Wow! The mess. Newbie shocked.

[GentFarmer]

GentFarmer, you've got it! Wow. You get a gold star.

Thanks for laying it out clearly, also.

I plan to bookmark this thread.

Awww. You're too kind. I didn't do anything special. I just figured it might be helpful for someone considering ducks to see that yes, they're messy, but you can manage it!

I'll upload some pics once I get off my lazy butt and take some.

 

[Amiga]

Awww. You're too kind. I didn't do anything special. I just figured it might be helpful for someone considering ducks to see that yes, they're messy, but you can manage it!

I'll upload some pics once I get off my lazy butt and take some.

I try to get that very point across - messy but manageable. And, well, I think you organize the information well.

Also, I finally got the water thing down after my ducks had grown up. It wasn't awful, but I know more now, and if I ever brood eleven ducklings again

I will be using something like what you have here.

 

[white ninja]

ah ha im not alone in the wth was i thinking with ducks! there a mess in 2 days they demolished a large dry aquarium into a swamp i said NO no no NO! i then moved them into the chicken tractor and the mess went way down dirt floor really helped they still make the quail mad by making a motor boat noise in the waterer them using it as a bathroom then taking the water to the feed tray and making oatmeal argh cute little thangs cant wait to see what they do to the kiddie pool or "chicken waterer" mhm

 

[GentFarmer]

if I ever brood eleven ducklings again

I will be using something like what you have here.

We're doomed. We're all going to do it. However, I did choose the Welsh Harlequin in part due to their reputation as decent mamas. I'd much rather them do the work for me.

As to this tote, when I saw it, I knew immediately it was the right choice. I was actually looking for one I could convert into your set up when voila! Talk about a fortuitous find. I'm planning on taking a photo and sending it into the company just as a way of showing the versatility of the product. ;-)

 

[CountryGal517]

Tha

Two weeks in to the brooding process for 10 ducklings, and I have to say this thread scared me more than any other prior to getting ducks. Maybe it was a good thing it did, because I've had zero issues with mess. All it took was a little planning and a strategy. I opted to go for towels rather than bedding. I have a rotation of 6-8 old towels. I bought a tote from Rubbermade that has a front-opening hatch for the water/feed. And I used a galvanized tub as the brooder. Step 1: Line the galvanized tub with bedding. I opted for pine shavings, and then decided after the first week to add straw on top of that to provide a bit more aeration. Step 2. Insert the tote with the lid down. Step 3: Line the tote with shop towels. To brood 10 ducks for 4 weeks, you'll need 6 rolls. Step 4: Place cloth towel on top of bedding, but not in the tote where the food/water is. Step 5: Add ducks. When the towel gets soiled, just fold it inside out. When it's dirty again, put in a clean towel. I've not had to do laundry any more than normal. The ducklings make messes, but it's been easy to contain and maintain a clean environment. They're brooding inside the house (which is a small studio ea. 8 used bath towels: free/donated by friends. Galvanized tub (5-feet long): $100 (this is the big ticket item and can be eliminated. I'm just pulling double duty with the tub, and will turn it into the duck bath when they move out.)

thanks for the great ideas will have to try of out

 

[Finny]

Two weeks in to the brooding process for 10 ducklings, and I have to say this thread scared me more than any other prior to getting ducks. Maybe it was a good thing it did, because I've had zero issues with mess. All it took was a little planning and a strategy. I opted to go for towels rather than bedding. I have a rotation of 6-8 old towels. I bought a tote from Rubbermade that has a front-opening hatch for the water/feed. And I used a galvanized tub as the brooder. Step 1: Line the galvanized tub with bedding. I opted for pine shavings, and then decided after the first week to add straw on top of that to provide a bit more aeration. Step 2. Insert the tote with the lid down. Step 3: Line the tote with shop towels. To brood 10 ducks for 4 weeks, you'll need 6 rolls. Step 4: Place cloth towel on top of bedding, but not in the tote where the food/water is. Step 5: Add ducks. When the towel gets soiled, just fold it inside out. When it's dirty again, put in a clean towel. I've not had to do laundry any more than normal. The ducklings make messes, but it's been easy to contain and maintain a clean environment. They're brooding inside the house (which is a small studio ea. 8 used bath towels: free/donated by friends. Galvanized tub (5-feet long): $100 (this is the big ticket item and can be eliminated. I'm just pulling double duty with the tub, and will turn it into the duck bath when they move out.)

