What is the best way to clean up wet feed!

littlehenny

Songster
10 Years
Jun 10, 2009
106
1
109
My 3 welsh harlequins, have had to be moved into a bigger pen! They have went through 2 blow up plastic pools! Now they have a big hard plastic pool. My question is how do I keep there food cleaned up, that they drop all over the pen!?? The problem is it is all wet and yucky! I can't let them free range at all, to many predators. Should I build a bigger pen and section it off, one end for pool, and one for feeding? What do you all think about pine shavings in the pen? HELP, I love these guys, but it is taking up most of my time caring for the little buggers.. Although I do love spending a lot of time with them, they are so sweet and friendly!
 
My chickens go in my duck pen while my ducks are ranging and clean up all the crumbs
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Are you feeding mash or crumbles? I've found that feeding my ducks pellets results in a lot less waste. If your enclosure is big enough sectioning may be the best way to compartmentalize the mess.
 
I put my feed in a medium size rubber bowl (you can buy these at Tractor Supply). My ducks don't seem to make that big of a mess. I only give them enough for the time being, I have figured out how much they eat during certain periods of time. If you put too much out they seem to get it wet and it will mold. I make sure the feed and water bowl are next to each other, so the ducks don't have to do far to get water while eating. How big is their "big" pen? Allowing them to free range is a big help to. I know you said you can't bc of predators, what about whenever you are outside with them letting them free range. Most predators are not going to mess with them while you are there. Plus its a joy to watch them run and play when they are "free." It's almost as if they know they have freedom. Best of luck!
 
Try placing the feed and water farther apart. I keep them at least 6 feet apart, and the feed never gets wet. They have to go so far back and forth that by the time they get back to the feed bowl, they don't have water in their bills anymore.
 
I went and got a large hard plastic kiddie pool and a smaller one. I put them side by side and cut a pathway out of both and left a small lip on both to hold in water. I put a brick in the gap to make up for the lips. In the small pool I have shavings, and I keep their water bowl, and bowls of water with greens in there. In the big one I have shavings and I keep their dry food in a bowl there and also their grit. I asked and made sure the water was close enough and it is fine.
The "wet" pool gets really wet and yucky, but the big pool stays nice and dry for them.
It's worked out great.
 
Thanks guys these are all wonderful suggestions! I think I will have to extend the pen, make one end for the house and maybe the middle section for feeding, I like the idea of using the 2 pools, which I already have. This would work for the feed, and could easily be took out and hosed off! And then fix the last section for there big pool! I would love to let these guys free range! But it is to complicated to get into, as to why I can't, predators are a big issue! But a big dog is the main issue, he would kill them in a heartbeat. This is not my dog, but my neighbors dog, my neighbor is my Mom! So I can't break her heart and tell her I don't want her dog around, touchy subject. Anyway me and my ducks thank you for the ideas!
 

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