Brooding ducklings

[Bekahh]

Last year I got my 1st ducks I had planned on buying 6 female khaki campbells ducklings but ended up rescuing 6 3 month old khakis and had to many drakes and only ended up being able to keep 2 I later ended up with 3 female rouens but I decided to raise ducklings this spring i've done a lot of research and i'm overwhelmed to say the least

I plan on 15 ducklings (ordering online all females) and need some ideas for a large brooder I was thinking about setting up a small pen inside and putting puppy pads in the bottom so it will be a bit easier to clean but if anyone has ideas for large brooders (right now I think im gonna have to set up multiple) or ways to keep the mess under control that would be great

I was also thinking maybe once they are bit older and needing more brooder space i could keep them in a pen outside (our weather is really warm) during the day and put them in a smaller brooder at night or would they still the same amount of space

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

I can’t imagine keeping any ducklings inside your house much less 15! I keep my small batches of ducklings in a pen in my barn. The puppy pads will have to be changed daily for the first week and then twice daily after that

 

[Bekahh]

This is my 1st time ever with ducklings im super nervous the only birds ive ever brooded were ones I found trampled in the bins at feed stores I have dealt with everything from splayed legs to lung problems but it seems ducklings will be a whole other challenge lol

 

[PirateGirl]

ok... as you know, ducklings grow fast and poop lots. For 15 ducklings after a week or two they will likely need at least 3 square feet of brooder space each, so 45 square feet, this is quite a bit of space. Instead of pee pads consider investing in 2 large tarps and putting down shavings or something so that at cleaning time you can pull up the whole tarp, empty the contents into the compost or trash and just lay down the new tarp. By 2 weeks they are going to stink, lots. I brooded 2 ducklings in a spare bedroom in my house, only 2, behind a closed door, and the entire house would stink despite my efforts. With that many ducklings I'd probably do 2 of everything, 2 heat sources, 2 water stations, 2 feed stations, look up pictures of no-spill duckling waterers. Consider using a garage or basement or shed to brood them in if possible. That's all I've got! It will be fun, it will be challenging when they start to get bigger, hopefully your weather cooperates and they can go outside at a relatively young age, good luck!

 

[Bekahh]

I have a chicken coop that i wad planning to convert to a duck house but its got hardware cloth all the way around so I wont have 2 worry about my cats i think i may keep them outside and put the heat lamp in there and move my older ducks in there once the babies are introduced

ok... as you know, ducklings grow fast and poop lots. For 15 ducklings after a week or two they will likely need at least 3 square feet of brooder space each, so 45 square feet, this is quite a bit of space. Instead of pee pads consider investing in 2 large tarps and putting down shavings or something so that at cleaning time you can pull up the whole tarp, empty the contents into the compost or trash and just lay down the new tarp. By 2 weeks they are going to stink, lots. I brooded 2 ducklings in a spare bedroom in my house, only 2, behind a closed door, and the entire house would stink despite my efforts. With that many ducklings I'd probably do 2 of everything, 2 heat sources, 2 water stations, 2 feed stations, look up pictures of no-spill duckling waterers. Consider using a garage or basement or shed to brood them in if possible. That's all I've got! It will be fun, it will be challenging when they start to get bigger, hopefully your weather cooperates and they can go outside at a relatively young age, good luck!

 

[PirateGirl]

I have a chicken coop that i wad planning to convert to a duck house but its got hardware cloth all the way around so I wont have 2 worry about my cats i think i may keep them outside and put the heat lamp in there and move my older ducks in there once the babies are introduced

Without seeing the coop it's hard to say how well it will work, and without knowing your weather it's hard to know if they will be warm enough. I am a big fan of re-purposing what you already have. If this will provide adequate space and warmth and a draft free area they can hang out, I say go for it. Lot's of people successfully brood outdoors.

 

[Bekahh]

I live in nc and i want to want another week or so before I get them

Without seeing the coop it's hard to say how well it will work, and without knowing your weather it's hard to know if they will be warm enough. I am a big fan of re-purposing what you already have. If this will provide adequate space and warmth and a draft free area they can hang out, I say go for it. Lot's of people successfully brood outdoors.