Setting Up A Brooder Box For Baby Ducks.

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What Is A Duck Brooder Box?

What is a duck brooder box? Whether you hatch your own eggs in an incubator, order from a hatchery, pick them up from a feed store, or find abandoned ducklings, you will need to have a place to raise them that will keep your ducklings warm and safe.

It’s a nursery if you will. It is where your ducklings will live until they are old enough to move to the big duck coop. A duck brooder is their first home.

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How To Add Ducklings To Your Backyard Homestead.

There are many great things about a homestead, but one of the best, at least in my opinion, is adding new ducklings to your backyard.

If you have a broody duck, you can let her raise the ducklings she hatches. But if you are just starting with ducks or you are buying ducklings then you will need a proper place to raise them that will imitate what the momma duck would provide.

Related>> 10 Best Reasons To Raise Ducks.

Why Do You Need A Duck Brooder?

You walk into the feed store and you hear all the peep peep peep and quack quack quack. That’s one of the hardest things to resist. You walk over and peer into the tubs of little yellow fuzzy fluff and you’ve just got to have some….

But Wait!

Your new ducklings need a home that will provide them with the healthiest start possible. And a good brooder will do that.

Ducklings are not able to maintain their body temperature. Without their adult feathers, a duckling relies on a momma duck to sit over them to keep them warm. They will run out to find food and explore, but they will never venture far from their mother’s side, so they can run back under her wings to get warm. She also helps them find food and water and protects them from predators.

Without a mother duck, you need to provide all this for your baby ducklings. And a duckling brooder will make that job much easier.

Preparing for Ducklings.

Ideally, you should set up your brooder before you ever bring your ducklings home. Assemble all the supplies you need and turn on the heater to warm the area before you pick them up so they will be comfortable and have food and water right from the start.

If you get your ducklings first, you will need to keep them as warm and comfortable as possible until you get it all set up.

Duckling Brooder Box Ideas.

When your ducklings first come home they need a place where they can feel and be safe, warm, and can eat, drink and poop.

Depending on how many ducklings you have, you can use a box, bin, or even a bathtub. But whatever you choose, make sure it is easily cleaned because you will be doing that….a lot.

There are brooder boxes made just for this purpose, * but there are other options you might want to try.

Many people find that using a large Rubbermaid bin * and adding a screened top is the perfect solution for only a few birds. Cut out the middle of the top and put a piece of welded wire over the opening. This works great.

Having two bins makes cleanup easy peasy as you can have one clean and ready to put the ducklings into when the first one needs cleaning.

Another choice could be a stock tank. * It has high enough sides to keep the duckling in without a top if they are in a place that is safe from predators.

Many people like to use the bathtub in a spare bathroom as it is a handy place that you already have and is easily washed out, but it will not keep the ducklings contained for the duration of the time they will need it, and they will likely be hopping (and pooping) all over your bathroom before they are ready to be introduced to the coop.

A wooden box will also work, but it should be painted with a non-toxic paint so the wood does not soak up all the poop and water the ducks will spread all over.

Another choice many people like is a portable doggie pen. * It is easily moved and easy to set up. Besides they are tall enough to keep your ducklings contained.

This can be an excellent way to take your babies outside to get a little sunshine and learn to scratch and eat fresh grass. Make sure they are supervised as the bottom is open and a predator could get to them.

Large fish aquariums or dog crates* with the side opening covered with welded wire are also options.

These are just a few of the receptacles you could use if you want your ducklings to brood inside your home. Look around and see what you might already have.

A cardboard box is not a good choice, as it will soak up all the water and feces and you will need a new box almost every day.

What About An Outside Brooder Box

If you live in a mild area or are brooding in the summer, you may also opt to brood in an area of your existing duck run.

You will still need supplemental heat, but the nice thing is the ducklings will already be acquainted with your existing ducks and acclimated to the outside temperature when they are ready to join the whole flock.

These are some of the brooder ideas we have used. But living in Florida, this was easy for us to do. With colder night temperatures you will need a more enclosed space.

How Big Does Your Brooder Need To Be?

Your brooder needs to provide a safe place for your ducklings to sleep, eat and play until they are fully feathered. When your “teenage” ducks can be moved into their permanent home in the coop.

The brooder size you choose will depend on the number of birds you have.

