Water system

[AShelDuck1]

I need a water system that doesn't drench my brooder in a hour after use. I have to clean it out SO MUCH. It's crazy.

I have a bucket with water cups and they still manage to get water EVERY WHERE. Someone has to have invented a mess free system that also allows the baby chicks that are with them drink too

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Maybe @Miss Lydia or @Canadian Wind have some ideas? I just didnt brood ducks and chicks together because I knew they'd be muddy

 

[AShelDuck1]

Maybe @Miss Lydia or @Canadian Wind have some ideas? I just didnt brood ducks and chicks together because I knew they'd be muddy

Even if I have to start brooding and incubating separate I still need a system that doesn't need a daily clean out. You know? They are a mess

 

[Canadian Wind]

They are! Ducklings are probably the messiest thing around! Honestly, letting the mother brood them is probably the best idea. BUT, since that's not an option, I know Miss Lydia has a trick that works well:

Place a tray with raised sides down, and put the water and food dishes on this tray with a puppy pad or a bit of shavings. For the water dish, use a lidded container that you cut holes in so the ducklings can dunk their heads in but not make as much of a mess.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you have more than 4 duckling you should have more than one of these.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I used a plastic container with lid and holes cut in the lid too. I put it on a cookie sheet to catch any spills but when we had ducklings, I had to do cleanings multiple times a day to minimize wetness and smell. It was A LOT of work. As the ducklings grew, I had to use larger and larger containers. I was so happy when they finally graduated to going outside. It's so much easier with chicks/chickens. The ducks I have currently...I got as adults. I love ducklings but they are super messy.

 

[AShelDuck1]

I know this is not my first time I think this is number four of brooding and I still haven't perfected it!

But I'm wanting to brood more often and think about selling so I'm like ... This has to stop.

I tried that with a container and one got stuck inside!!! Lol they are crazy. When can they go outside?! It's not soon enough! When they go outside I stop leaving water in the brooder.

But alas, I'm not there yet. It feels too far away

I have a old dog crate tray and I was thinking of adding hardware cloth so the water falls through and then no mess? I just don't know how to do that

 

[AShelDuck1]

They are! Ducklings are probably the messiest thing around! Honestly, letting the mother brood them is probably the best idea. BUT, since that's not an option, I know Miss Lydia has a trick that works well:

Place a tray with raised sides down, and put the water and food dishes on this tray with a puppy pad or a bit of shavings. For the water dish, use a lidded container that you cut holes in so the ducklings can dunk their heads in but not make as much of a mess.

I think that's why they are so much cuter so you can get over what a mess they are.