Do ducks need food and water overnight?

[thumper650]

My pekins previous owner deprived them of water So I give my ducks a chicken waterer in a feed bowl. I usually only fill it 1/3 of the way. It keeps the mess down and gives them a sip if they need it. They get buckets during the day.
Without the bowl they just knock it over. One of those times they managed to seperate the base and the top!

 

[Moments]

My adult ducks sleep in the house at night and I do not put food or water in their kennel... 1) the towel they sleep on stays clean and dry, and 2) they poop much less. They are in from around 7pm to 7am. I will usually go in with a bowl of fresh water before we go to bed and let them have a long drink. In the morning they get a scoop of Mazuri on the pond, followed by a mid-morning veggie snack, and another scoop of Mazuri for lunch. They rarely get afternoon treats which keeps the indoor elimination at a minimum. We are all healthy and happy with this system.

I think offering food at night is totally unnecessary for adult ducks and possibly unhealthy. More, if the ducks are housed outside it will attract vermin and predators. Offering water is probably a good idea if they are kept outdoors unattended, so long as it will not drench their bedding.

As others mentioned, ducklings need food and water 24/7.

Something I am dealing right now is what looks like black mold from where their water bucket is. I had water in all night and for the most part it's fine but every now and then they do a messy head dunk and then we added more to the flock which are skiddish and the new ducks would freak and occasionally jump right into the bucket in their panic. Now I gotta figure out how to get the mold off the wood on the bottom side of their pen (single board). I heard a vinegar and water mixture can kill the mold and not hurt the ducks. Suggestions welcome

 

[Moments]

I'm wondering if I put the food and water in a large pan (like one of those deeper cookie sheets) if that would keep the mess down?

It might help some. With mine I noticed them splashing with their head dunking or the new ducks panicking and jumping in it. Now I'm dealing with mold on the pen

 

[Miss Lydia]

Something I am dealing right now is what looks like black mold from where their water bucket is. I had water in all night and for the most part it's fine but every now and then they do a messy head dunk and then we added more to the flock which are skiddish and the new ducks would freak and occasionally jump right into the bucket in their panic. Now I gotta figure out how to get the mold off the wood on the bottom side of their pen (single board). I heard a vinegar and water mixture can kill the mold and not hurt the ducks. Suggestions welcome

Use a scrub brush and white vinegar and see if that does it.

 

[Moments]

My pekins previous owner deprived them of water So I give my ducks a chicken waterer in a feed bowl. I usually only fill it 1/3 of the way. It keeps the mess down and gives them a sip if they need it. They get buckets during the day.
Without the bowl they just knock it over. One of those times they managed to seperate the base and the top!


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This is an awesome idea, mine would totally knock it over so maybe if I

Use a scrub brush and white vinegar and see if that does it.

I only sprayed with a vinegar dilution yesterday because I wasn't able to get to scrubbing, but definitely plan to do that. Will need to take part of the enclosure apart in order to do so, so will need help from the husband I'll use straight vinegar! Thanks!

 

[Moments]

I do water at night too but only if the weather is extremely hot. I tie the bucket to the wall so they can't tip it over and I also put a tray under it to help with the mess. They still make a mess.

I've tied bucket to the wall with a mat under it and behind it that soaks up any water they spill, usually not much because it's a deep bucket but the mat does get a little damp.

 

[Moments]

I switched to no water at night with my flock of adults... Then it got HOT. So I've gone back to providing water at night, and I think my ducks are much happier with it.

Wish mine weren't so messy. Same here with the water at night but even with mats underneath it they still manage to get it everywhere and soak their straw probably within 4 to 6 inches past the mat which goes out I'd say a foot, sometimes two beyond the bucket. I feel bad though when it's hot and they're panting so they get water at night. Now though that it's winter I'm taking it out.... My Pekin girl put up a stink about it

 

[Miss Lydia]

I took a med tote cut a head hole in the lid and placed a heated bucket sitting on 2 bricks down inside. My Runners still had the water all over the shavings and then it froze. I have determined My Runners are slobs my Muscovy look like they took lessons from Emily Post compared to my Runners. Good thing I love them. lol