brooder space

[sayyadina]

I was wondering how much space I'd need to brood 15 ducklings, 10 runner & 5 welsh harlequin. I have an old claw foot bathtub that I was thinking of using.

 

[chickenlisa]

I think for a week or two it would be fine. After that, they'd be too big and there wouldn't be enough room for them in that tub. Where are you? Maybe at 2 weeks old, they could go outside if its warm enough where you live.

 

[Wifezilla]

I agree. It will work great for about 2 weeks

Then one day you will wake up and the ducks will have doubled in size overnight

 

[sayyadina]

I'm in Maine. Last week, it got up into the 80s, but then the low a couple nights ago was 35F. It should continue to warm up, and get much more humid.

The tub's interior dimensions are 16" deep, 22" wide by 37"long. The room its in is one of the warmest in the house, and its pretty safe. Still doing a bit of renovation on the house, but its all upstairs now, and this room is downstairs.

My first choice would be to get them from Holderread's, but Sand Hill & Metzer also have both breeds.

I have a location all picked out to put their house, under our photovoltaic panels, inside our fencing. Can only be 22ft long, but could be 8-10ft wide. Only thing I can't figure out is how high it should be, especially for the runners.