Do water nipples work for ducks?

[louborges]

We all know that ducklings are very messy with water, That is their nature, But I'm hoping to find something that will provide them water for a long time, the standard waterer the screw on cap type gets empty so quickly that I have to keep filling it and I'm not home most of the time to keep filling it,

 

[Jenbirdee]

We all know that ducklings are very messy with water, That is their nature, But I'm hoping to find something that will provide them water for a long time, the standard waterer the screw on cap type gets empty so quickly that I have to keep filling it and I'm not home most of the time to keep filling it,

ducklings and adult ducks need water deep enough to dunk their whole face into it , its a need, if they dont have it they cant clear out thier nares (nostrils) and their eyes.
Can you post a picture of your set up showing what kind of waterer you are using now?

 

[Jenbirdee]

Ducks don't need to have access to dunking water at all times. I use nipple waters with my ducks. My ducks are on the pond during the day, so the waterers in their pen are DIY nipple waters. It works great since they stay much cleaner than open waters. With chicks I provide a gravity waterer the first couple weeks. Ducklings seem to be able to use the horizontal nipples at hatch.

If a duck or duckling does not have access to water for any period of time then it must not have access to food either. Ducks can not eat food without using water to help swallow it or it can get clumped up in their throat. and they can die.

 

[Jenbirdee]

sometimes just elevating the waterer up to where they can stick their head in but not get their feet into it will make it last longer (they cant splash so much out)
there are also ways to make waterers that they cant splash out by using plastic food containers and cutting holes in the top just big enough for their heads. and you can use several of them . @Miss Lydia makes them

 

[louborges]

This is the new setup I have, The brooder is sitting on top of a tub to collect all the water, Keeps the floor clean and dry, But they empty it too fast for me .

 

[Jenbirdee]

i’ve never seen ducklings on a wire floor like that i’m sure it keeps them dry but I am not sure if it’s good for their little feet. @KathiQuacks @Miss Lydia
do you have any suggestions?

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is a tiny cup for that many ducklings. Why not make something like this and others on here have examples of what they have made . This one I used for 4 Runner ducklings I changed the water 2X a day and it never was empty. They can't splash the water out and can't climb into it but they really need to be able to have access to a deep container of water for eating. I just don't think nipple waters are okay for ducklings or ducks who seem to need the wash their nares and eyes out many times a day.
@DuckyDonna and also @New duck mommy 2021 I believe made a waterer for her ducklings .

 

[KathiQuacks]

i’ve never seen ducklings on a wire floor like that i’m sure it keeps them dry but I am not sure if it’s good for their little feet. @KathiQuacks @Miss Lydia
do you have any suggestions?

I’ve never done, and don’t think I’d ever do, wire flooring, but I suppose it could work here, as the mesh is rather fine and doesn’t seem to be covering the entire brooder. The older the ducklings get, the better it should be.

@louborges
As my ducklings got older, I noticed they were draining their water fast as well, and I found it was because the waterer wasn’t deep enough for them to dunk their bills. They’d try and try to filter the water through their nares and just end up dumping the water everywhere instead. I noticed this, and my babies sneezing all the time, so I switched to a deeper water dish, and they used wayyy less water because of it. Perhaps that is what is happening here?

I agree with @Miss Lydia ‘s waterer.

 

[Jenbirdee]

We all know that ducklings are very messy with water, That is their nature, But I'm hoping to find something that will provide them water for a long time, the standard waterer the screw on cap type gets empty so quickly that I have to keep filling it and I'm not home most of the time to keep filling it,

Here is a link to an older thread about this same exact issue, where you will hear several more people discuss this (it also links to another more recent thread about the same thing) https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nipple-waterers-ok-for-ducks.1091828/

 

[Jenbirdee]

Correct that is why I keep nipple waters in the pen where their food is.

I want to ask you a favor - would you have time to make a short video of your ducks walking back and forth eating and using the nipple waterers ? and post it here? I think it will be very helpful. I believe it is working for you I just have trouble imagining it....