How to keep your brooder clean?

[Duck Drover]

Also what do you use for there feed and water containers?
I am thinking about using the bottom part of am Egg cartoon for the feed and grit, then cutting a few hols in a plastic container at the height of the ducklings head So they can drink but can't get in.

I use glass dishes that I get in two sizes. I pick them up second hand so I am not sure if they were made for food or candles originally but they have a wide base so they are impossible to tip.

I wet their food in one and put clean water in the other on the other side of the narrow part of the tub to confine the eating mess to one end of the tub away from their sleeping area. The feed is Flock Raiser crumbles that is wet down to a mash consistency. I use any left over water they got food in while drinking and cleaning their bills to wet the dry crumbles for their next batch of food.

I do feed and water several times a day so when their food is gone I make a new batch and freshen their water. I don't mix big enough batches of feed that it will get moldy and they don't poop in the dishes because the dishes are a little higher than their butts. They don't really step in the food or water much because the dishes are in the corners of the tubs and the dishes are big enough to get their bills in to scoop food and water but not big enough for bathing. I have seen some PVC feeders and waterers I like the design of but they would not be very easy to keep clean. I don't use disposable anything because I reuse my set-up year after year.

I give the ducklings supervised swim time for bathing and exercise. I usually have a clean tub ready when they are done but sometimes if all the tubs are in use I clean the tub and they go back in the same tub. They are easy to clean out in the bathtub with our handheld shower attachment. The glass dishes are also easy to clean and they can go in the dishwasher to sanitize them. I use antibacterial dish soap and a scrub brush to sanitize the plastic tubs. People who use bedding for ducks so often complain about how messy they are but ducks are very clean if you let them have regular access to water with nothing that will get soggy and stink.

I spend time with my babies to socialize them so I don't have them in a dirty environment and leave them without care for days. Ducklings do take regular care because they are babies. Once they go outside they are more on their own but as babies they need more care. I love our ducks so I enjoy spending time taking care of them. I do not want them to imprint on me because I want them to be ducks but I do socialize them so they know my voice and are calm around people (until we get out the net, lol).

 

[neetabeamie]

That is fine wonderful invitation! Thank you

Quick question. Dose having the duckling s imprint on you prevent them from being ducks?
What did you mean by that?

 

[Duck Drover]

That is fine wonderful invitation! Thank you

Quick question. Dose having the duckling s imprint on you prevent them from being ducks?
What did you mean by that?

Having imprinted ducks requires 24/7 dedication or they become neurotic. Think of a child with separation anxiety. You can never be out of the duck's sight or it will cry non-stop. Eventually they will become depressed and fail to thrive. I do not want ducks so dependent on me that they can not be free to live as ducks.

 

[neetabeamie]

Having imprinted ducks requires 24/7 dedication or they become neurotic. Think of a child with separation anxiety. You can never be out of the duck's sight or it will cry non-stop. Eventually they will become depressed and fail to thrive. I do not want ducks so dependent on me that they can not be free to live as ducks.

That makes sense, well this happen even if they have other ducks around them? I can Donnelly see it happening if you only have one duck.
How much interaction is too much?
I Ann getting fore ducks fit me and my kids.
I would like them to be comfortable around us and have a healthy bond but not imprint I guess.

 

[Duck Drover]

That makes sense, well this happen even if they have other ducks around them? I can Donnelly see it happening if you only have one duck.
How much interaction is too much?
I Ann getting fore ducks fit me and my kids.
I would like them to be comfortable around us and have a healthy bond but not imprint I guess.

I sell ducklings with a four minimum do thete will statistically be 2 hens and 2 drakes. As long as they have duck companions and you are not getting hatchlings they will be fine. It is the single ducklings without hatchmates that suffer the most from separation trauma so as long as they have companions they will be happy to socialize with you and still be secure in their attachments.

I try not to let my ducks associate me with food or they would follow me around the yard quacking their heads off asking me for treats and I can't have that much noise every time I go outside. If the feeder is empty they will start a racket when they hear the gate so we keep the feeders full at all times for them and they always have plenty of water available. Ducks are smart and they will train people to get what they want, even attention, lol.

 

[neetabeamie]

I sell ducklings with a four minimum do thete will statistically be 2 hens and 2 drakes. As long as they have duck companions and you are not getting hatchlings they will be fine. It is the single ducklings without hatchmates that suffer the most from separation trauma so as long as they have companions they will be happy to socialize with you and still be secure in their attachments.

I try not to let my ducks associate me with food or they would follow me around the yard quacking their heads off asking me for treats and I can't have that much noise every time I go outside. If the feeder is empty they will start a racket when they hear the gate so we keep the feeders full at all times for them and they always have plenty of water available. Ducks are smart and they will train people to get what they want, even attention, lol.

First I just wanted to say thank you for all your fantastic insights and advise. You definitely know what you are doing and I appreciate the time you take to answer my many many questions.
I am glad that my Ducklings will be fine with there companions I was worried about that.
What do you mean by hatchlings? I am getting three day old ducklings. They are being sent to me in the mall. Is this considerd a hatchling?
Or did you mean like right after they hatch?

 

[neetabeamie]

Also, I have read that it is good to not feed the ducks too much for good Egg production.
The book I read suggests twice a day. How do you prevent them from associateing you with foodWhen they are fed this way? Or do you recommend feeding them like chickens where the food is always there?
I am so excited about getting my ducks, thank you for helping me feel so much more prepared.

 

[Duck Drover]

First I just wanted to say thank you for all your fantastic insights and advise. You definitely know what you are doing and I appreciate the time you take to answer my many many questions.
I am glad that my Ducklings will be fine with there companions I was worried about that.
What do you mean by hatchlings? I am getting three day old ducklings. They are being sent to me in the mall. Is this considerd a hatchling?
Or did you mean like right after they hatch?

I use hatchling for a baby that has just hatched and survives on the yolk it absorbed just before hatching. It is during this period baby birds are shipped because they do not need food and water during shipping, only heat. They are up to 3 days old and still have their egg tooth. This is the critical period for imprinting so they become strongly attached to their hatchmates. Separation is stressful for them at this stage of development so they do best with duck companions as they learn survival skills to live outside the egg. They are like newborn babies that cry if they are left alone.

 

[neetabeamie]

I use hatchling for a baby that has just hatched and survives on the yolk it absorbed just before hatching. It is during this period baby birds are shipped because they do not need food and water during shipping, only heat. They are up to 3 days old and still have their egg tooth. This is the critical period for imprinting so they become strongly attached to their hatchmates. Separation is stressful for them at this stage of development so they do best with duck companions as they learn survival skills to live outside the egg. They are like newborn babies that cry if they are left alone.

I am getting my 4 ducklings out of an order of 10. Will mine be ok when they are separated from the other 6?
A better question because they are going to be separated. How can I help them adjust?

 

[Duck Drover]

I am getting my 4 ducklings out of an order of 10. Will mine be ok when they are separated from the other 6?
A better question because they are going to be separated. How can I help them adjust?

They will be fine because they will still have each other. Ducks are very social so they need to be bonded with other ducks. I sell my ducklings in groups of four or more. When they are shipped (I don't ship yet) they need to be in a group of ten to stay warm enough in the shipping box.