Brooder question

[binza1979]

My ducks are getting HUGE. We have had them for 11 days and they have outgrown the rubbermaid tote we were using. They are moving to the garage this week. I need advice on what to transfer them to today. I only have two, but I want them to have room to roam in their brooder. So, any pictures would be appreciated so that I can get ideas.

Also, what should I use for a feeder so that they quit making such a mess with their food. How do you keep the water clean? I give them fresh clean water and 2 minutes later it is all murky.

How often should I let them take a bath?

When will their feathers come in?

I am using non-medicated poultry mash for feed. Do I need to add niacin? How much? Where do I get it?

Thanks!!!!

 

[TLWR]

My ducks are getting HUGE. We have had them for 11 days and they have outgrown the rubbermaid tote we were using. They are moving to the garage this week. I need advice on what to transfer them to today. I only have two, but I want them to have room to roam in their brooder. So, any pictures would be appreciated so that I can get ideas.
- I used a large dog kennel for the brooder for my 3, so they always had plenty of room. I don't know where you are, but here in AL, they are putting out the kiddie pools. You can use one of those as a brooder for a bit.


Also, what should I use for a feeder so that they quit making such a mess with their food. How do you keep the water clean? I give them fresh clean water and 2 minutes later it is all murky.
-I won't laugh like I want to - they will make a mess of their food and water. Nothing you can do will prevent that. They are ducks. Making a mess is what ducks do. That's why they are so darn cute, so you don't strangle them!


How often should I let them take a bath?
-As often as you want, but make sure they are dry and you put them back under a heat lamp to get warm again. I did one swim time a day until they were about 3-4 weeks and then we did more.


When will their feathers come in?
-When they are tweens - you should start seeing them around 3 weeks or so and then they really start to come in after a month or so - at least with my runners, that's how it worked.


I am using non-medicated poultry mash for feed. Do I need to add niacin? How much? Where do I get it?
-Niacin can be found in the drug section of, well, anywhere. Get the water soluble ones. The tables don't dissolve so well, but the capsules did fine. I did half a capsule per gallon of water until 2-3 weeks.

 

[loubapache]

I was going to ask the same thing.

My two Pekin ducklings are 9 days old and they are growing everyday. Right now, they are in a 45 gallon tote with a heat lamp in a spare bathroom.

I have a spare 300-gal stock tank in the basement (that was used to winter fish years ago) and I think I will need to get that one ready for them this weekend.

Thanks,