Brooding ducklings..

[Catwmn]

What is the least messy way to brood ducklings? I have them in a dog crate with a lamp and using wee pads as bedding but they make a terrible mess and i have to clean it several times a day.

Any other suggestions?

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jessellebond]

Hmm, I wonder how Carefresh guinea pig litter would work. No pine or wood chips, but a soft stuff like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1DJ1JYQ1N605WWS8A81E

 

[Amiga]

Take a look at post #10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/597514/need-dry-duckling-brooder-ideas

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Hmm, I wonder how Carefresh guinea pig litter would work. No pine or wood chips, but a soft stuff like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1DJ1JYQ1N605WWS8A81E

I thought that as well and happen to have it for our 4 guinea pigs: It gets stinky almost as quickly as wood chips and is way more expensive.

The BEST thing you can do for yourself is get them in a wire bottom brooder (1/4 x 1/4 hardware cloth works great) at night and make them a secure yard for the daytime.

When they are newborn till they are a couple weeks old we use a large dog crate in our garage to brood them. We took out the plastic pan and put in some wire flooring. We set the whole thing on a mortar mixing tub to catch the water.

We have another system in our duck house that is wire floor with a divider board. We keep the water on one side of the board and the shavings on the other. We only had to clean every other day. Now during the day we keep them (goslings too) in a playpen tractor that is kept in the front yard...right in front of the windows to we can see them at all times. Here is our daytime set-up.


Good luck. They are really worth the hassle: You just have to control the mess.

 

[prairie]

I'm not an expert with ducklings but bought 2 little Ancona ducklings about 2 weeks ago and am amazed at how fast they have grown. I also bought 3 little guinea keets. I have had 2 Ancona adults for about a year also.



I first started out with them in a large dog carrier but like you found it to be a big mess.My hubby and I built a large pen out of scrap wood and some chicken wire -- about 5' x 2' x 3'. I just put the dog carrier into the pen since it was cool the first few days.

Our chicken house has a dirt floor so we put the pen into the chicken house and layered lots of hay on the bottom of the pen. (No wire on the bottom of the pen) and I have added more hay and moved the pen a couple of times. It has worked really well but now the ducklings are getting larger and need more water and space so may turn them loose in the chicken house or into the run. They are now about a month old.

 

[jessellebond]

Very true, we have guinea pigs as well, and it seems like I'm forever changing the cage. Along with the fact they've tried to make it their snack #facepalm. I like your pen you built as well, do you have any instructions for that bad boy online?