Questions, raising Ancona ducklings

[luluch10]

Hello!
We recently hatched out our first baby Ancona ducklings! They are doing really well, growing quickly but we have a couple of questions. They make a huge mess of their water with the pine shavings. We have tried putting the water up on a small piece of wood but they are still making a mess. Any suggestions, we are going through pine shavings very quickly. The second questions is about getting them used to swimming. We have been putting them in shallow water to help them get used to it but they just keep jumping out, anyone have a specific way they have used with ducklings in the past that works well. We have a 4 acre pond so we definitely need them prepared to swim! Thanks!

 

[FarmrGirl]

yeah... ducklings can make a huge mess in just a teaspoon of water! LOL! Water porches are a good way to keep the bedding clean but can be kind of complicated for a little brooder set up. What I typically do is forget all about the drinkers and just put 2 brand-new plastic paint trays in the brooder with clean water in them. They can do a little splashing, keep themselves groomed, and get a drink in the same place. The sloped ramp of the paint tray allows really easy access out of the water. Ducklings shouldn't get real swimming water until they're over 2 weeks old, they don't have enough of their own oil to keep them from getting waterlogged and drown. Don't worry about them not taking to the pond... they most certainly will no matter how late you introduce them to swimming!

{edited to add photo}

 

[SparkyCrows]

Paint trays! What a great idea!!! Thanks

 

[luluch10]

We were actually using paint trays to take them swimming but I think we will try just leaving them in there like you say for them to drink out of too! Thanks!!!

 

[FarmrGirl]

Quote:
Yeah, they're just the right depth at the "deep end" for some good splashing and head dipping but not deep enough to hurt themselves. The shallow end is a nice long ramp that gives me peice of mind that they won't get wore-out and not be able to hop over the side.