Duckling Brooders

I finally found the best tubs to make into duckling brooders for my ducklings that are off heat at room temperature. I initially use heating pads under tubs and they help keep the ducklings dry because they dry out the spilled water and poop on the shelf liners but I have been having trouble keeping things clean and dry once I move the ducklings off of heat and keep them at room temperature before they go outside. Now I have found the perfect solution.

I found some Sterlite tubs with black handles that are 32"x18" and 14" tall, then I added black hard plastic liners that are sold as door mats at Home Depot (the tubs came from Home Depot too so I was able to find a perfect fit while in the store). The mats are rigid and they fit perfectly inside the tubs, which have a deep well around the edges. The holes are nice and deep but they are a bit big so I got a package of material that is similar to shelf liners but made to keep rugs from slipping and I cut them to size. The package I got was supposed to be 4'x6' so I figured I could cut six pieces that measured 16"x32" but they ended up being a bit narrower than that because the sheet was not cut square and I had to cut it square before I could measure it, which ended up creating a bunch of waste I had not anticipated. I had thought the liner would completely cover the mat but it covers well enough that the ducklings' feet are protected from slipping down into the holes. All the poop goes through the liner and the mat to the bottom of the tub while the ducklings have a dry surface (nothing is ever clean for long with ducklings) to walk on.

I am using three tubs stacked so I just slide the lids back enough to vent them and hold the tub above. I bought six tubs total so I can put fewer ducklings per tub or have clean tubs to move them to instead of cleaning the tubs while they take their bath. The new tubs can go two days before they need to be cleaned with about a dozen ducklings per tub and they clean easily. The liners are getting stained and they are the hardest to clean but I can replace them periodically like I do with the shelf liners.

Some of the drier more solid poop stays on the surface until it is stepped on and pushed down through the liner. I considered using the mat without the liner over the top but I am afraid the holes are too big for small ducklings' feet so I want to wait and try it with bigger ducklings before they go outside. Since the ducklings like to sleep at one end in a pile, there is still plenty of space for food and poop mess while still giving them a nice space to pile up.

Here is a close up picture that shows the squares of the liner better. It also shows an assortment of the colors of my Australian Spotted ducklings. These are the smaller ducklings in the top tub. They are resting after eating, drinking, and pooping.

I have been asked for pictures showing how I use shelf liners in plastic tubs to raise ducklings without bedding so I am bumping this thread since I am unable to get pictures to post in the other thread.

I use Victor Ultimate Flea Traps for heat (with shelf liner, not the sticky paper that traps fleas) and the ducklings love snuggling up in them. They use a night light bulb, which I get in packs of four at the Dollar Tree. There is another Dollar Store that has white bulbs that are not as bright.

I tried to post a picture but I can't add pictures to this thread now for some reason. I will keep trying if it is something to do with my internet being too slow.

I just tried with 4G instead of WiFi and I still can't get pictures to post. I posted pictures the other day so I have no idea what has changed on my phone that prevents me from uploading pictures now. Perhaps I have reached my limit?