A less messy brooder?

[Soon2BChixMom]

I use 1/2" wire on the bottom of the brooder with a tray of cat litter under that. It REALLY helps with the mess, and is easy to clean. When the ducklings are under a week old, I spread an old towel over the wire so they have something soft and warm to rest on.

I would worry they might eat the kitty litter. Isn't it like a clay binding agent? You would definitely have to make sure that they couldn't get to it. Which it sounds like you do.
I enquired about using pdz in the brooder and was told not to do it.

 

[Michael P]

Yes, the wire is suspended several inches over the litter. Think of a standard wire-bottom animal cage.

 

[Knighstar679]

I use 1/2" wire on the bottom of the brooder with a tray of cat litter under that. It REALLY helps with the mess, and is easy to clean. When the ducklings are under a week old, I spread an old towel over the wire so they have something soft and warm to rest on.

I thought about towels then I looked at my towel situation and realized that I don't have many of them. So Shavings where just a bit easier. I didn't want to put them on a wire bottom if I couldn't soften it for them some how. Plus I work at a pet store so they come cheaper for me to get a hold of than towels though I can reuse towels and only have to pay for them once. But i might have multiple small groups in brooders. Not sure how many a 40 gallon could house comfortably so I am planning on keeping it to 6 or 8 if that many hatch.

 

[Knighstar679]

Once the ducklings come, you will see how messy they are. Luckily, they will be hatching in the warmer months, so they probably won't need the brooder as much or for long.

I am sure they will be messy little bees. But I am going to try and keep their mess down some. If I can I can't wait for them to hatch. I will still keep them inside for 8 weeks at least before I put them out into my duck house. Mainly because I am not sure if it will be ready. I will hopefully have their ducky run ready through right around the time they are hatching, so that will be nice for them to go out on adventures to.

Even planning a little ducky pool/pond if i can find a good pond liner cheap. I like to be prepared in advance for certain things. I feel like I will still be on here screaming like a crazy person when they start hatching though.

 

[harmonymw]

I clean indoor brooders three times a day and the outdoor brooder pen once a day. However, I will never willingly have ducklings in colder months again. They get kicked out of the house to the outdoor brooder at two weeks old in warm weather because my god the smell and Lordy how do they get poop up higher than they are tall?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I am sure they will be messy little bees. But I am going to try and keep their mess down some. If I can I can't wait for them to hatch. I will still keep them inside for 8 weeks at least before I put them out into my duck house. Mainly because I am not sure if it will be ready. I will hopefully have their ducky run ready through right around the time they are hatching, so that will be nice for them to go out on adventures to.

Even planning a little ducky pool/pond if i can find a good pond liner cheap. I like to be prepared in advance for certain things. I feel like I will still be on here screaming like a crazy person when they start hatching though.

You can still let them have outdoor time even if you don't put them in the run. Set up a temporary run for them to enjoy the outdoors. You will enjoy it more too.

 

[Michael P]

In my experience, 8 ducklings will outgrow a 40 gallon brooder in about 1 week.

 

[Knighstar679]

In my experience, 8 ducklings will outgrow a 40 gallon brooder in about 1 week.

I hope I can get a little more than that. i am lucky that I am not working with heavy ducks. I am already working on the next step up in the brooder. While I don't have many predators that I can tell I want to make sure their house is secure. I am not even sure how many ducklings I will be working with X_X

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I hope I can get a little more than that. i am lucky that I am not working with heavy ducks. I am already working on the next step up in the brooder. While I don't have many predators that I can tell I want to make sure their house is secure. I am not even sure how many ducklings I will be working with X_X

Well, you need to remember, it is the length times width that determines space, so a 40 gallon tote won't last long.
I had 4 in a tote, maybe not 40 gallon, but what I thought was big. I got them at a week old. By the end of the week they were in a very large kiddie pool brooder. I felt that was too small after they got used to it those first few days.

 

[MyChickenShack]

I wish you had done all of this a month ago so I could have copied You have several nice features. It was all a learning experience with for me from day 1. Soon2BeChixMom is right...they are messy Cat litter idea I love...Im doing that next time. I used a baking sheet under my waterer. It helped some.