Clean Waterer solution?

[Sally PB]

I found that nipple waterers stayed cleaner because they have a lid over them. (Make sure it isn't air tight, or the water won't flow.) I put a couple tablespoons of kombucha tea (per gallon) in the water, and had no issues with slime. I emptied, cleaned, and refilled them every 2-3 days.

If you don't have kombucha, a bit of cider vinegar will work. The acidity slows down the slime growth. I like the kombucha for the probiotics in it.

 

[ladybrasa]

I put a couple tablespoons of kombucha tea (per gallon) in the water, and had no issues with slime.

Now that’s an interesting thought too!

 

[indianaducks]

I just rinse out and refill their waterer as needed. They mostly drink out of their swimming pools which get dirty within 10 minutes if cleaning and refilling with clean clear water. So I don’t worry much anymore

 

[Suprasoup]

I find having multiple water dishes works well. When one gets grungy I’ll clean it and then let it dry in the sun for several days before putting It back into the rotation. This has worked well for the bunnies who go through their 2 gallon water dishes every 3-4 days. The SPOILED ducks have a self replenishing water bucket so I only swap out buckets when the mood strikes me.

 

[KaleIAm]

I find having multiple water dishes works well. When one gets grungy I’ll clean it and then let it dry in the sun for several days before putting It back into the rotation. This has worked well for the bunnies who go through their 2 gallon water dishes every 3-4 days. The SPOILED ducks have a self replenishing water bucket so I only swap out buckets when the mood strikes me.

Self replenishing? How? Tell me more?

 

[Suprasoup]

The magic is the duck pen which is pond lined and has a bottom drain that drains water to a below ground level catch basin (sump). A water pump in the sump pumps water to the ducks water bucket. The excess flows back into the sump via the duck pens bottom drain. That’s the basics. There are settling tanks and mechanical filters pads in the sump to help clean the water ( mainly for the Duck Pond and Koi pond which also share the sump).

The external pump outlet is tee’d off into four each with a ball valveto control flow. One outlet goes to the ducks water bucket. One goes to the duck pond. One goes to the koi pond. And one is for the bunnies water dish (still haven’t finished the bunnies self waterer). All water gravity flows to the sump via bottom drains.


Water goes to the bucket on the right and exits to the sump via a pbottom drain in their pen. The pipe is to the left of the brown Indian Runner (Chewie!!)


All water flows to the sump which is below the wooden platform where the water is filtered And pumped back to the various places.


I rely mainly on the plants in the Duck pond and Koi ponds stream to keep the water fresh.


I love the system, it has worked through all seasons. In the summer I turn up the flow so that it keeps the pea gravel cool for the ducks. In the winter I also increase the flow so that the pipes don’t freeze.

I bet a smaller system with a 55 gallon barrel and a below water bucket catchment would work as well. But I think if you had a pond some creative piping would accomplish the same goals.

edit: check out my coop to get a better overview of the whole setup.

 

[MadamContrary]

I find having multiple water dishes works well. When one gets grungy I’ll clean it and then let it dry in the sun for several days before putting It back into the rotation. This has worked well for the bunnies who go through their 2 gallon water dishes every 3-4 days. The SPOILED ducks have a self replenishing water bucket so I only swap out buckets when the mood strikes me.

I use multiple waterers as well and rotation so they can dry fully, no scrubbing lol. We have major algae issues here in South Texas. I add a splash of apple cider vinegar once a week, used to use it more but I got concerned about calcium uptake for my laying hens, still want to give them probiotic boosts. I still use it frequently for the quail because it makes them less stinky. Definitely going to look into those other cleaners.

I've been dreaming of a koi pond set up like that for years too!!!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

The magic is the duck pen which is pond lined and has a bottom drain that drains water to a below ground level catch basin (sump). A water pump in the sump pumps water to the ducks water bucket. The excess flows back into the sump via the duck pens bottom drain. That’s the basics. There are settling tanks and mechanical filters pads in the sump to help clean the water ( mainly for the Duck Pond and Koi pond which also share the sump).

