Bath tub brooding

[Enigmius]

So as I stated before, my ducklings will arrive in a week and a couple of days, and I have been setting up my brooder in the meantime.
I got the long and tall rubber/plastic tub, the heat plate for warmth, the pine shavings bedding, the water and feed containers, and the feed. I set everything up last weekend, but this morning I walked into my guest bathroom and glanced over at my clawfoot tub and thought, "why not use that instead".

So now I'm wondering, if I use my old clawfoot tube, putting the heat plate at the opposite end of from the water spout, do I even need to use the bedding at all? It would certainly make cleaning a lot easier. My clawfoot tub has a handheld sprayer which could be used to spray the whole thing down twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening. Of course I would remove the heatplate when hosing it down and wipe it down dry before replace the heatplate. The ducklings could be moved into the plastic tub(with the pine bedding) temporarily whilst cleaning the tub.

What do you think?

 

[Enigmius]

To the left you can make out my plastic brooder tub.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I love that tub. lol

Okay too slippery with out something under their feet like towels or the rubber shelf liners both that can be washed and reused but that tub would make a nice brooder. Not sure how long you can keep them in it though ducklings grow fast. Of course these won't be Pekins so they will have a little one wiggle room before they have to go to a bigger brooder.

 

[DrHawkeye07]

We started our ducklings in a tub. It worked well for those first few days to make sure everyone got a good start. Had a similar set up with a heat plate on the opposite end of the drain, and the waterer at the drain. We used towels for bedding. The constant pooping quickly led to them being moved to a more permanent brooder. We were changing out the towels multiple times a day.

 

[Enigmius]

I could probably get some non-slip vinyl bath mats, you know the kind with the suction cups underneath, at the dollar store. Those would be a lot easier to clean off than towels I would assume. But you’re right, I didn’t think about their growth rate. I am also worried about the long plastic tub. The plastic tub is only 38 inches long(floor), 16 inches wide(floor), and 19 inches tall. I put floor measurements because it widens in length and width a bit as you move up from the floor.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What's you tub measurements?

@Soon2BChixMom
@onaharley both had really cool setups for their duckling when they brooded them.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I set up a kiddie pool with shavings and welded wire around the outside for when they started getting more agile.
I don't think the tub would work long term as it gets poopy and smelly right quick.
So, one - what are your plans after they are done with the brooder?
Two - what are your day time and night time temps right now?
Good for you for getting everything in order before you get them.
Oh and how many ducklings?

 

[lomine]

On my first set of ducklings (had 4) I started with the largest rubbermaid like tote I could find. At 1 month old they outgrew it so I moved them to the tub. They no longer needed heat (it was August so plenty warm for them) so I didn't have to deal with that aspect. I had one of those no slip mats on one end and piddle pads on the other. I think mats all across would work just fine. It worked really well and was easy to clean.

 

[Enigmius]

I could probably get some non-slip pads at the dollar store. But you’re right, I didn’t think about their growth rate. Aren’t runners about 1/2 full grown size in two weeks or something? I know

What's you tub measurements?

@Soon2BChixMom
@onaharley both had really cool setups for their duckling when they brooded them.

Sorry, I’m at work. I’ll get you the measurements of the bath tub when I get home.

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree that the tub will be slippery. Once they are a few weeks old it will be fine, but when they are little and growing quickly, they are clumsy and have weak legs. I'm not sure how many ducklings you are getting, but when they start to outgrow the bathtub you can split them up a bit and put some in the other container you bought for a brooder. By then then they won't need much (if any) heat. You can switch which ones are together different days so you don't have re-integration problems later.