What bedding and how often do you clean out your ducks?

[Miss Lydia]

LOL...I hear you on the cleaning (it's at least 2xday with the ducklings right now!) and the animals are fed more regularly than I am.

Ok, here are some pics...


Here's the only late hatcher - wrapped in a washcloth so she could get some vitamins by dropper. It works pretty well when you have to do it alone. She's a little smaller than everyone else, but it's hardly noticeable now and she's as spunky as can be.




First bath outside...and first time on grass!

@FoodFreedomNow I love that pic of the lil one wrapped in a wash colth so precious..

Look at all those babies WOW.. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

@FoodFreedomNow
   I love that pic of the lil one wrapped in a wash colth so precious..

Look at all those babies  WOW.. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Thank you! It's been a lot of fun...and work. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you! It's been a lot of fun...and work. lol

It is alot of work I say a labor of love too. What do you do with all those babies as they grow up? It's very hard for me to let go let alone find homes for them and we're in a agricultural area. just not many into poultry I guess.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

It is alot of work I say a labor of love too.  What do you do with all those babies as they grow up?   It's very hard for me to let go let alone find homes for them and we're in a agricultural area.  just not many into poultry I guess.

Really? That's a shame - these are (as you know) awesome homestead ducks. People don't know what they're missing...

I'm already rehoming them (fortunately, they're popular here, probably at least in part as broodies) and expect to end up with few, if any. The older girls are laying such beautiful, glossy eggs...it's hard not to pop more into the incubator!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Really? That's a shame - these are (as you know) awesome homestead ducks. People don't know what they're missing...

I'm already rehoming them (fortunately, they're popular here, probably at least in part as broodies) and expect to end up with few, if any. The older girls are laying such beautiful, glossy eggs...it's hard not to pop more into the incubator!

Thankfully I don't have a bator. Or I'd be in serious trouble.

That is awesome yours go fast and yes they are wonderful homestead ducks in every way.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Thankfully I don't have a bator. Or I'd be in serious trouble.

That is awesome yours go fast and yes they are wonderful homestead ducks in every way.

LOL...you have remarkable restraint. Now that I have 3, I can hardly let them sit idle, right? It's almost scary to think that I could theoretically incubate 120+ eggs at one time; fortunately, the local farm stores' $2.50 ducks and $.50 chicks are disincentive to do it.

I'm amazed and humbled every time I hatch eggs in an incubator - despite being of a scientific bent and understanding the mechanics of it, I'm awed by the process. I've said it before, but it's magical, and there are few things that seem truly "magical" these days. I will incubate again...am thinking goose eggs next time!

 

[Duckymomlol]

I have vinyl flooring in my duck house. I layer 2-3 inches of pine shavings, then I spread a thin layer of hay on top. When I walk in to feed or water them I simply sprinkle a little more hay on top so I'm not stepping in poo. This lasts about a week or so before I go in and do a total clean sweep. Throw it all in the compost and start over. That way they're not sleeping in poo and they're dry and their bedding is deep. I do provide water at night (I stole the dog crate idea and it totally works!!! I just use pee pads in the bottom) and so far it's been working. I'm constantly checking for ammonia smells and mold though. Id love to use straw but it's just not readily available in my area.