Larger Face Wash "Bucket" for Ducklings

Greetings!

I know many people are getting started with ducklings. I am getting restarted

The runners are four weeks and a couple of days old. The tallest is about 18 inches now, and the smaller ricotta tubs were being disassembled and their contents strewn about the brooder. sigh. The tubs were no longer deep enough for them to dip their heads in, so their heads would go in at an angle, and POP off came the lid.

I still love them dearly.

I have posted pics of the ricotta tub face washers for little ducklings. Now, here is the next step up, for the taller ducklings who need to be able to wash their faces (eyes and nostrils) to avoid infections but cannot get into the tub or pool or pond every day.

Here are the components: A large yogurt container, its lid with a head-sized hole cut out of it, a custard cup, and a pie plate to hold splash.


I fill the yogurt container about 3/4 full of cold water, then place the custard cup firmly level inside. It goes less than halfway down, but this is deep enough for the ducklings at this time.


The container is then filled to the top and the lid snapped on. The bucket is placed on the pie plate and into the brooder.


So far, so good. I wanted something heavy enough that it would be difficult to overturn, and tall enough that they could use it standing up, as well as deep enough for their heads and bills.

Amiga why do you use the custard cup instead of filling the yogert container all the way up with water? I'm sure it serves a purpose, I just can't figure it out.

For weight after the top few inches of water is splashed out. So far it seems to work to keep the container from being pushed over when it is no longer full. Like the dolls with weighted bottoms

Got it! Thanks!

Is that the only water container you are providing for your ducklings? It just doesnt look very big for so many ducklings. I know how much mine have used in a day at the same age- and provide a container that holds 1.5 litres of water- which is filled three times a day- You must be needing to fill that every hour or so to ensure they always have water.

I provide the water sitting on a metal baking tray to reduce mess and spillage but even the five 3 week old Pekins I currently have in the brooder - still go through an awful lot of water.

I dont worry about lids on my drinking containrs by that age. I feel that having enough water to drink and play while I am at work is more important than the mess they might make with it.

duckyfromoz, you are very conscientious!

This is JUST their facewash. They have a gallon waterer in there at all times, sometimes backed up with another quart for overnight. And yes, I fill it, five or six times a day.

BTW, as of this afternoon, there is a three gallon waterer. One gallon was good for 3 or 4 hours - I am hoping to sleep through the night tonight

Good thread. I just made my ducklings one of these tonight and it works very well! thanks for posting this.