The external pump outlet is tee’d off into four each with a ball valveto control flow. One outlet goes to the ducks water bucket. One goes to the duck pond. One goes to the koi pond. And one is for the bunnies water dish (still haven’t finished the bunnies self waterer). All water gravity flows to the sump via bottom drains.
View attachment 2747644

Water goes to the bucket on the right and exits to the sump via a pbottom drain in their pen. The pipe is to the left of the brown Indian Runner (Chewie!!)
View attachment 2747640

All water flows to the sump which is below the wooden platform where the water is filtered And pumped back to the various places.
View attachment 2747653

I rely mainly on the plants in the Duck pond and Koi ponds stream to keep the water fresh.
View attachment 2747658

I love the system, it has worked through all seasons. In the summer I turn up the flow so that it keeps the pea gravel cool for the ducks. In the winter I also increase the flow so that the pipes don’t freeze.

I bet a smaller system with a 55 gallon barrel and a below water bucket catchment would work as well. But I think if you had a pond some creative piping would accomplish the same goals.

edit: check out my coop to get a better overview of the whole setup.

How do your ducks feet do with the river rock? I love the look of your set up especially with the pretty river rock everywhere and just everything about it! I took a screenshot to show my husband and now he hates me because this is definitely going to be our next project

 

[KaleIAm]

The magic is the duck pen which is pond lined and has a bottom drain that drains water to a below ground level catch basin (sump). A water pump in the sump pumps water to the ducks water bucket. The excess flows back into the sump via the duck pens bottom drain. That’s the basics. There are settling tanks and mechanical filters pads in the sump to help clean the water ( mainly for the Duck Pond and Koi pond which also share the sump).

The external pump outlet is tee’d off into four each with a ball valveto control flow. One outlet goes to the ducks water bucket. One goes to the duck pond. One goes to the koi pond. And one is for the bunnies water dish (still haven’t finished the bunnies self waterer). All water gravity flows to the sump via bottom drains.
View attachment 2747644

Water goes to the bucket on the right and exits to the sump via a pbottom drain in their pen. The pipe is to the left of the brown Indian Runner (Chewie!!)
View attachment 2747640

All water flows to the sump which is below the wooden platform where the water is filtered And pumped back to the various places.
View attachment 2747653

I rely mainly on the plants in the Duck pond and Koi ponds stream to keep the water fresh.
View attachment 2747658

I love the system, it has worked through all seasons. In the summer I turn up the flow so that it keeps the pea gravel cool for the ducks. In the winter I also increase the flow so that the pipes don’t freeze.

I bet a smaller system with a 55 gallon barrel and a below water bucket catchment would work as well. But I think if you had a pond some creative piping would accomplish the same goals.

edit: check out my coop to get a better overview of the whole setup.

It looks beautiful!! Thank you!

I used to have a pretty cool set up with pea gravel, but my duck were getting bumblefoot all the time, so my vet told me to get rid of it. I miss the pea gravel.

 

[Suprasoup]

How do your ducks feet do with the river rock? I love the look of your set up especially with the pretty river rock everywhere and just everything about it! I took a screenshot to show my husband and now he hates me because this is definitely going to be our next project

Thx! My honey do list was literally. 1. It had to be pretty! 2. It can’t smell AT ALL! So I feel your husbands pain I haven’t had any foot issues with pea gravel. When in their pen they spend most of their time lazing away in the duck pond. They also have a second floor which is level with the duck pond that is pond lined as well. they spend equal time on the pea gravel and the pond lined floor.

I’ve actually been thinking of removing the pea gravel outside their pen and putting in grass instead. I currently have a small patch of grass where the bunnies hang out. Between the bunnies and the ducks they’ve kept it mowed quite nicely. I haven’t had to use the push mower in over a year. Either would be/is idyllic.

It looks beautiful!! Thank you!

I used to have a pretty cool set up with pea gravel, but my duck were getting bumblefoot all the time, so my vet told me to get rid of it. I miss the pea gravel.

I was worried about that as well. I actually bought a ton of sand just in case the pea gravel didn’t work out. The setup would work with either with minor modifications. So far I have not had any problems. What kind of duck did you have?