What kind of bedding is best for ducklings?

[ducklover1243]

Hi, I have two khaki campbell ducklings and 2 cayuga ducklings aged about a week, and I'm looking for some advice on better bedding to use for them. Currently I use a towel, but they muck around ALOT and I am having to clean it three times a day. I love them and I know that this may just be and have to be because ducklings are messy so Idon't mind doing it, but is there a different bedding I can use for them other than straw that isn't harmful? I would like to use the kind of material that you can scoop the poops out with a cap litter scoop with, (I believe this is shavings) but is this harmful?



I also have some water issues with them as they splash their water ALL AROUND and right now I have tried to stop it by putting medium sized rocks in their waterer (is the right kind, duckling pre-made sized) but it i s till getting messy, but it isnt really working although it has helped. I have the waterer on a small cookie pan with raised edges, along with a face towel on top of that. But the face towel is getting soaked and yucky and I have to clean that three times a day also! I have heard that a good way to fix this is putting VERY small-interval wiring over the pan so that the water goes through is this true?

 

[KFaye]

if you go to index there is a whole section dedicated to ducks. You will find lots of help there. I used pine shavings but still everyone getting wet. Check out the posts on keeping ducks clean. Several of us posted ideas there.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

My ducklings were disgusting! I tried shavings, puppy pads, and sand. It didn't matter what it was, the amount of water that they spill makes everything smell horrible. I even gave them a chick waterer to keep them from getting IN the water, until their bills got to big to get a drink. I finally said, enough, and moved them to a tractor outside on the grass. Problem solved! They smell so much better, stay cleaner, and I don't mind them getting in their water now.
Depending on your weather, I would say kick them outside. It will make things sooo much better.