Is there a way to keep a duck brooder dryer?

[Wifezilla]

This has been working quite well over the last week....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=143262

 

[raindrop]

I used milk jugs with holes cut out. As they grew, I replaced got a new jug and cut the hole higher so they had to reach up and in, but could still rinse their nostrils. They did not eat quickly at first, but as they grew they gulped food and then would run to the water to swallow.

 

[AHappychick]

someone else placed their waterer on a stand with cinderblocks and a mesh wire top to keep the water to a minimum it was cool i cant ind the thread though...

I use a nipple like those avian things that come up on the top of the ad part of byc, you can get the nipples from farm supply shop and attatch to water bottle or jug. I use cheese cloth to keep the top from getting dirt in it but allows air for dringing.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Wood pellet bedding...seriously, you won't be dissapointed!! Also use the milk jug waterers, this is what I did, and there was very little stink. The sand is a good idea as well, the babies can eat that and it won't hurt them a bit.

 

[chickenlisa]

Quote:
Do you have any pics showing how to do this? I'm sorry, I don't get it. Do you leave the water bottles in their brooder box? Is it hung up for them? I know- I'm sounding dumb now. Please send inof on how to do this- I just put a big plastic salad container (rectangular about 10" X 6"- the kind Sam's club sells their salad greens in) full of water in for them. I put the lid on it and cut 2 holes in it about 2" diameter...They are soaking their pine shavings nearly everyday and it stinks so much! They still have their chick waterer in there too and it looks uncomfortable for them to reach way down to drink like that.
Lisa

 

[drpeeps2014]

Has anyone tried putting a food AND water dish inside the milk jug? Seems like that would prevent the running back and forth to get the food wet and condense the mess just to one area.

 

[Amiga]

I found that having something to catch the water, and separating the bedding if possible would work.

For example,

a small waterer on a two piece broiler pan with a washcloth worked well

a three gallon waterer in a 4 inch tall bucket (propped up on clean empty cat food cans

a two gallon soup pot in the bottom of a plastic dog crate with sawdust.

Recently someone reported success using a wire-bottomed crate with a towel across the top to reduce abrasion. The water evaporates quickly and the towel is easily changed.

 

[NYRIR]

We use a wooden frame covered in hardware cloth that fits precisely over a small cat pan.The waterer sits on top of that so any spills go into the pan....pick up the wire frame...dump the pan...wala! the rest of the brooder stays dry.