Does anyone have ducks who will drink from nipple or cup automatic waterers?

carolina91

Chirping
6 Years
Jul 5, 2013
34
0
75
Every day when I get home from work, my ducklings are completely out of water. We give them as much as they will drink in the morning and then fill the container up again before we leave. From the way they fuss when we come in the door, you would think the world is ending. I know they are okay, but would like to be able for them to have constant water that they cannot distribute everywhere. I thought I saw a post where someone had ducks that would drink from an automatic waterer, but cannot find it now. Does anyone have ducks who will drink from these, or know someone who uses them for ducks?
 
I used a nipple system for my four ducklings and six chicks that I raised last year. Everyone took right to the waterer, and it was much better than the dishes that the ducks kept emptying, spilling, or playing in. But ducks will always find a way to be messy and mine did indeed play with the nipples and let more water drip than was necessary. I had to keep a small pan under the bottle, and that had to be changed a few times each day (it would end up a stinky, marshy, food/water/poop/shavings mess). I used two Juicy Juice bottles emptied & washed, with a nipple installed in the cap of each and small holes drilled at the top for hanging and to let air in the bottle (without an air intake, the water won't drip out like it should).

All in all, I thought the system was worth it and it allowed me to go almost a full day without the babies running out of water, but there simply isn't any way to keep ducks clean or dry. It's not a perfect system. And the ducks still need access to a deep bowl or something to clean out their sinuses. My solution was simply daily swim time in the bathtub instead of a bowl in the brooder.
 
No offense, but a nipple water system for a duck is a bad idea. They need to be able to dip their heads to help clean their eyes and rinse out their nostrils, plus they really need to be able to get as much water as they need to wash down food.

A better suggestion is to fashion a waterer that limits how much of their body can fit into it. Elevate it so they can reach with their heads and not climb in, or use something that sections of drinking space (like many feeders do).

How old are your ducks and how many? How large is your waterer? I have 26 per brooder at 5 days old that use a gallon waterer. I change it more frequently than they go through it but i'd wager a full one would hold them most, if not all, a work day.
 
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Go to the dollar store/Walmart/etc and pick up a couple of cheap Tupperware type, 2 quart containers. I think I got these 2/$3.

Cut a few holes in the top - the holes should only be big enough to get their heads into - NOT climb into. Snap on the top and fill with water.....works like a charm!

Big enough to last my 3 Welsh Harlequins all work day, they can wash their eyes and clear their nares without a huge mess.

As the Littles' got bigger, I just enlarged the holes.

Now that they are full grown, we still use the waterers to this day, though now they are for having water when outside to help wash the bugs and weeds down without a muddy mess being made.

Note: I added a piece of plastic tube to the top to help prevent them from climbing on it.

Hope that helps!

Dan
 
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I second that nipple waterers are a bad idea. Ducks need to be able to flush out their eyes and nares, even from a young age. I know it's annoying having to refill their water troughs 2-3 times a day, but, well...that's just a standard part of duck ownership. :p

As for you Dan, I assume your birds also have access to bathing water when outdoors, correct...?
 
I second that nipple waterers are a bad idea. Ducks need to be able to flush out their eyes and nares, even from a young age. I know it's annoying having to refill their water troughs 2-3 times a day, but, well...that's just a standard part of duck ownership. :p

As for you Dan, I assume your birds also have access to bathing water when outdoors, correct...?

Yes, Amykins.....a 350 gallon in-ground duck pool, with a 150 gallon hydroponic Bio filter and 600gph pump..... all for them!




Cheers'

Dan
 
Yes, Amykins.....a 350 gallon in-ground duck pool, with a 150 gallon hydroponic Bio filter and 600gph pump..... all for them!




Cheers'

Dan


Welp, then I certainly don't have any gripes! :p I friggin' LOVE that cool barrel fountain setup, too! It looks so pretty! I wish I were better at DIY, this is the stuff I dream of having on my own property...
 
Thanks Amykins!

Actually, it's a pretty easy setup. The tanks are Rubbermaid stock tanks from the local TSC, the pump and filter material is from Amazon, and the 'barrels' are actually plastic plant pots from Lowes, turned on their sides and mounted to a frame made of of PVC pipes.

For predator protection in the off season when there is less available around for the predators to hunt (thus they are more bold than usual), I made another frame from PVC pipe (easy to work with, and cheap to buy), and covered it with a mesh tarp from Harbor Freight.....it did take several weeks to complete it all.

Thanks again - I love the look too!


700
 
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Thanks so much everyone. I appreciate all of the ideas. I only have a few ducklings (2 in the house and 2 in an outside brooder pen) that I am worried about. I will try the container set up for those. Walmart here I come!

We have chickens, ducks and geese. We are planning on putting in an automatic drinking cup system in our hoop houses and also outside for the chickens. It is good to know that the ducks can drink out of them if necessary. We have kiddie pools inside our fenced areas as well as outside in the yard; I'm more concerned about the ducks that don't have access to the pools.
 
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