do ducks prefer shallow or deep swimming spots?

[marcelineduckie]

so this is.the pool we have for them now, I.was wanting to get something a little deeper for them to be able to dive and maybe have a little more fun, but they do like taking naps in the water so maybe deeper wouldn't be better? I have a 30 gallon long tote I could probably bring out and fill once in a while but that's a lot of water to empty and fill every other day

maybe I could find something about half that size. what do you have for your ducks to swim in I can't do a pond at the moment so it would have to be something easy and cost efficient, thank you in advance for your replys

 

[taz0812]

We have two plastic ponds that we just dug a hole and buried so it was easy for the ducks to get in and out. And I can't speak for all ducks but for mine they love playing and diving in deep water.

 

[marcelineduckie]

@taz0812 about how many gallons would.you guess it hold, how do you clean it, and how often?

 

[lifeonmarz]

You can buy large metal tubs (farm equitment) that has a hold at the bottom that you can fill and empty. The water gets dirty fast because they poop in it a lot. We have a filtered pond (doesn't filter well if actually at all) which is maybe 75 gallons. They love diving and sleeping. I have two 2 month old ducks that sleep in the pond and they float as they do so don't worry. They also have almost of their feather so even if the water is dirty it's still water. It rolls off their back but still mimics a clean bathtime.

On land as you can see they also sleep on one leg. So cute. The while one LOVES sleeping, rain or shine, in the pone and the tarp. Might be the sound of waterfall. Soothing.
P.S. we use the metal tub for their pen. But it can work great for dual purpose and comes in other sizes. This may work well for you if it's going to be their long term swimming structure.

 

[needlessjunk]

I use a 60 gal stock tank. It it is half as tall as a normal stock tank and most of ducks cannot touch the bottom when it is first full. After the play and splash in it then most can brush the bottom with their feet. Before I got the stock tank we used a kiddie pool and my ducks were happy in that as well and would try to dive. Now they really can dive and do a lap or two before coming back up. I don't think it really makes all that big of a difference for them on how deep it is. My ducks go nuts in the little puddles that form in the yard, cement mixing pans, water bowls. I find the key is fresh water. They will go to any container that has fresh was vs a deeper pond with older water. Mine all will sleep in the water during the day too.

 

[taz0812]

They hold around 300 gallon but u wouldn't need one that big if u didn't want one..we have a pump and we pump out the water on a weekly basis and then refill...because yes it gets nasty quick. my ducks dive under and swim from one side of the pond to the other under water..cutest thing. I think they should have water source that is a least over their heads so they can swim and float

 

[CalBells]

We have an old bathtub that the ducks love, it's deep enough for diving, and the also sleep floating in it. It's half buried with an earthen ramp that they can use to get in and out. But like @needlessjunk says, fresh water is their favorite. We only change the bath once or twice a week but they splash around in their water bowl every morning when it's filled fresh. The water bowl is just a large metal dog bowl, but since it's fresh they wash up in it. Here is the bath and water bowl.