Hi! I have ordered 7 WH's, 2 "surprise", and one runner duckling from Holderread's. A total of 10 ducklings, if there aren't any "packing peanuts" How big of a brooder am I going to need for that many? Thanks!!
For our eleven runner babies, the first two weeks we had them in a 2 x 5 ft (10 sq ft) giant tote (Brooder I), then we got a 4'x4' puppy playpen (Brooder II), then a couple weeks later added another puppy playpen to make it 6x8 (Brooder III). They grew so fast! The 6x8 did it for the rest of their time in the brooder, till they could move into the duck house.
10 ducklings? quite a bit or you'll be cleaning that hourly. Can you get a hold of a kiddy pool? i have seen those used before. I have never brooded that many at once... 4 is my max.. if it's more then their with the mama duck outside in the barn!
Personally I let the momma ducks do it! But I'd say as big as you can go, and be prepared to enlarge it as they grow, like Amiga wrote.
Thanks everyone! I would let a "mama duck" raise them, but they are mail order. I am still super excited to get them! I haven't raised ducklings before, so I'm really excited for this opportunity, even though I know they will be super messy. I do have a sandbox that my ducks swim in, so I think I could possibly use that, or else I'll find a kiddie pool somewhere. I've got a while before they come.
As i said i do but not always is their a "mama" my last ducks didn't have one.. all bought, plus my preemies...
Try searching the site, a lot have been posted. I have no plans on brooding ducks this year, IF i have any, the ducks will be doing it... you can use dog crates, i have used one of those too.
Here's one idea.. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/845195/keeping-ducklings-indoors-yuck and why only 1 Runner? seems it should have a friend of it's own kind.
Thanks! I think I'm going to go with the kiddie pool idea. ML, just because I like the Blue Runners. IDK why I only chose one, I just did. There are the other two mystery ducks, and one of those could be a runner. I've had a Pekin/Cambell mix in with Call ducks before, I think as long as there are other ducks they are OK. I LOVE that brooder! Maybe, if I really got into breeding them and had to have a "permanent" brooder.
