Keep the bedding dry.

[DuckMadness]

Anyone know of an easy way to keep bedding dry in a brooder? My ducks keep spilling their water and I have them in a large dog crate now with shavings but they get super wet super quick. Any suggestions?

 

[eggbert420]

If you want to keep it dry don't put it in with the ducks.

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

If you want to keep it dry don't put it in with the ducks.

Small high bowls are good, and if you can get equine bedding (or sawdust pellets) at tractor supply it will soak up some water

 

[pomnovice]

Anyone know of an easy way to keep bedding dry in a brooder? My ducks keep spilling their water and I have them in a large dog crate now with shavings but they get super wet super quick. Any suggestions?

I've heard of people placing pans, such as baking pans that would be flat and easy for a duckling to get into, underneath their waterer to reduce spillage onto bedding,as pans are easier to clean.

 

[Duck Drover]

If you want to keep it dry don't put it in with the ducks.

Lol! I don't use anything absorbant with ducklings because it is not logical to me so I am with you on this. Ducks and water are inseparable so why mess up a good thing with absorbant bedding that stinks when it gets wet and makes the brooder so difficult to clean, unless you like fighting losing battles and throwing away money?

I use shelf liner over plastic grates so the water goes through to the channels in the plastic tub while the ducklings are high and dry. When they get swim time I rinse out their tub (using the water as fertilizer whenever possible), scrub with dish soap, and set it all up again. I have multiple tubs so I can even have a dry tub waiting for them and then wash out the used tub. It is so quick and easy, and the ducklings are happy and healthy.

 

[Ducks4us]

I dont know how big your kennel is but in my outdoor brooder which is the coop so it has alot of space i used a big deep lid off a rubbermade container and have the water in there and its filled with pine shavings. Working great!
Im trying to add a photo but not working for some reason this morning!

 

[Bokros]

We have had success making a raised platform for their water. We used cut up 2x4s, making a rectangle shape. Then cover it with Hardware cloth. Then we put plastic paint trays under the platform to catch the water. The ducks love playing in their water so we have to empty the paint trays about once a day. But it seems to be working well so far!

 

[Quackmeister]

Oh my goodness, I am going through this right now. I tried the pan idea but they still got extremely messy. Now I have tried a raised platform but my 3 ducklings still find a way to jump in their water. I'm about to move them into a bigger area so I will have to try the lid with bedding idea

 

[eggbert420]

Just put hardware cloth over the water . they can stick their bills in but not their feet.

 

[Ashleymarie529]

Just put hardware cloth over the water . they can stick their bills in but not their feet.

I don't think hardware cloth is big enough... maybe for a week. The idea is good, maybe replace hardware cloth with hexagonal chicken wire with the 1" hexagons.