Wow! The mess. Newbie shocked.

[moms Tree]

This is my first time having ducks. I got them in November. My theory on that, was to grow them over winter, so that they would be ready to lay eggs in the spring. I had read about the mess, and subsequent smell, but didn't take it seriously, or no one was graphic enough to give me a complete understanding, or something! My goodness! It's a good thing God made them cute as buttons. I have never in my life encountered a mess like duckies can make. I had them in the house for about 5 weeks... until they began to fling poo on the wall behind the 16" high brooder box. Don't get me wrong... I love my Pekin duckies! Would go through this all over again, because they are so worth it... just looking for a little newbie sympathy... I had no idea what I was getting into. Now that they are outside, in their insulated, heated house... they still poo every 10 seconds, and I am shoveling out their house every 2 days. Can't do the "deep litter" method, because I didn't make the doorway high enough. Can't wait until spring, when they can roam freely and clean themselves in the pond. Right now, I bring them in about once a week to bathe in the tub, and only 2 fit in there at a time... I have 9. Just wanted to whine to others who may have gone through trying to raise cute duckies over the winter. Like I said, they are worth it, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat... I'd just wait until spring! lol.

 

[PinkFlamingoFrm]

I understand what you are going through.
I had about 50 ducks, and didnt realize how bad they were over winter. I couldnt keep up. They stank up a whole barn in one day.
Listed most on craigslist, Im down to about 25, not as bad to manage..but definitely much harder than chickens.

 

[moms Tree]

Thank you for the reply... thank goodness I only have 9.

 

[Amiga]

It is an adjustment. Getting the water management down really helps. We have thirteen ducks and our daily routine is to let them out into the day pen, and then room service for the night pen takes 15 minutes most days. I spot pick, fluff the bedding, dump, rinse and refill two water pots.

This keeps the bedding fairly dry.


The bottom has pelleted sawdust to absorb splashed water.

 

[DuckyGurl]

It is an adjustment. Getting the water management down really helps. We have thirteen ducks and our daily routine is to let them out into the day pen, and then room service for the night pen takes 15 minutes most days. I spot pick, fluff the bedding, dump, rinse and refill two water pots.

This keeps the bedding fairly dry.


The bottom has pelleted sawdust to absorb splashed water.

LOVE LOVE LOVE that idea!! I was wondering what I was going to do when I get all my WH's this Spring! Call ducks are one thing, but that many is going to require some thinking.

 

[Amiga]

I struggled a bit, even though I had different kinds of splash catchers as the ducklings were growing. This solved the problem. If I ever brood ducklings again, they will have a chick waterer and head washer in a walk-in watering station. We have two watering stations, both work nicely.

 

[creaturelife]

i dont think raising the duckling was hard but i knew what i was getting into i now own 15 and got 6 eggs on the way and getting me 3 more duck maybe on the 3 ducks i dont have to clean my coop only once a year i use the deep letter method but i m not going to bring any buckling in the house other then what i hatch out of the 6 eggs i have 9 female duck all together and i hope they all go broody this year so i can sell the duckling to build on my turkey pen and make the duck shack bigger i have with all the duckling every one i know i will if the moms will let me get close to get one

 

[newfoundland]

Yes ducks are certainly smelly, messy creatures. My answer to the problem is straw, straw and more straw! We are having almost continual rain here and everywhere is slimy and muddy. I put straw down in their runs before letting them out in the morning and then add more straw to their duck houses. On a rare dry day, I might get away with doing this only once in 2 days, but when raining it's every day I'm afraid. As you say, 'roll on spring!'.

 

[ktduck]

By week 4 I was ready for the ducks to go outside, I put them out week 6 and now I miss them haha! Messy crazy little things but they are just the best!! I did the same thing, read all the stuff about mess and thought "can't be that bad", but it is worse!! Can't wait to get more though they are so infectious

 

[Finny]

The only way for me to keep my duck's house clean is to remove the poop twice a day and add a fresh layer of bedding every other day or so. I was very surprised by how much mud they can make though lol. It drives me crazy! Their outdoor pen is already a mud pit and to make things worst, its has been raining and snowing ALOT. I hope the mud mess will clear up when the weather gets warmer and dryer.