Messy ducklings!

[Mother Hen to 6]

Ok so I decide to get some call ducklings... 6 of them! So they are in the brooder as they are 1-3 weeks old.. but omg the mess is unreal! I gave them a bowl of water and yeah well that didnt work ao I gave them the waterer that the mason jar goes on.. the smallest one they sell! And they are still managing to soak the bedding! Is this just something ducks do or what... I know ducks love water but will it make them sick? I change the bedding 2-3 times a day! Help I love them but they are wearing me out lol

 

[PotterWatch]

I feel your pain! I have 9 that are almost two weeks. Yesterday I moved them from their Rubbermaid tote into a kiddie pool surrounded by chicken wire. Having a bigger space is helping. They still soak the area right around the waterer (3 gallon one), but the rest is staying dry a little better. I've raised meat chickens for years and everyone says they are messy and stinky, but these nine ducklings are worse than any meaties I've had! I'll be very happy when they can be outside.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok so I decide to get some call ducklings... 6 of them! So they are in the brooder as they are 1-3 weeks old.. but omg the mess is unreal! I gave them a bowl of water and yeah well that didnt work ao I gave them the waterer that the mason jar goes on.. the smallest one they sell! And they are still managing to soak the bedding! Is this just something ducks do or what... I know ducks love water but will it make them sick? I change the bedding 2-3 times a day! Help I love them but they are wearing me out lol

I feel your pain! I have 9 that are almost two weeks. Yesterday I moved them from their Rubbermaid tote into a kiddie pool surrounded by chicken wire. Having a bigger space is helping. They still soak the area right around the waterer (3 gallon one), but the rest is staying dry a little better. I've raised meat chickens for years and everyone says they are messy and stinky, but these nine ducklings are worse than any meaties I've had! I'll be very happy when they can be outside.

Go here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711 shows a duckling waterer that is so easy to make and cheap that will help alot, you'll laways have messy with duckling/ducks but some tips on waterers can help, but remember ducklings need to be able to dunk their heads into water to keep their eyes nares clean and healthy so small chick waterrs are not good to use..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/52173/less-mess-duckling-water

 

[Onlyducks]

We had the same problem. It turned out there was a simple answer that we got from the feed store. Take the mason jar waterer and put it in a shallow pan. You'll have to use your imagination on my makeshift illustration as my ducklings are in the garage and it's snowing right now! We used a round, metal pan, but any pan that is bigger than the waterer catches the water they splash out (round works best). It really made a huge difference. We went from soaking wet bedding to very little mess right away. As the ducklings get older, they do manage to splash some of the water out, but it's a simple, easy way to cut back on the bess.

 

[Mother Hen to 6]

Ty great reading and idea! We will be doing this... I do still let them have a pan of water to play in right before I clean the mess... so we shall see how this works... ty both again!