Your ducklings may be small to start out, but to accommodate your growing ducklings, your brooder needs to provide a minimum of three square feet of space per duckling, and ideally be at least 24 -36 inches high, Or 18 inches high if you have a top on it so they can’t escape.

Extra space in your brooder is always better as growing birds will appreciate the added room.

How Long Do Ducklings Stay In A Brooder?

Most ducklings will be fully feathered by the time they are 7 to 9 weeks old and provided the temperature is not too cold outside and they have been acclimated properly, they can be transitioned into the coop at that time. *

Where To Place The Brooder?

Choosing a good location for your brooder is the first step for setting it up.

There are a few things that you will need to consider when deciding where to put your brooder.

It needs to be able to be kept warm enough for your ducklings and free from drafts.
Protected from predators, pets and small children.
Well contained. (ducklings can jump out of many containers)
Easily cleaned.
Where you will remember to check on them.

Some people like to place the brooder in an unused room with a door that closes. An unused bathroom may be perfect. Just remember, ducklings will do their best to make it a total mess.

A top on your brooder is a really good idea. Don’t underestimate how high they can jump. It has to let air in however, remember they have to breathe.

Some people don’t want their birds in the house. (especially the second time…) It is possible to have your brooder in a barn, shed, or even in the coop itself if it can be kept warm enough. The time of year and the outside temperature will make a difference in choosing the right place for your brooder.

But you will also want the brooder where you won’t forget them. I have seen people put cameras on their ducklings so they can watch them while they are in the house.

Setting Up Your Brooder.

Setting up a duck brooder box properly will ensure that your ducklings will grow up happy and healthy.

It’s not hard to set up your brooder, it just requires a little equipment.

What Should Be In A Duck Brooder?

Now that you have decided where to put your brooder and what to use to contain your ducklings, it’s time to collect the things that need to go in your brooder.

You will need…

Heater – Eco-glow is a great one. *
Thermometer
Water & Container
Starter Feed * & Container
Supplements * Treats
Bedding/Flooring – Non-slip, Easy to clean.

Cackle Hatchery has many of the supplies you will need. *

Do You Have To Use A Heater?

Whether you need a heater depends on the temperature of the room your chicks and ducklings are kept in.

But since most of us don’t have our houses kept at 90°F ( °C), night and day, and can be adjusted down every week, the answer is yes, you need a heater. A newly hatched duckling, without a mother to snuggle under, cannot regulate its own body heat and can die from being too cold.

Heating sources with adjustable heights are ideal *, as they can be moved as the birds grow taller and need less heat. Positioning it above one side of the brooder, leaving an unheated area for the ducklings to retreat to as they get warm, will keep them from overheating.

All Heaters Are Not Created Equal

Every year I hear of someone who burns their house, barn, or coop down from a heater. So, choose wisely and don’t just use the cheapest thing available.

There are two main options to use as a heat source: a heat lamp or a heating plate.

A Heating Plate * Is usually considered the best option for heating a brooder. A heating plate is the best replication of a mother duck. Heating plates have very little risk of causing fires, even when knocked down. The height of the heating plate is adjustable, accommodating the rapid growth of ducklings. Unlike a heat lamp, the temperature within a brooder will not have to be monitored as closely as a heat lamp.

A Heat Lamp* is the easiest to find and the least expensive option. But is the most likely to cause a fire. If you choose to use a heat lamp, make sure you secure it well. Don’t use the clip on the back of it. This will slip off and catch the bedding or brooder on fire. Keep it away from the sides of the brooder, too.

Try to find one with a red bulb. This provides warmth without the brightness that will interrupt their sleep cycles.

To secure your heat lamp, you can use zip ties, twine, or my favorite a ratchet strap. * Of the three, I prefer the ratchet strap because not only is it secure, it is easily adjusted to raise or lower the lamp.

A heat lamp is also harder to regulate the heat so you will need to use a thermometer to make sure that you are not overheating your birds. I did that the first time, you can read about that adventure in Raising Ducks 101 – How To Take Care Of Baby Ducklings.

What Temperature Should A Duck Brooder Be?

Ducklings should start out at 90°F ( C) for the first week. You can then decrease the temperature by 1°F a day or 7°F a week until they are at least 7 weeks old and the temperature in the brooder matches the outside nighttime temperature.

If not keep them in the brooder decreasing the temperature more rapidly until the temperatures match. It may be necessary to move the brooder with the heater outside to achieve this.

