The Double-Decker Brooder

[cmom]

I use a wire brooder with a tray of shaving in the brooder for the chicks to scratch in and lay in. The poop goes through the wire into some other trays which are under the brooder with pine shaving in them to catch the poop. Easy clean up and the chicks aren't in the poop. There are pictures on my BYC Page.

 

[Wifezilla]

One minor design flaw uncovered...

The lip I left so I could screw the hardware cloth to the bottom of the top tub is collecting water and gunk. I took a nail and poked several drainage holes through the lip near the water bottle and now we have drainage.

Still no stink and all I have done with the shavings is stir them up a couple of times. I will be replacing them this weekend though.

I am rinsing the liner twice a day, but it doesn't take long.

I did get JJ a buddy (I think it is a rouen), so we will see how much more damage that extra duck is going to cause

 

[BeardedChick]

How is the brooder working out with the extra ducks? (didn't I read you got at least one more?)

I cannot believe how fast ducklings grow! My other ducklings are arriving this week and I don't think they will all fit in one small brooder.

 

[Wifezilla]

Yes, it is still working, but I have to rinse off the liner at least 3 times a day. Plus, I gave them yogurt last night before I went to bed. They were happily munching away when I left them. This morning they are CAKED in yogurt, chick starter and bits of broccoli! Guess who is going in to the bath tub ASAP!

LOL

I do think in another week this brooder will be too small. I swear JJ doubles in size overnight and Bungie is trying hard to catch up

 

[BeardedChick]

Oooh, the six Campbells arrived today from Ideal, along with 10 packing peanut roosters! OMG!! I freecycled the roosters and one of our friends saw the ad and wanted them. They mentioned that they had just one very lonely duck, so I gifted them my two 10 day old runner ducks, also.

That will make brooding much simpler.

One of the ducklings is crested! How cuuuute!

 

[Wifezilla]

Awwww....it looks like it is having a bad hair day!

 

[BeardedChick]

WZ, how are your ducklings, and where the heck are the pictures?

I've got to build a different brooder.

I think I can do something similar to your design by taking the pan out of my dog crate, lining the crate bottom with mesh, then setting the crate up on something so I can still put the pan underneath it and therefore easily change it.

These cute 'lil ducks are a mess!

I am going to sell a couple of the extra Khaki ducklings and try to get down to 3-4 ducklings. I think that'll be enough for now!

 

[Wifezilla]

My duckies are doing fine. I am up to rinsing off the pad 4 times a day. The have been getting a little outside time during the warm afternoons and they also get a bath every day. They fling their heads so much when they eat, the keep coating each other with gunk!

More pics when I remember to grab my camera from work. Here is one from last week...

 

[BeardedChick]

That Campbell looks huge! Do you think it's a drake? And wow, it looks so clean.

I did get wire installed on the bottom of the dog crate, I thought maybe I'd make an 'area rug' pad and leave the rest with the wire.

1/4" hardware cloth should be OK for duckling feet, right?

 

[Wifezilla]

I don't know if it is a drake or a hen yet. Some say you can go by bill color. If so, this is a girl.

It blows my mind how fast these things grow.

Not sure about the wire. I would worry about bumble foot. That's why I am using the shelf liner stuff.