[Bionic]

My ducks rush out in the mornings and the first thing they want is a drink of water so I am wondering if people put water in when they shut theirs in at night.


If you do put water in what do you put it in? I find that my ducks are so clumsy that they knock everything over.

[Clansman]

I use an old basin for inside at night time.

Does your shed have a window or artificial lighting?

[Bionic]

It's a little duck house with a very small window

[Backinwellies]

No water inside ... would have a duck house pool otherwise!

[NicandChic]

Ours are in a large shed with a small plastic tub with fresh water each night, it's always filthy by morning, ours are fed at night when put to bed so we always have water available while eating.
You could try a small chicken water feeder, ours used them as ducklings no problem.

[mentalmilly]

We use a plastic tub with the lid on but a square cut out of the side for them to get their heads in for a drink.  This means they cant wash in it and it wont get spread all over the hut at night.  works quite well but gets mucky and is cleaned and filled up to 2 - 3 inches every day

[Womble]

We don't give ours water at night because of the mess, and it doesn't seem to be a problem. We don't feed them in the house though either, as if they had food, they'd definitely also need water.

[SophieLeeds]

We had this problem of 'bedroom-swimming pools' too and found when we installed some nipple drinkers for the chickens that the ducks could also drink from these, with not a drop spilled!

If you can get mains water to your duck shed, then the rest of a nippled drinker kit is around £10

HTH

[Bionic]

We use a plastic tub with the lid on but a square cut out of the side for them to get their heads in for a drink.  This means they cant wash in it and it wont get spread all over the hut at night.  works quite well but gets mucky and is cleaned and filled up to 2 - 3 inches every day

I like this idea. I going out now to check my stores for something suitable 

[HesterF]

I don't put any water or food in with them either. They're thirsty when they come out but not enough to face the hassle of water in the shed!

[hughesy]

So in the winter the ducks go without water for around 16 hours a day because you don't like them getting the floor wet? Come on.

[HesterF]

Yes, and they're healthy and happy - along with the hens and geese who also go that long for a few days each year.

[HesterF]

I should also add that I put my children into bed for twelve hours a night (all year round) with neither food nor water and they're all healthy and happy (and enormous) too 

[roddycm]

Yeah They really don't need water at night, damp bedding is not good for anyone! It can cause health problems.

[Backinwellies]

So in the winter the ducks go without water for around 16 hours a day because you don't like them getting the floor wet? Come on.

they do not need water over night .... in the wild they would sleep all the dark hours. ... same as all birds (apart from nocturnals .............before someone says it!)