My ducks are massive pooping machines...normal?

[LilDucky85]

Ok, so I’m new to the whole duck thing, forgive me if I’m a little behind. I just hatched 8 ducklings, and today they are 9, 8, and 7 days old. I've come to realize they are massive pooping machines! I read they poop a lot, but I had no clue this much. They eat and drink constantly...and did I mention grow constantly too?

Anyway, I was cleaning out their cage yesterday and realized I just can’t keep it poopless! I had JUST cleaned it out and within 5 minutes there were dozens of landmines! Finally I counted the poop, and lost count at 26. Do they poop every minute, and a half or something? There is only 8 of them, so that’s 3.3 poops each? Are my ducks normal, or do they have ducky irritable bowel syndrome? Luckily it doesnt stink...yet!

 

[NancyDz]

I've heard everyone say they are messy... so I'm thinking this is normal but I'm sure someone will chime in here shortly

Nancy

 

[ShadyGlade]

Yup, perfectly normal duck behavior. They seen to poop almost as much as they breath.

 

[Bantam Bodon]

Counting poop? I think youre way too into this....
haha im just kidding, but no worries, its what they do. As long as theyre eating and drinking no reason to panic. Youre lucky if you said it doesnt stink yet, just wait for that!

 

[LilDucky85]

Yup, I counted!

Finally I needed a number because "a lot" just didnt cut it for what I was seeing. I mean 26+ landmines in 5 minutes, wow! It smells and looks just like their food. Im waiting for the stinky stuff, then they will have to go out in the garage no matter how much this Illinois weather sucks! Its about 50's tonight but supposed to be 97 by Friday.

 

[froggie71]

Totally normal! Would be worried if you said they weren't poop machines. Wait till they start swimming to see how fast they water get dirty. Gotta love them though!

 

[LilDucky85]

Ive let them swim 3 times and yes, I couldnt keep it clean even if I tried! I figured I would get them in the water to clean up... not bathe in poop soup!

 

[ShadyGlade]

Quote:

"poop soup" I love it

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Oh I can sympathize with you here. I'm cleaning the brooder for my two 4 week old Pekins 3 times a day! And I swear to you, I could clean it every hour and it would still be a mess!!

It never ends!!!!

I have 6 ducks. Two 4 week old Pekin ducks, two 2 week old Pekin ducks, and two 5 day old Call ducks. Talk about non stop cleaning?!?!?!

Good luck!!

Laurie

 

[Duck Keeper]

I gave up with using cloths and towels in their brooder like three days in with my first set of waterfowl.

Now I stick to newspaper, even if they eat some of it.
I put a small layer down, like one or two papers thick (not sheets, whole newspapers), and have their waterer over the plain wire, with a drip pan underneath the wire. The duckling doesn't play with spilled water anymore, needless to say.

The chicks are much happier.