Storm took out our water main and power, can ducks/ducklings have Dasani?

[Saigey]

I have zero clue how I'm supposed to keep a brooder clean without water, the babies somehow splash more than they drink (no matter what apparatus I use) and the water will be gross when it comes back on. Lightning hit a tree out front and the current blew the transformer and the water line. Whee. I had enough battery lights and flashlights that they didn't freak out, but they've spent the last 7 hours or so playing in what water I had set aside for them and drenching their cage, since I couldn't do the "bedtime lighting" routine and cover the brooder with the nighttime blanket. At least they can cuddle if they get cold (they're 4 to 6 weeks, mostly feathered, except the one baby, who I've been holding except when I give it a food/water break. We have some Dasani in the basement, does anyone know if that is duck safe? I doubt I'll be able to get out of the driveway once the trucks show up to fix things. Cleaning out the brooder at 4am in the dark was stinky and kind of hilarious, in a "why me" kind of way. They're being troopers, though! Messy troopers, but troopers!

 

[ruthhope]

Sorry about your challenges. I am sure it feels worse occurring in the dark and it won't feel so hopeless when you have daylight. How many ducklings do you have? Which state are you in? They will likely be okay at that age huddled together if you can keep them dry and out of drafts. It sounds as if it is time to change the water container to one that is covered with a lid that has head holes cut in it to reduce water play and getting wet. Good luck

 

[Saigey]

Sorry about your challenges. I am sure it feels worse occurring in the dark and it won't feel so hopeless when you have daylight. How many ducklings do you have? Which state are you in? They will likely be okay at that age huddled together if you can keep them dry and out of drafts. It sounds as if it is time to change the water container to one that is covered with a lid that has head holes cut in it to reduce water play and getting wet. Good luck

8 that are staggered between 4 and 6 weeks, and then the baby. The baby is happy under my chin. The water situation has been a huge challenge. I swear they splash more than they drink. I'm in Alabama.

 

[ruthhope]

You are right to use your body warmth with a younger duckling but the others should be ok in Alabama in your house in an unheated brooder by 4 weeks old.

Buy a plastic food storage container with a well-fitting lid. A long shallow container 6" x 8" sort of size but only 2" or 2.5" deep. Cut round holes in the lid large enough for your ducklings to dunk their heads in but not get into the water. Bottled water will be fine for them

I hope you get your power and water back soon.

 

[Callender Girl]

Any change in their drinking water MAY cause them some upset. When my outdoor water source was frozen and I HAD to use softened water from the house, a few of my chickens began having looser stools. The ducks and geese seemed less affected.

But, water is essential, so if Dasani is all you have, I would use it, sparingly. Mine have been known to survive with cheap (aka Aldi) bottled water when the well water turned deep brown last spring. i

While I applaud anything that reduces the amount of mess that comes with ducks and ducklings, I have accepted that messiness is just a part of their charm .

Hope your power is returned soon. A couple of weeks ago, a storm took out a transformer in the nearby town, and I was only in the dark for five hours. Even that seemed like an eternity. Let us know how things go.

 

[Saigey]

Any change in their drinking water MAY cause them some upset. When my outdoor water source was frozen and I HAD to use softened water from the house, a few of my chickens began having looser stools. The ducks and geese seemed less affected.

But, water is essential, so if Dasani is all you have, I would use it, sparingly. Mine have been known to survive with cheap (aka Aldi) bottled water when the well water turned deep brown last spring. i

While I applaud anything that reduces the amount of mess that comes with ducks and ducklings, I have accepted that messiness is just a part of their charm .

Hope your power is returned soon. A couple of weeks ago, a storm took out a transformer in the nearby town, and I was only in the dark for five hours. Even that seemed like an eternity. Let us know how things go.

I've honestly gotten used to the mess, I just clean the brooder constantly. HOWEVER- water is a very important part of that equation. At least I'll be able to blame something else for this month's water bill!

 

[Kiki]

I've honestly gotten used to the mess, I just clean the brooder constantly. HOWEVER- water is a very important part of that equation. At least I'll be able to blame something else for this month's water bill!

Yes the bottled water is safe.

 

[Saigey]

You are right to use your body warmth with a younger duckling but the others should be ok in Alabama in your house in an unheated brooder by 4 weeks old.

Buy a plastic food storage container with a well-fitting lid. A long shallow container 6" x 8" sort of size but only 2" or 2.5" deep. Cut round holes in the lid large enough for your ducklings to dunk their heads in but not get into the water. Bottled water will be fine for them

I hope you get your power and water back soon.

They clump together often, (even when they are just relaxing) and I joke and say that they are actually one large duck and not 8 small ones. We've been giving the little one lots of snugglies, since it doesn't have a companion and isn't old enough to play with the brothers and sisters yet. Mama and Papa duck are so annoyed at the noise.

 

[ruthhope]

We are waiting for the storm to reach us in NE Florida: looks like it will be here in another hour. I don't have ducklings yet this year and so don't need to keep my brooder warm. The danger is tree limbs coming down on my coop

 

[telandra2]

Don't forget your toilet tank and hot water heater. The latter holds a lot of water and should have a drain spigot at the bottom.