A less messy brooder?

[Knighstar679]

We did something like that for our ducklings (see attached pic). I stitched together a covering for the back and sides that uses velcro straps to attach to the cage. There is another matching cloth that can cover the front if need be (I used it once). The flooring is sand and shelf liner. Their food and water is normally on a tray, but I was washing it at the time so their food is just sitting in there all willy-nilly in the pic. The heat lamp is attached to a tripod that can be raised and lowered with a small crank on the side.
View attachment 1458781

I really like your set up. Makes me wish I could sew, but I cannot so I will have to see about a different line idea that works similarly.

 

[CayugaJana]

I have a dog pen coming for them when they out grow the totes. It is 4x4 and 2 foot tall it should last them a bit. Or at least long enough for me to finish my duck house.

I have been working on cleaning it out and making notes on what needs to be done before ducks get into it. Better ventilation is a must for sure. It is a nice little hoop house. 9.5 foot by 27 I figured it up I could house 60 ducks in it @_@. So after I get it set it should be nice.

Are you going to use the dog pen in the house or outside? Either way, I find using a plastic drop cloth on the bottom the best way to clean up. When you use shavings or your choice of medium, just fold it up and dump it. And reuse the plastic. I put mine in my composter and around my vegetable garden to keep weeds out.

 

[bruceha2000]

My next size brooder is going to be a dog x-pen so there will be open sides until I put something there. It will be 4x4 and should be good for a little while with my little ducklings. Just trying to figure out where to put it and what to put under it.

Why not start with the dog x-pen?

Your duck house page states that the only ground predator you know of is a cat your cat chased away. Pretty much guaranteed you have foxes and raccoons, you just haven't seen them because the buffet is not yet open for business. I think it would be worthwhile to have a 1/2" hardware cloth covered "coop" within the hoop duck house. That is sort of what I have with a safe coop (converted horse stall) in an old barn. There is an auto chicken door (PulletShut) that opens and closes with the sun so the girls are only stuck in the coop at night and can be fairly safe within the barn alley until I open the barn in the morning and they free range until bedtime.

Of course I don't have ducks (no desire to deal with their winter water needs) and maybe they don't go back to their "safe space" at night like chickens do.

 

[MyChickenShack]

Another cute set-up jmoschner! I like it. You all have given me some ideas on making something for our ducklings!

 

[jmoschner]

I really like your set up. Makes me wish I could sew, but I cannot so I will have to see about a different line idea that works similarly.

Thanks. You can always try using something like hem tape (https://www.joann.com/dritz-stitch-witchery-regular-tape-5-8inx20yd/1051572.html#start=1) for simple sewing tasks without the needle and thread.

In this case you can probably just use a shower curtain and zip ties/clips.

 

[Knighstar679]

Thanks. You can always try using something like hem tape (https://www.joann.com/dritz-stitch-witchery-regular-tape-5-8inx20yd/1051572.html#start=1) for simple sewing tasks without the needle and thread.

In this case you can probably just use a shower curtain and zip ties/clips.

What did you use for the bottom under the cabinet liner?

 

[jmoschner]

What did you use for the bottom under the cabinet liner?

Play sand. It has been okay. Easy to scoop out and replace if it gets too damp or food or feces makes it through the liner.
Shavings, pellets, or other absorbent litter material would probably work better for more ducks or if they are in there more often. If our ducks were messier sand wouldn't be a good option as it would always be wet.