Lesson learned never again!

[r4eboxer]

I will NEVER raise ducklings in my house again.

They STINK!

I guess I had to get ducks out of my system and just had to get them now. Well I will only raise them in spring or summer and OUTSIDE!

I have tried everything I can think of to keep the water/food mess down and nothing has worked.

I have to change the brooder twice a day if I want it to not smell. They go through water like nobody's business too. Gosh how can something so cute be such a mess. It's more work than my newborn humans were.

 

[chicmom]

Oh, I almost bought a pair of call ducks at a poultry show I went to recently, but decided I wasn't prepared. So they're stinky to brood in the house then?

 

[BCchick]

Yep. They are messy little boogers. They play in the water and get everything soaking wet, which contributes to the smell. I know our chicken coop and yard would be much more neat and clean without the ducks, but they're sorta worth it, lol.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Use the pelleted pine horse stall bedding. You will still have to clean the brooder more often than you would for chicks, but not quite as often as you are now. The good thing about ducklings in the winter is they are able to move outside (with heat) at a very young age.

 

[dumb_cluck]

That's ducks for ya. ...... Even though people are warned about their messiness, until you raise them on your own, will you realize that the rumors are TRUE.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

You have to build a brooder with a raised wire floor so the water mess passes down to a pan or ontainer you can easily dump. We brood for the first week or two in the house and no smell with this set up. Each evening after outside chores the brooders get cleaned and repeat daily. Personally I think chicks smell more than ducklings.

 

[featherfinder]

Quote:
I used these for my adult ducks and figured i would try it on duckling. One got sick becuase it ate some of the dust the pellet broke into.


If you are using shavings then I would put a pie pan or something under your waterer to catch the water they play with and dribble. (worked wonders for me one wetness) and put the food on the other side of the brooder so they are not running back and forth so much making a big mess!

 

[Amiga]

I didn't have an odor problem with eleven runner ducklings in the house for three months. I did need to change the brooder three times a day, but I found that having a splash catcher made a tremendous difference. I used old towels for bedding because of my own allergies to pine shavings. When the next batch of three or four get here, I plan to use the wire-bottom brooder with a towel over the wire, and my standard water splash catcher.

It can be done. Take a look through some of the topics here - it's all been covered.

How many ducklings did you say you have?

What kind of waterer are you using?

 

[r4eboxer]

Quote:
I used these for my adult ducks and figured i would try it on duckling. One got sick becuase it ate some of the dust the pellet broke into.


If you are using shavings then I would put a pie pan or something under your waterer to catch the water they play with and dribble. (worked wonders for me one wetness) and put the food on the other side of the brooder so they are not running back and forth so much making a big mess!

I have a rubbermaid container lid under the food and water (thanks duckgirl for the idea), it helps but they still make a huge mess. They are so funny when they are out of water they chirp for it and when I refill it they 'quibble' it up. I am refilling it 4 times a day, most of it is in the bottom of the brooder.

I think I will construct a brooder with a false bottom. They are only going to be in this one for another week or so, then it will be too small. Well, at least I will have something to do all winter long. Not going to be a boring day in my house.

 

[shelleyd2008]

How old are they?