How to keep a duckling brooder dry??

[DucksOhio]

Does anyone have advice on how to keep the adorable ducklings from getting water all over their bedding? I'm cleaning it out 3+ times a day -- just for wetness.

Attached is photo of my setup (girls are still pretty afraid of me, that's why they're hiding).

View attachment 1767851

 

[Cayuga momma]

This Tupperware water bowl is a huge help to me.

 

[ketojenn]

I have a large appliance tray under their water station. I have both the water fount and little swimming tub on it. I have a rather large brooder though. I'll get a picture when I'm home later. It works quite well, I only need to pick up the area immediately around it.

 

[Tannerpauldean]

I just had 9 ducks in my brooder the last few weeks and I tried something different this time. I got a cookie sheet with a cooling rack that fit perfectly inside it. I put the waterer on top of the cooling rack and all the water that spilled out just went into the cookie sheet. What's more, the ducks were not able to splash around in the spilled water because the cooling rack kept them above it. I ended up having to change the water and dump out the cookie sheet 2x daily, but the bedding stayed dry. I used a couple inches of pine shavings, and my water dish is one of those inverted mason jars with a saucer underneath (I bought the saucer attachment at the feed store for 3 bucks).

In the past, I have tried towels and pee training pads, but this method worked much better for me. Good luck!

 

[Jpat]

only way to keep it dry is toss the ducklings out

They carry more water around then a firetruck, i like Cayuga Momma water dish and the pan idea

 

[quackiemama]

I have puppy pads and an aluminum pan that I keep their food and bowl of water in and honestly it works great for me but I like what @Tannerpauldean is doing. I am going to have to try that sometime. Sounds great.

 

[ketojenn]

Ok. I have a brooder coop, so this is what works for me. Hopefully I'll get to let them out this weekend and fill a bigger tub for them.

It needs cleaned up, but you can see how the bedding outside the pan is dry.

 

[DucksOhio]

I just had 9 ducks in my brooder the last few weeks and I tried something different this time. I got a cookie sheet with a cooling rack that fit perfectly inside it. I put the waterer on top of the cooling rack and all the water that spilled out just went into the cookie sheet. What's more, the ducks were not able to splash around in the spilled water because the cooling rack kept them above it. I ended up having to change the water and dump out the cookie sheet 2x daily, but the bedding stayed dry. I used a couple inches of pine shavings, and my water dish is one of those inverted mason jars with a saucer underneath (I bought the saucer attachment at the feed store for 3 bucks).

In the past, I have tried towels and pee training pads, but this method worked much better for me. Good luck!

That sounds like a great solution. I’m going to try this.
Did you add bedding to the bottom of the cookie sheet?

 

[DucksOhio]

Ok. I have a brooder coop, so this is what works for me. Hopefully I'll get to let them out this weekend and fill a bigger tub for them.
View attachment 1768371
View attachment 1768372
It needs cleaned up, but you can see how the bedding outside the pan is dry.
View attachment 1768375

I did this method just like you described and it is working great!!

 

[Tannerpauldean]

That sounds like a great solution. I’m going to try this.
Did you add bedding to the bottom of the cookie sheet?

No, I left the cookie sheet as-is. That way it was just water (albeit very dirty water!) that spilled into the cookie sheet and it was easy to dump it out as needed.