Provide Fresh Water

First and foremost, ducklings must have water available at all times, especially when food is available. Ducks use water to help wash down the feed. Without it, they can choke.

Because they take a mouthful of food and dunk their bills into the water, the water will always be a mess. Just accept this right now. It’s going to happen.

Ducks also need water for drinking and head dunking. It needs to be deep enough to clean out their nostrils and wash out their eyes.

For just a few ducklings, a ramekin (or two or three) works well * to put their water in. It has a heavy, squared off bottom making it harder to tip over, (which ducks LOVE to do) and they can get their whole head in it. Just make sure the sides are not too high for them to reach the first week.

They also need a lot of water. Ducklings drink more water than chicks and you don’t want them to run out so supply ample water until you know how much they will consume.

Ducklings need their supply of water to be as clean as possible. Clean the waterer at least daily so the water remains fresh and clean. Ducks love to swim in their water bowls and are notorious for pooping in them and this can lead to illness.

How To Keep The Duck Brooder Dry

Or at least dryer.

There are a few options when it comes to selecting the best duck waterer. But let’s be honest, raising ducklings in a brooder will result in a sloppy, wet, messy space. There is no way around it. However, there are ways to minimize the amount of water being splashed around.

Get a small baking pan, with low sides, the kind many people use to bake cookies, and place it in the brooder. Put the feeder & waterer in the pan. That way all the food and water mess is contained and it doesn’t soak all the bedding.

Also, keep the water on the opposite side from the heat source as that way they have a dry area where they can get warm.

Provide Duckling Food

Ducklings have larger heads than chicks, so some of the feeders and waterers, made for chicks, are hard for them to use as they get older. Using open feeders, such as ramekins, or a heavy planter saucer, allows the ducklings to eat with ease. As they grow you can increase the size of the container by substituting a shallow baking dish such as a glass pie plate.

Baby ducks need to eat quite a bit of nutritious food to grow strong and healthy.

Using a high-quality waterfowl feed * is ideal, but harder to find. You can use chick feed, but you have to add supplements to address the different needs of ducklings.

Do Not use medicated feed. Ducks consume more than chicks do and can over medicate.

Keep the food and water fresh, and make sure it’s available at all times. Changing it at least twice a day is ideal.

Related>> What To Feed Ducklings.

Provide Supplements & Treats

The most important supplement that ALL DUCKLINGS NEED is niacin. Chick feed doesn’t provide the amount of niacin that a duckling needs for growing strong bones.

Niacin is easy to provide for your ducklings. Just buy brewers yeast. * You can get it many places. Chewy is a favorite for providing all kinds of pet and farm animal food. You can get it on Amazon too. * I even found it in tablet form (for dogs) at my local feed store. I just had to take my mortar and pestle and grind it up for my chicks.

Brewer’s yeast often comes combined with garlic which is also a great supplement for ducklings. Garlic helps build strong immune systems.

Chick Grit is not needed if you are only feeding chick starter. But as soon as you introduce any other foods you need to offer it. Keep it in a separate bowl (they only need a little ) and they will consume it free choice.

Ducklings use chick grit (in place of teeth) * to grind up their food so it is very important.

The first week you can start introducing small amounts of treats. This should be no more than 10% of their diet.

Snip up herbs and greens, such as romaine lettuce or dandelion greens, and float them in a bowl of water. Small cut up fruit and soft vegetables (they love peas) and bugs such as mealworms, (you can buy those dried) are all good choices.

You can even raise your own red wiggler worms to feed them and produce great compost for your plants at the same time.

Related>> Start Raising Worms, Naturally.

The Best Brooder Bedding Choices.

You’ll notice quickly that ducklings poop A LOT, and you probably need to change the brooder on a daily basis. So, what should you use as bedding?

There are good choices for brooder bedding, and bad ones. Ideal brooder bedding is non-slippery, easy to clean, absorbent, and comfortable for your ducklings.

Using a sheet of non-slip shelf liner * or an old yoga mat cut to size is ideal so ducklings have a secure place to stand. It is easy to wash, and it protects their delicate legs from injury, which a slippery surface, like a bare bathtub or plastic bin, can cause.

Old towels can be used if you have a good way to clean them. But don’t put them in with your regular laundry.

This can be topped with a layer of bedding that will absorb their mess. Pine shavings are an ideal bedding, * this is probably the easiest to find. Another option is made out of corn cobs. *

These options work better than straw or hay as they are more absorbent.

