Smelly ducklings

[DuckMadness]

So I think I lied to alot of people hahaha I didn't realize how Smelly my ducklings are. Haha they stink. Not enough incense in the world haha. I guess it's a mixture of poop wet bedding which I've been changing and wet food.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I think I lied to alot of people hahaha I didn't realize how Smelly my ducklings are. Haha they stink. Not enough incense in the world haha. I guess it's a mixture of poop wet bedding which I've been changing and wet food.

Yep it can get pretty smelly in the brooder. Changing bedding often and making a way to keep water off bedding will help. I also put some Lavender essential oil into a water bottle mix in water and spray their brooder. Not while they are in it though

 

[Amiga]

You might get some ideas here


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

post number 8 from this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959603/ducklings-getting-stuck-on-their-backs#post_14939819

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/969751/help-baby-ducklings#post_15125952


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...for-water-for-ducks-and-chicks-in-the-brooder

 

[DuckMadness]

@Miss Lydia any idea on how to keep the bedding from getting wet? I used towels underneath at that didn't work it made it worse. I used a bath towels and they simply flattened that and I didn't want them to hurt their feet so I took it out. I can't seem to find a way to keep the bedding from getting wet and I can't stand the fact they sit their in the moisture all the time. I feel like a terrible human being for it so I've been changing the bedding every other day...

 

[Amiga]

@Miss Lydia any idea on how to keep the bedding from getting wet? I used towels underneath at that didn't work it made it worse. I used a bath towels and they simply flattened that and I didn't want them to hurt their feet so I took it out. I can't seem to find a way to keep the bedding from getting wet and I can't stand the fact they sit their in the moisture all the time. I feel like a terrible human being for it so I've been changing the bedding every other day...

Take a look at these. I changed bedding a few times a day when I had trouble managing the water (I had eleven ducklings).


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

post number 8 from this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959603/ducklings-getting-stuck-on-their-backs#post_14939819

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/969751/help-baby-ducklings#post_15125952


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...for-water-for-ducks-and-chicks-in-the-brooder

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Miss Lydia any idea on how to keep the bedding from getting wet? I used towels underneath at that didn't work it made it worse. I used a bath towels and they simply flattened that and I didn't want them to hurt their feet so I took it out. I can't seem to find a way to keep the bedding from getting wet and I can't stand the fact they sit their in the moisture all the time. I feel like a terrible human being for it so I've been changing the bedding every other day...

@DuckMadness Smell is just part of keeping a brooder about the only way to keep on top is to change bedding often because they poop alot [as you know] and they are just plain messy with their food and water.

Have you looked at any of the links Amiga gave you maybe one or 2 would work for your set up. Some have just used a broiler pan from the over and set the food and water on top then most of the water goes down into the broiler pan.

I have Runners who are going on 1 yr old I tried several times over winter to keep them with water and food over night. No matter what I tried they managed to make a complete mess of the area where it was. Even with putting the bucket down into a plastic container and cutting a hole in the top just large enough for them to get their heads into get a drink. Looked to me like they would suck the water up then turn around and spit it out on their shavings. I have no idea but anyway they didn't get to keep their water. Hopefully your weather will warm up soon and your ducklings can spend time out in their house and your brooder will be a faint memory.

 

[BigWeenMachine]

Quote:
Lol, trust me, there is nothing you can do to convince those lil buggers to stop making such a mess. Ducks are naturally messy and attracted to water and will find a way to muck the place up no matter what you do. Just keep doing what you're doing, cleaning the cage regularly and changing the bedding. The moisture will not bother the ducks since they have an instinctual desire to be in water. That's probably why they make such a mess with the water bowl, because they are trying to make a pond for themselves to swim in. One thing I do when it's nice outside is take them out and put them in a small dog pen or homemade fenced in area with chicken wire. Put a small kids wading pool in there with a ramp to the top and let them tire themselves out in there. Make sure you put a couple bricks or rocks in the pool so they can use them to climb back out once they get in; ducklings, until they get their adult feathers, can actually get water logged and drown if they can't get out of the water to dry off. Doing that should help tire them out and fulfill their water desires so they won't be so determined to slop up their brooder; plus, it's less time for them to be inside pooping in the pen which in turn gives you less to have to clean up. Good luck!

 

[DuckMadness]

I actually found something to suppress the smell as well as soak of the water. It DE. I found it today at my TSC and I thought it was a litter of some sort but I read all the info and apparently it's sage for all farm birds.

 

[Amiga]

I actually found something to suppress the smell as well as soak of the water. It DE. I found it today at my TSC and I thought it was a litter of some sort but I read all the info and apparently it's sage for all farm birds.

Did you look over the links I posted? Odor is often caused by splashed wet food, and wet bedding.

I use a watering station. Works for 13 adult ducks. Works very well. Keeps water out of the bedding (except for a tiny area where they go in and out of the watering station).





For ducklings you'll want a waterer that they cannot drown in. The big pot is for adult ducks. But you can put a waterer and head water in a watering station just fine. The sawdust pellets absorb the water, and you scrape the top inch or two off as needed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I actually found something to suppress the smell as well as soak of the water. It DE. I found it today at my TSC and I thought it was a litter of some sort but I read all the info and apparently it's sage for all farm birds.

I actually use a cup of DE in my feed containers to keep bugs out and keep it fresh. It's very dusty so don't use it with the babies in the brooder.