Teenage Duck Brooder or Pen?

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

OMG, i know, ain't that the truth? i have brooded many a chick before, and it's easier caring for a hundred chicks than one dozen baby ducks. They are messy beyond belief!

 

[wpalmisano]

IMO even bantam sized ducks are going to outgrow that set up pretty quickly. 10 square feet per bird at a bare minimum. They will produce their weight in droppings in a few days. My ducks rotate between a 120 square foot pen and a "duck tractor." That is 6 mallards. They are smelly, needful, loud, always hungry and really messy. I still dig them. I have 14 right now in the main pen and it looks like a bomb went off. It has been raining heavy and they still make a mess.

Be careful with young ducks and water. In the wild, momma puts her oil from her glands on the ducklings. They won't have their own oil for 3-5 weeks, until feathering is underway. They can easily drown, and will chill to death if the temperature drops at night. My mallards don't see a pan or pool of water for 6 weeks, even in summer.

 

[Broodica]

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I'm not sure which set-up you're referring to. I have a 300 square foot run for them once I can get them the heck out there. It's built like Fort Knox against any predators. It will be partially shared with 4 chickens, but the ducks will have their own house and pool area. The chickens have their own coop. They both have another 900 square feet to hang out in outside the run that is still in the fenced in area (it's a huge old dog run 1200 square feet total). I'm nervous about letting them out into our yard, as we have many hawks and bald eagles around. I hope that's enough space! They will be inside their respective houses at night....no use tempting lions and tigers and bears...well coyotes and foxes and racoons, etc.

My girls have been living in our bathtub for the last week or two and are outgrowing it quickly. My dilemma is where to put them until they are feathered out and I feel comfortable having them outside. They are getting persnickety with each other and I know they need more room. I have had them swimming in a warm tub since they were 2 weeks old. They can always stand-up and we watch them like...well...hawks! I've not had a problem, but I understand the dangers. Also had them out for a walk today....finally! Bloody weather.

I love them, but man oh man....like Enchanted said, I could raise a million chicks, but those ducks are a force to be reckoned with!

 

[Broodica]

OK It's official - my ducks have taken over the bathroom. I couldn't handle them in the tub anymore.....I just kept thinking they looked so squished. Moved my chicks into an open area near the kitchen as they are soooooooo clean in comparison and ducks will got their bathroom. I put their food and water in the shower stall and lots of old sheets and towels on the floor. My older Mallard is being really obnoxious, especially to my Rouen who is twice her size. He needs to realize he could just sit on top of her and that would be that! But I'll leave them to figure it out. Now they are going outside to roam!

 

[MrsDuck]

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LOL. How do we get ourselves into these messes?? Oh, yeah. They're cute as heck and great gardeners to boot.