How much do ducklings smell? Brooder location tips

[chickens really]

As said, my rascals spent two weeks in a cardboard brooder covered with a large tarp. One evening they dragged the tarp down and chewed through the cardboard... We came back hom from shopping, opened the garage door and saw ducklings running around.

Bahahaha!
Oh those rascals!

 

[CoriM]

I'm attaching photos of what I did. The first couple of weeks they were just in a plastic bin because the pool was too big and overwhelming (middle photo). You don't want them to have to go too far between their warm spot (for me a heat table) and the food and water. Then when I moved them to the pool I had it sectioned in half for the first bit so it didn't seem
too enormous.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[DuckyDonna]

Instead of towels, you could also use puppy pads which makes it so much easier for clean up. I put pine shavings under the pads so it's soft and cozy and I also do the kiddie pool thing. I had no problem with odor either because I kept up with cleaning it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s the key clean clean clean! ♥

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

That’s the key clean clean clean! ♥

And not too many ducklings at once. I had 14 in such kiddie pool, changing the bedding daily and it wasn't enough.
But i still miss the little ones in my office! The sound of little bills digging in the crumbles, splashing sounds from the waterer, soft chirps during their sleep phases, the loud fart noises, - wait! Don't miss that!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've never heard a duck chicken or goose fart. Thank goodness unless your talking about when poo comes out too. That I have heard. lol

 

[DucksOhio]

I keep my brooder in my dining room, it doesnt smell when you clean it everyday

I agree. I raised mine in a kiddie pool in my spare bedroom. Didn’t smell at all with 5 ducklings, but I changed out the bedding completely twice a day. Messy little monsters.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Thank you all for all of your input. I think we might try out the basement first and if that doesn't work out, we can always move them to the garage. Thanks for the tips about the kiddie pool and towels/puppy pads. We are looking to get 10 ducklings so we will need a bigger brooder as they grow. I will be able to clean it a few times a day, but I'm at work out of the house from 7:30 until 4 so I won't be home all day every day with them. I'll just clean them in the morning, when I get home from work, and again before bed. Hopefully that will be a good schedule.

 

[Texag87]

@WannaBeHillBilly forgot to mention that eventually you will need a duckling poop jar.


We always brood in the bathtub in the spare bathroom.