The Quack Shack

[Supercow]

My run is muddy when I first go in also. That is where their water containers are and I put a lot of water in changing it. I had put new sand in but the mud has appeared again by that area at least. I have thought about putting a plastic pallet by the watering station and putting indoor outdoor carpeting on it. I have one already. Gotta come up with something.

Oh yeah, the mud! So! Much! Mud!

A full day of rain and water accumulating in any kind of depressed terrain which also means the footpaths (which have been bare soil so far).

Shallow water and ducks... We all know how that goes.

Right now... If I brought in pigs, they would give the situation one look, declare that everything that could possibly be done here mud-wise has already been done, and leave.

Bringing in several wheelbarrows of sand tomorrow.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

We have city water here and I would be in the Poor House with that one, lol.

I have city water too, but i don't let that sprinkler run on full pressure and only for a limited time, maybe 5-10 minutes. Just to cool everybody down.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I'm feeding duck starter crumbles together with ground cat-food to increase the protein content as this is a really slim duckling. Its belly is not as round as with all of the other ducklings i have seen here, including one day old mallards. It could have been five or even six weeks for this duckling to develop in that egg, thus having used up more yolk than normal. And yes, i am adding pure niacin to the food, more than necessary, but the excess will be peed out without harm.

Sorry, I should have known with all of your ducks you would know what was said. The picture just looked like cat food ground up and there was no way to tell it also had the duck starter crumbles in it. I hope that your baby improves soon.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Either get the duckling on duck starter or give it liquid b complex since it's already showing a leg problem. Cat food isn't a complete food for poultry okay as a treat but for sole feed.

I agree. Cat food is not duck starter. She needs duck food. Once she's on duck food we will see about the leg.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Any particular brand? Where do you get yours?? I was concerned about splinters in their feet or bumblefoot is why I have always stayed away from them. I use the shavings with no problems at all but never anything else but sand.

I only use the woodchips from Nelson- or Moss-Tree services! They're the best!

Seriously, look up "arborist" in the yellow pages or craigs-list and tell them that you are willing to take the one or the other load of woodchips from them. They have to pay the local landfill to get rid of these.
You may have to pick out some plastic bag pieces from the pile and there may be larger chunks of branches in there, but the ducks don't care, the just poop on it...
There is also the chip-drop web-site: https://getchipdrop.com/

 

[Luv Ducks]

Oh yeah, the mud! So! Much! Mud!

A full day of rain and water accumulating in any kind of depressed terrain which also means the footpaths (which have been bare soil so far).

Shallow water and ducks... We all know how that goes.

Right now... If I brought in pigs, they would give the situation one look, declare that everything that could possibly be done here mud-wise has already been done, and leave.

Bringing in several wheelbarrows of sand tomorrow.

That's just what I am going to have to do too. I am just so paranoid about using anything else since they have always had such healthy feet. It scares me as I have no one that would want to hold the duck while I try to treat it and mine by no means want to be held to start with.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I only use the woodchips from Nelson- or Moss-Tree services! They're the best!

Seriously, look up "arborist" in the yellow pages or craigs-list and tell them that you are willing to take the one or the other load of woodchips from them. They have to pay the local landfill to get rid of these.
You may have to pick out some plastic bag pieces from the pile and there may be larger chunks of branches in there, but the ducks don't care, the just poop on it...
There is also the chip-drop web-site: https://getchipdrop.com/

Have you ever had a case of Bumble foot? That is my biggest fear with anything but the sand I use. I have no one that will hold the duck while I try to treat it and mine do not like to be held and are fiesty when I do have to catch them to clip them.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I have city water too, but i don't let that sprinkler run on full pressure and only for a limited time, maybe 5-10 minutes. Just to cool everybody down.

Mine like a good hose spraying. It was bath day here from the mud in the pen and they loved it. They are all preening themselves looking beautiful for the Duck Beauty Pagent they think they are going to, lol.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Either get the duckling on duck starter or give it liquid b complex since it's already showing a leg problem. Cat food isn't a complete food for poultry okay as a treat but for sole feed.

Agree! - I'm using the cat food supplement only to "fatten" it up a bit. As written, the slimmest duckling i have ever seen, flat belly like a runner ducknager.
And it gets pure niacin and multi-vitamin otc.
And if the weather holds, there will be a great opportunity for some grit and plenty of insects later this afternoon...

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Oh yeah, the mud! So! Much! Mud!

A full day of rain and water accumulating in any kind of depressed terrain which also means the footpaths (which have been bare soil so far).

Shallow water and ducks... We all know how that goes.

Right now... If I brought in pigs, they would give the situation one look, declare that everything that could possibly be done here mud-wise has already been done, and leave.

Bringing in several wheelbarrows of sand tomorrow.

Woodchips!!! Try to get your hands on wood-chips! Sand is just covering the mud, wood-chips are soaking up the liquid, evaporating the water, keeping the nutrients locked up and release those when they turn into compost.