New Duckling Shopping List - Would you tell me what your thoughts are?

[Knighstar679]

I'm very curious about what you're describing. I'm not familiar with rent-a-coop - went to their website and it looks like they rent large coops - I will just be getting three ducklings. Can you put some photos of what you're talking about here?

I'm also really interested in understanding better what you did with the "old cat litter container and set it up for the ducklings on something with a raised thing for the cups to work right." It sounds good, but I'd like to see what you are talking about!

i got mine off amazon
This is my set up,

these are the cups I got for my 5 gallon buckets

Rent a coop does more than rent full coops for rent. I have one of their heat plates too.

 

[Duck Lady1]

i got mine off amazon
This is my set up,
View attachment 2078827
these are the cups I got for my 5 gallon buckets
View attachment 2078828
Rent a coop does more than rent full coops for rent. I have one of their heat plates too.

I LOVE this!!! I guess I'll have to just buy a bucket since I don't have one - how often do you fill the bucket for how many ducks? This is really cool!!!

 

[Duck Lady1]

I LOVE this!!! I guess I'll have to just buy a bucket since I don't have one - how often do you fill the bucket for how many ducks? This is really cool!!!

Are the cups hard to install? Do I have to drill? (I'm such a suburbanite ha ha!!!!)

 

[Knighstar679]

I LOVE this!!! I guess I'll have to just buy a bucket since I don't have one - how often do you fill the bucket for how many ducks? This is really cool!!!

it was super easy to install for me. Yes it needed a drill. I measured it up and popped in the cups (more like twisted them in). I with the cat litter bucket I filled it about on Friday and only needed to fill it when I goofed up and made it so that the cups kept filling over night. Which is why I tilted the bucket to keep the cups from doing that.

They are great minus the first night mess up. I do have to clean up the cups each day I use paper towels to soak up the water the another to scoop out anything they have left behind in their eating behavior.

 

[Isaac 0]

Are the cups deep enough that ducklings can clean their nares out with?

 

[Knighstar679]

My ducklings certainly can yes but I still put in a dish for them to dip their heads in overnight. I take it out in the morning. They get lots of baths times throughout the day in place of the bigger dish.

 

[duckduckcaboose]

Okay, thank you so much. I am a newbie with supplements (I have to admit I struggle even with human supplements... I always mix up what does what and end up getting overwhelmed with them)...

Can you help me identify when I would need what?

Like...
the vitamin electrolyte mix from Metzer Farms
- every day whether something is wrong or not? and how much every day
- if not everyday - when do I know the Duckie needs it and how much do I give??

SAV-A-CHICK
- is this a replacement or an additional supplement to the vita electrolyte mix
- every day whether something is wrong or not? and how much every day
- if not everyday - when do I know the Duckie needs it and how much do I give??

Vetrx, Nutri-drench, Sav-a-chick probiotic
- every day whether something is wrong or not? and how much every day
- if not everyday - when do I know the Duckie needs it and how much do I give??

b-complex vitamin on handb-complex vitamin on hand
- I'm guessing that's not every day
- when do I know the Duckie needs it and how much do I give??

As far as the Vitamin/Electrolyte mix I offer it in a separate water dish every day. So I have 2 water bowls for them. 1 with clean, cool water and 1 with the mix added in. I give it from the first day on and every day so far (my ducklings are a couple of weeks old.).

SAV-A-Chik is a different brand. Personally, the one from Metzer Farms is a better deal because it lasts a lot longer. SAV-A-CHIK has a probiotic though that I mix into a water bowl every few days just to make sure they have good gut health.

Vetrx is good if you think any of your ducklings have a respiratory problem. So if 1 of mine sneezes a lot or something I give it. It's an essential oil you can rub on their bills so it doesn't hurt even if they are only sneezing because they didn't clean their nares completely.

Nutridrench- is good if you have a duckling that is droopy or looks like it is having any kind of problem. I have a duckling that will be great one day and then the next she will not eat and so I give her nutridrench those days and cross my fingers that she gets enough energy to eat.

The Durvet B complex has been the hardest for me to find. Because all of the vitamins and nutridrench have b vitamins in them, but it's specifically B3 (niacin)(the Metzer mix does have this in it) I think that is great to have on hand because a B3 deficiency can cause a lot of problems. The cattle complex has a lot of it in it and that's the one that is most recommended in this group. My TSC has been out of stock of it so I'm just hoping it comes in stock in case my little duckling ends up needing it. That's why I recommend having it on hand if you can. Also, I thought that I wouldn't need this because my duckling food has the required amount of niacin for ducklings AND I sprinkle brewer's yeast on all of their food AND they get the vitamin mix from Metzer. But, even though all of my other ducklings are fine I think my little one isn't getting enough of it. SO if you can grab this then it's nice to have on hand.