newbie duck owner question

[pbjmaker]

What is the best thing to use on the floor of their brooder? I have day old ducks on paper towels right now but they seem to have a hard time gripping.

 

[kitkatbahr]

Paper towels are what I use too. I have my 1 week old babies in a fish tank right now, as a brooder, and paper towels work very well. I just use a couple of layers and it is much easier to clean up, as they are incredibly messy!! Yes, it is a lot of paper towels, but at least they break down easily in the compost/garbage or wherever they end up. My babies don't have a problem walking on them at all. Maybe it's just cause your 1 day olds are so young. In a day or so, they should be better able to walk.

Hopefully someone with more experience will come along and give you more info.

Take care,
Kathy

 

[tonini3059]

I always use the wood shavings, but I have heard of people using horse pellet bedding.

 

[Wifezilla]

Here is the set up I used.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=182467

 

[kawonu]

We use the same as Wifezilla. The rubber matting stuff sprays right off with a hose. We don't use wood shavings when they are little as they will eat them thinking its food and it will stop them up.

 

[ChickenToes]

Wood shavings work best for me.

 

[GrannySue]

I've been scared off by the shavings as well because of the warning they might eat them. My babies are 5 days old now and have eating and drinking and splashing and messing down to a fine art. They walk and run just fine and I've been using newspaper since day 3. No slips.
So? I think it's time for shavings on top of newspaper. Agree?

 

[streemers]

sure why not? hey also works well for easy clean up

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

I use wood shavings covered up with paper towels for the first week. Then once they are eating well I take off the towels. I made a wire platform with an aluminum cake pan under it to put the water on. That way the splashes go in there and can be dumped daily.

 

[pbjmaker]

Thanks for everyones advice - they seem to walk a little better this afternoon. We put a little cat food dish in there with water for them to drink and they of course have been taking turns bathing in it instead.

I will switch to shavings in the next couple of days.