

[smileylife]

Really??? Thanks so much!! I'll try to buy some soon. Also, I don't have carpet on my living room or bedrooms, would it be necessary to put some in those rooms as well?

 

[Roy31]

You can if you want to, it won't hurt. I don't think you have to though. They only get sores if they are on a hard surface for a long time.

 

[smileylife]

Hmm, sometimes when I'm doing chores I leave a little towel so she can lay there. When I'm not busy I let her sit on me, would she still damage her feet with the towel?

 

[Paganrose]

Cement is horrible for ducks. I would suggest giving you duck areas where she can dig and nest. An area out of the weather with a thick layer of bedding (such as shavings, hay or straw). Make sure she always has fresh water deep enough to fit her whole beak in. Ducks often will get feed stuck in their beaks and use the water to flush it all.

Ducks are also a social animal- They don't do well alone.

 

[smileylife]

Thanks for the advice!!! My duck always loves to pic at everything and tries to eat stuff she finds, do you think she'd eat the bedding? And would it be bad if she did?

 

[Paganrose]

Make sure your duck has grit. she may eat a tiny bit of bedding, but as long as it isn't poisonous (such as cedar) it should be fine as long as she can get grit. My ducks and geese used to eat grassy hay and alfalfa for during the winter when the pasture (grass) was unavailable. Ducks are very curious and will pick at stuff less if they have enough things to keep them occupied.

 

[smileylife]

Thanks!!! I'll try to find some today. I have another question, I saw someone selling like duck shoes and I was wondering if that would help my duck with the cement

 

[Amiga]

Duck shoes might help as a temporary solution, very short term, but finding something to go over the cement will, I think, be easier and healthier.

I have duck shoes and they can be tricky to get on correctly and keep on without restricting the ducks' circulation.

I use towels for bedding, it should be fine to use them. If your floors are a smooth surface, that should be fine. It's the coarse, unfinished cement that really abrades the bottoms of their feet.

So having stall mats or similar on top, that can also be easily cleaned off can help. Or a nice sawdust or wood shavings or straw base might work well for you. Some folks use sand.