I have 6 3 1/2 week old indian runners. I have them in a big dog cage.......... the wire one in my house. I've gone through pine shavings and newspaper. They would eat them both. So, I use old towels. They work the best.
For the food and water..... this took a few times because as they grew they made more of a mess. I use chick feeders for my ducks. I have the chick waterer too. The mason jar size. I put a decent size roasting pan in the cage, put a 3 to 4 inch (deep) round rubbermaid contain upside down in the roasting pan. Then I put the water on top of that. Use one big enough for the base of the waterer. You don't want it to small and too big they will try to climb on it. The birds love it, when they dribble the water it goes in the roasting pan. If they happen to knock over the waterer, which doesn't really happen unless it's empty, ends up in the roasting pan. They still have water to drink when the waterer is empty. Less mess, water contained.
The feeder I just put on top of a rubbermaid tub just like the waterer. I don't use a roasting pan for the food. They don't have to bend down as far.... it's easier for them to eat the food. I'll try and post pictures if it doesn't make sense.