Wow what a great idea! I am definitely using this idea next time I get ducklings

 

[pinusresinosa]

I started with ducks. My husband and I had talked at length about "If we got birds, what would they be?" and we both agreed that ducks would be better because generally, they're healthier and buying butchered duck in the store is not within our food budget and duck eggs are non-existent in stores as well. We weren't totally serious about it until I grabbed a pair of rouens on a whim.

So, all I know is duck and duck mess and it doesn't bother me. I'm doing chickens this year too, so I'll have something to compare it to. I will say this though. I love my lush garden and lawn and friends nearby with chickens all have yards of dust. Not sure 'bout that.

The trick is to keep them dry as mentioned. Limit their swimming holes either to a natural giant pond or a kiddie pool you can dump out daily. Drinking water should be offered in something they can't bathe in, and you'll be fine. They can drink their own filterings fine, even though it's ugly- just change it daily. "Filterings" is what I call water after they've eaten with it, as they use water with bites of food to make a mush or something not sure... but they always take some food, then go to the water the sift the food in the water with their mouths. I consider this water "fortified" and I don't freak if my ducks drink from it.

But when it rains, holy drill holes in the lawn batman! Doesn't hurt the lawn though, so no biggie.

 

[Richb353]

Nice,
I had the brilliant idea of putting the kiddie pool on top of the kitchen table for my very first 11 Cayugas. Adorable as can be, but after a couple of days....holy crap! It felt like they were purposely soiling the hay as soon as I could replace it. They went under the pole barn until they were almost full size, then into a fenced pasture downwind of the house.

Originally their house had a screen floor and would sit a foot off the ground for ventilation. I built it out of old fenceposts and it looks like a miniature log cabin. Unfortunately, the poop did not fall through the 1/2" screening as planned and the thing was heavy to drag around. So instead, I removed the screen from the bottom of the house and added a couple wheels on one side. The house sits flush to the ground and I can wheel it around like a very heavy wheelbarrow about once a week.

After I move the house, I'll water the area thoroughly to get the "fertilizer" washed into the ground. I now have some very green 4'x6' patches of grass around the yard. Other than a pool, the ducks seem to enjoy foraging in the taller grass.

Enjoy,
Rich

 

[pinusresinosa]

Nice,
I had the brilliant idea of putting the kiddie pool on top of the kitchen table for my very first 11 Cayugas. Adorable as can be, but after a couple of days....holy crap! It felt like they were purposely soiling the hay as soon as I could replace it. They went under the pole barn until they were almost full size, then into a fenced pasture downwind of the house.

Originally their house had a screen floor and would sit a foot off the ground for ventilation. I built it out of old fenceposts and it looks like a miniature log cabin. Unfortunately, the poop did not fall through the 1/2" screening as planned and the thing was heavy to drag around. So instead, I removed the screen from the bottom of the house and added a couple wheels on one side. The house sits flush to the ground and I can wheel it around like a very heavy wheelbarrow about once a week.

After I move the house, I'll water the area thoroughly to get the "fertilizer" washed into the ground. I now have some very green 4'x6' patches of grass around the yard. Other than a pool, the ducks seem to enjoy foraging in the taller grass.

Enjoy,
Rich

Rich, this sounds a lot like what we made, although not pretty. We have several duck houses or "installations" and hubs calls them. This one can be wheeled around, and sprayed out daily of mess. The tub of water has a valve on it and is opened to allow drainage and cleaning daily. The back is a wire floor which I now just cover in litter. It's not in use now, but will be in the spring.



This is the "duckshaw". It leaves patches of happy grass wherever it goes.

We had the brilliant idea of building an in-ground pond from one of those plastic liners... holds like 250 gallons. The ducks turned it into a green, stinky cesspool in no time. It's fenced off now so they can't get to it next year.

 

[Richb353]

Nice,
I call mine the "Quack Shack".......with a couple ducks out back!

I have some of the parts for a pond, including a liner for a 9'x16' koi pond. The biggest hold up is the stone I will need. The stones I want are large, flat and rounded to border the pond. Unfortunately, they run about $300 a ton and I expect to need at least 2 - 3 tons. Looking at all the research I can pull for a pond, including pumps, filters, water features, and of course fish is quite consuming and overwhelming. One step at a time.