I am hatching about 20 ducks every couple weeks and selling them, so far within a week of hatching. That means I have to have accommodations for as many as 20 baby ducks at a time, usually only for a few days. I want them to be where they are easy to display, easy to clean up after, and comfortable.
Now that the weather is nice (50s+ at night), will this work: Put them in an indoor rubbermaid tub WITHOUT food or water for the first 24 hours after coming out of the incubator, with towels for bedding and a lamp for heat, while they rest and gain strength. Then move them--full-time--into rabbit-hutch style brooders outdoors with wire flooring, food, and water.
It seems to me that they will be more comfortable outdoors where they won't get their brooder ridiculously messy and then sit in it until I can clean it out in the morning. And of course it will be way easier for me.
I can put straw down over the wire for the first few days for insulation from drafts, and of course they'll have a brood lamp.
The other alternative I can think of is to keep them indoors at night (I know they're fine outdoors during the day), but I'll need to get two new rubbermaid tubs--the one tub is simply too small for 20+ ducklings, even for a few days, and I've had it so long it is falling apart--I'm fairly sure it won't last through two or three more uses. I'd rather not buy stuff when I have so many outdoor resources, but obviously the health and safety of the little ones is more important than my minor preferences.
I'm open to other ideas. I'd love something simple and easy to clean that gives buyers excellent viewing access for selecting their babies. Something like what TS has for their babies, maybe. Or like pet stores sometimes have for rabbits--those raised platforms with plexiglass walls. Could something like that be built & adapted to be suitable for raising ducklings? I could keep it in our basement and bring buyers in through the basement door to view the babies.
Thoughts?
Now that the weather is nice (50s+ at night), will this work: Put them in an indoor rubbermaid tub WITHOUT food or water for the first 24 hours after coming out of the incubator, with towels for bedding and a lamp for heat, while they rest and gain strength. Then move them--full-time--into rabbit-hutch style brooders outdoors with wire flooring, food, and water.
It seems to me that they will be more comfortable outdoors where they won't get their brooder ridiculously messy and then sit in it until I can clean it out in the morning. And of course it will be way easier for me.
I can put straw down over the wire for the first few days for insulation from drafts, and of course they'll have a brood lamp.
The other alternative I can think of is to keep them indoors at night (I know they're fine outdoors during the day), but I'll need to get two new rubbermaid tubs--the one tub is simply too small for 20+ ducklings, even for a few days, and I've had it so long it is falling apart--I'm fairly sure it won't last through two or three more uses. I'd rather not buy stuff when I have so many outdoor resources, but obviously the health and safety of the little ones is more important than my minor preferences.
I'm open to other ideas. I'd love something simple and easy to clean that gives buyers excellent viewing access for selecting their babies. Something like what TS has for their babies, maybe. Or like pet stores sometimes have for rabbits--those raised platforms with plexiglass walls. Could something like that be built & adapted to be suitable for raising ducklings? I could keep it in our basement and bring buyers in through the basement door to view the babies.
Thoughts?
