Baby Duck Brooders - Need Suggestions

[pardygwyn]

I use the tub, too. I don't put anything on the bottom except for a folded towel on one side for them to sleep on. Food and water go on the other side of the tub so the towel doesn't get wetter than it already does from their poop. They figure it out pretty quick, and I can just spray all the poo away as needed with the shower head. The towel gets flipped once, then replaced. I use a heat lamp for the first two weeks, then start turning it off during the day. By the third week, it's not needed anymore. Home-hatched ducklings are much hardier than chicks in my experience.

 

[daze333]

Quote:
That's hilarious!!

I love it! It makes so much sense! So they had no bedding right? Did they slip around much? My kids would not appreciate it though. Because the birds would be in their tub! ha ha

 

[Broodica]

LOL...yes, they would be in my kids tub as well! Told them they'd have to go downstairs to the bathroom where the ducks are now to shower in the mornings. No tub there, just a shower stall....I received blank teenager stares.

My big concern is the slipping around, but I guess you could just put towels down and leave a bit of a gap between the waterer/food end and the sleeping end. That bathroom is also where my washer, dryer and utility sink are.....very convenient and it's the tub we use to let them swim. It would be the end of the trail of wood shavings through my house as well...siiiiigh. Beginning to like this idea more and more...Hmmmmmmm. I just can't wait to get them into the coop/run. It's about 2/3rds finished. This duckling part is a little too like raising human babies! The chicks are a breeze in comparison. Remind me of that when I start talking more ducks....PLEASE!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

I wish i could talk my husband into letting me use the tub. That sounds like the best method. i've been under the weather so struggling along with my original set-up. But today the muck and mess got to be too much. i cut a piece of 1/4" hardware cloth for the bottom of the flight cage. Hoping this will keep them a little bit dry until i can get out later today and buy a big rubbermaid tub.

Here it is, and here are my ducky-poos. They have clearly outgrown this cage in the 5 days since i got them.

 

[daze333]

This is so helpful to see what other people do! Ducklings are the sweetest things on the world, but they are a lot of work aren't they???? I am getting ready to order some more from Metzer-thank the Lord they can sex them!!! I thought it would take me forever and a day to keep hatching and getting all these drakes to get my flock together! I am so excited, but do not look forward to brooding the sweet things!

Enchanted farms-I like your cage setup! Does it have a tray under the floor to pull out and clean? It looks like there are a lot of ducklings in there! A few are a lot of work, more is WOW!

 

[Broodica]

OK...the 4 little menaces going in the tub. The bigger they get, the mess is increasing exponentially. Since they get bigger everyday.....aaaaaarrrggghhhhh!!! Luckily, they are tooooo dang cute! And the older ones are getting very distinct personalities, not to mention tail feathers!!!

Putting food and water down by the drain end on rubber mat, big fluffy towel at sleeping end and rubber mat in between to prevent slippage. Hanging heater lamp from the shower enclosure bar down at the sleepy end. They can't all fit under the feather duster anymore, so might do away with that, even tho they love it....or maybe get another one? Kids are banished to the downstairs bathroom shower.

And it's even sunny here today! I'm taking that as a sign that this is a good idea....and kicking my DH out to finish the coop!

 

[daze333]

Quote:
Good luck with your messy babies! As for the feather duster, I am assuming they are using it like a mama. When I have one or a few small chicks, I give them a small stuffed animal. I wonder if something like that would help? Maybe a bigger one for duckies?

 

[Broodica]

When I first got ducks, it ended up being a single duck - lost one in shipping. Put the duster in for her as she was all alone. When we got her a companion, I didn't want to take it out. Then we ended up with 2 more ducklings a week later and I just left it in for them. They all go under it every now and then, but like I said, they can't all fit anymore. My 3 week old Rouen alone takes up the whole space underneath, the big lug, and the little ones, 2 weeks old, just hang next to whoever is lying down at the moment. We'll see....I think that with 4 of them together in a herd, they don't really need the duster, but it was so cute to see these little tails and bills hanging out from underneath!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

daze333, yes, there is a slide-out tray underneath to collect the water. Although, it probably needs to be sitting inside a larger collection tray. But you are right, it's getting tight for that many ducks. We have 11, and they get bigger by the minute.

Broodica - i love the feather duster idea!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Okay, i built a bigger brooder using a 40 gallon rubbermaid bin and put them in it yesterday afternoon. By this morning there was what looked like 2 gallons of water collected in the bottom. Plus, it's already too small! Anyhow, here are pictures.

Forty gallon rolling plastic bin, with bricks in bottom to elevate the wire floor.

They are too crowded already. i think i need something twice this size.

i think it was a good idea, but they are growing so fast.