Newspaper is not a good choice for the brooder box, not only is not very absorbent, but it is slippery. Sand is another bad idea as the baby ducks have been known to eat it and get intestinal blockages. Cedar chips should never be used as they can be toxic to birds.

How to Introduce Your Birds To The Brooder

Once you have your brooder in place and properly prepared, it’s time to introduce your chicks to their new home.

When you first bring your ducklings home, you will want to dip their bills into the water and set them down beside it. That way they will know where the water is. Make sure they are warm enough, and they will find everything else.

How To Provide Outside Time

Everything benefits from a little fresh air and sunshine. Starting after the first week, on nice days when it’s warm enough, a little time outside on fresh grass, in the sunshine is a great thing.

It will help build their immune systems and acclimate them to life outside.

A puppy playpen or a chick corral works great for this. *

The more time outside pooping and digging in the dirt is less time making a mess in their brooder.

Just remember, this will probably not be a predator proof confinement and everything likes to eat ducklings, from hawks to neighborhood dogs and cats. So, make sure you only use this when you can stay and keep an eye on them.

You can run an extension cord and use your heat source to make sure your ducklings stay warm enough.

This is a good way to start acclimating them to the possible cooler temperatures they will encounter when they are transitioned to the coop.

How To Provide Swim Time

First, I want to say, swim time is not necessary for a duckling, but done properly it can be fun for them and very enjoyable for you too.

Ducklings are not waterproofed when they are first hatched. A mother duck usually provides the oils that help to make them more waterproof.

That doesn’t mean that they can’t go in the water, it just means that they can easily drown if the water is too deep and/or they can’t get out.

And they can get chilled easily, so when they are finished swimming, dry them off and put them under their heat source to warm up.

Two easy ways to provide swim time is in the bathtub (if you are not using it for their brooder). Or in a kiddie pool set in the sun to let the water warm up. Don’t fill either more than a couple of inches deep and never leave them unattended. They don’t need to swim for long, just enough for a fun bath.

Related>> Do Ducks Need A Pond?

Transitioning Baby Ducks To Their Coop.

If these are the first birds that will be in your coop, it is easy to set up. Put the food and water in the coop.

Then introduce them early in the day so they have all day to explore. It is best not to free-range them for the first 2 weeks so they get used to what is “home”.

Choose a day when the coming few nights will be warm. The temperature should be over 50°F( C). (If this is not possible, slowly acclimate them to the colder temperatures they will be living in.)

Transitioning Baby Ducks Into An Existing Flock.

If you have other ducks or chickens that your birds are going to be “bunking” with, you will want them to get used to each other, before you put them directly into the coop.

A cage that you can put into the attached run or coop for a few days is a good way for them to get used to each other. This can even start while the ducklings are still in the brooder. This will help ease the transition.

After a few days, you can let them out with the other birds. It’s best to do this at night, because when they wake up, the birds that are already there, are more likely to accept the birds that they woke up with.

It’s a good idea to do this on a day you can watch them, to make sure there are no major adjustment problems.

Most of the time there will be a little “pecking order” being established, but there are times when you must intervene.

Make sure there is plenty of food and water for everyone, so no one is left out.

What Time Of Year Should You Get Ducklings?

Ducklings need warmth until they are fully feathered so you would be wise to get duckling during the warmer months of the year, late Spring through the middle of Summer. But early enough for them to be fully feathered by the time the frosts start.

Where Can I Get Ducklings?

Feed stores are a place to find ducks. They will generally not have a very big selection. Most likely only Pekin Ducks.

Local farms can be a fun place to find ducks. You can also visit and see what situation the ducks are raised in. You may be able to find just the kind you need and have a local place to ask questions.

Hatcheries are another great source for locating many breeds of ducks. If you have a specific type in mind, check out the hatcheries. * Early in the year is the best time to put in your order, ducks are usually only bred once a year.

Cackle Hatchery has ducklings, chicks and many of the supplies you will need. * Check them out.

Conclusion

Setting up your duckling brooder box truly isn’t difficult. Just keep the health and safety of your baby ducks in mind. With a little forethought raising ducks can be a joyful experience. Happy duck raising!

Keep Learning

What To Feed Ducks In Your Backyard.

Duck Eggs vs. Chicken Eggs, Why Duck Eggs Are Better.

10 Reasons Not To Raise Ducks.

How To Get Clean Water For My Ducks.

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