Automatic waterers for ducks?

[bogielousa]

well, it's HOT down here in Louisiana and my little ducks are drinking up both their waters over night and I'm filling them up several times a day. I'm quite sure some of the problem is they're wasting it but either way they're running out and in this heat I don't want that to happen so.....google search is not coming up with anything but a nipple water option. My little ducks don't seem to like that and I hate to leave them without water long enough for them to figure it out in this heat.

I am reasonably able to build stuff and am willing to consider any other options for some kind of automatic watering system...anybody got any good ideas?

 

[CrzyChicLady]

What kind of ducks are they? I have a baby pool for my little ducks and change the water once a day. Do you have that option?

 

[valley ranch]

buy or construct (parts readily available) a livestock waterer with a float system attached to a garden hose. We have one mounted on the fence and a step for the chickens and small goats to step up onto. I am getting one to put in our duck pond. The unit is enclosed so no chance of little feet or heads getting caught. And whileever it is attached to the hose it automatically opens and fills similarly to a toilet. When the water level drops to a certain point it refills. They are not expensive.

 

[bogielousa]

Quote:
I have a mix. Some Khakis, some Rouen/mallards (don't ask me which is which) a Cayuga and what I think is a magpie.

I do have a baby pool that I change the water in frequently throughout the day. But they're always in it and they poop in it constantly, and the water is always dirty, even as little as an hour later. I was looking for an option to keep clean drinking water available, and one for when they go into their little pen at night.

Or am I thinking wrong that poopy water is probably not the best drinking water for them?

 

[bogielousa]

Quote:
Yes I have this set up for my horses and goats, but again, wouldn't the water get dirty fast? and how would you clean something that big daily? Also this would probably also be too big for their little night time pen

which is the main problem at the moment....

Do you think would it possibly work with just a small bucket?

 

[TLWR]

They don't care if the water has poop in it or not. They are only drinking from the top part of the pool and the poop should be sinking.
Can you try a 5 gallon bucket and if they can't reach that, dig it in a little bit just so they can reach to dunk their heads in.


Mine have 2 water sources... their water container by the food (a low profile storage bin) and their pond. More often than not, they run to the pond, up the steps, get a drink and off they go again. Or if they are closer to the food/.water, they climb under the fence and in to get their "clean" water... until somebody sits in that bin for a bath - which hasn't happened in about 10 days.

 

[bryan99705]

Throw out a kiddy pool and give them a easy way in and out of it. You may have to put them in the first time but they learn fast.

 

[bogielousa]

I just wanted to update to let ya'll know that I set up a livestock waterer in a standard 8 quart horse feed bucket, it just barely fits but it's working perfect!! I just empty it out once a day from the crud they like to put in it and the waterer kicks on and helps rinse the bucket out. Less waste and a constant supply of water. It's not really big enough for them to actually get in to make a mess and it's just tall enough that they don't poop in it (at least for now

). The space still gives them room to dip their heads but with the waterer it's not so wide to get a body in there

I still leave them with their kiddie pool to play with but at least I know they have fresh clean water at all times now! And they're not running out over night! Which was my biggest concern