New baby runner ducklings- questions!

[spotsplus]

I just got a dozen runner ducklings in from a hatchery and they are adorable! This is only my second group of ducklings (east indies last year) and I need some suggestions on water for the ducklings- any suggestions on keeping the bedding clean and dry around the water? Do you keep water in all the time or put it in a few times a day to keep things dry? Once they are ready to go outside should I keep water for playing in available to them?

Tammie

 

[Amiga]

With ducklings, they need water 24/7. We differ in our opinions about when it is okay to take away their water overnight (for 8 to 10 hours, no longer). I waited till my runners were 8 weeks old, if I remember correctly, perhaps 10 weeks.

There are many good ideas for watering management. The two I usually think of first are 70%cocoa an tweetysvoice, so take a look at their posts about water.

Ducklings also need to be able to was their entire heads frequently, to avoid ear, eye and sinus infections. A margarine tub with a head-sized hole cut out of the lid often works fine.

 

[jessiduck]

I just got a dozen runner ducklings in from a hatchery and they are adorable! This is only my second group of ducklings (east indies last year) and I need some suggestions on water for the ducklings- any suggestions on keeping the bedding clean and dry around the water? Do you keep water in all the time or put it in a few times a day to keep things dry? Once they are ready to go outside should I keep water for playing in available to them?

Tammie

What I used to keep their pen dry was a puppy training pad with hay on top of it! That was a LIFE SAVER for me! We had to change it twice a day but with the wee--wee pads it made it a breeze!
Ducklings need water 24/7 at this stage so keep it in there--as tempting as it is!
When they are ready to go outside, they still need water.
At night you can put a little in their coop if you want but I find that, that can get very messy!
Enjoy your duckies and post pics if you get a chance!
We would love to see em'!!!!