I ordered 6 ancona ducks and then a week later a shipment of 15 Campbells I had ordered a while back shipped.. I'm finding it impossible to keep them clean, not that they are approx 3 weeks old. I lost two ducklings today and I feel terrible as I think it was because they got covered in filth, it dried and then probably attracted bacteria or something. The others are filthy.
I completely cleaned everything this morning yet their pen is dirty tonight. I hate totally disrupting them all the time by pulling out their bedding and all but have to. I'm using hay as bedding and tonight added shredded paper.
I have them in a pen that's about 2.5 x 4 feet. I had their waterer in a chick waterer standing in a plant dish. They seem to get soaked, then eat and get food stuck to them and then go to the warmth and bake all that crud on them. I'd like to give them a bigger area but don't have anything to which I can provide electricity and keep covered. I have a nice 4x8 chain link pen but the littlest ducks could get through the holes. The ducklings stay in a pile under their lamp when they're not getting soaked so I think for now the pen is big enough?
Today I changed out their water arrangement. Their water is now in a jug with holes cut in the side-I think things are a bit drier tonight but I was still surprised that their bedding under the light was damp.
Does anyone have suggestions for raising a large group of ducklings? What are your set ups for raising a large bunch of ducklings? I'd give anything for a broody hen duck right now who'd take care of everything!
Also how do I clean the ducklings themselves? I can bathe them in warm water but then how the heck do I dry off 20 some odd ducklings?
Please share what works for you with large batches of ducklings. I've raised small batches before without trouble but yikes this is a whole other story!
I completely cleaned everything this morning yet their pen is dirty tonight. I hate totally disrupting them all the time by pulling out their bedding and all but have to. I'm using hay as bedding and tonight added shredded paper.
I have them in a pen that's about 2.5 x 4 feet. I had their waterer in a chick waterer standing in a plant dish. They seem to get soaked, then eat and get food stuck to them and then go to the warmth and bake all that crud on them. I'd like to give them a bigger area but don't have anything to which I can provide electricity and keep covered. I have a nice 4x8 chain link pen but the littlest ducks could get through the holes. The ducklings stay in a pile under their lamp when they're not getting soaked so I think for now the pen is big enough?
Today I changed out their water arrangement. Their water is now in a jug with holes cut in the side-I think things are a bit drier tonight but I was still surprised that their bedding under the light was damp.
Does anyone have suggestions for raising a large group of ducklings? What are your set ups for raising a large bunch of ducklings? I'd give anything for a broody hen duck right now who'd take care of everything!
Also how do I clean the ducklings themselves? I can bathe them in warm water but then how the heck do I dry off 20 some odd ducklings?
Please share what works for you with large batches of ducklings. I've raised small batches before without trouble but yikes this is a whole other story!
