Brooding ducklings on wire?

[RazorDuck]

Hello. I'm thinking about getting a couple ducks with my chickens, and I've heard you can brood ducklings on wire,and I was thinking of one like the GQF #0534 brooder. I know you shouldn't do this with chickens because of coccidiosis and whatnot, and I was wandering what downsides this method encounters.
(PS, watching Oregon vs. UC Irvine. Go ducks!!)

 

[The Phantom]

I know ducklings are very messy. Personally I think wire would be very rough on their feet. I have always used wood shavings.

 

[RazorDuck]

That's also what I was worried about.

 

[Jpat]

Lots of people do it just seams so utilitarian

My ducklings definitly prefer soft surfaces then hard rough surfaces. and you only need to clean a brooder for 6 weeks and they are full grown

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wire will cut those little webs I wouldn't use it.

 

[quackiemama]

Yes welcome to the duck zone! I have only raised 2 sets of ducklings so far and I used the pine shavings and they did great. @Jpat those 6 weeks go way too fast! I was never ready for them to move off all the way to the yard area! I didn't even have empty nest syndrome when my kids went off to college. I think I actually did their laundry and packed their bags! Ha!

 

[Jpat]

hahaha @quackiemama

When they move out i get great exercise. checking them 94 times a day

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keeps us healthy all that running back an forth

 

[quackiemama]

Yes it is funny how much more in shape I got last year when they had to move out of mama's house! That is gonna be my excuse for getting more!

 

[MerryMeridional]

Personally I would not use wire for their delicate little feet. That's probably more just preference really. If I had wire I would still cover with chopped straw or pine shavings. Having a wire "trap floor" can definitely assist in dealing with the water they fling everywhere. A lot of people cover a plastic bin (I use a plastic kitty litter pan from the dollar store) with wire for the waterer, simply for brooder cleanliness reasons.