Duck question from a new mom :)

[myday502]

Good morning....I have a quick question about our ducks....When is it OK not to give Ducks water and feed at night?
Thank you
Helen

 

[katharinad]

Mine have it 24 hours. I'm using small 4" canning jars for food. A water feeder and put it onto a cookie sheet. It will be messy, but ducks are very active at night and they will eat. Duck are kind of like cats, they only nap a little and are awake a lot.
Katharina

 

[duckyfromoz]

I agree- While it can be messy it is important to provide them water at night if not a small amount of feed aswell. Especially in the hotter months of the year- ducks in a small confined pen/ coop/ kennel can suffer heat stress even at night if water is not available.

 

[chase]

my ducks have all day access to a pond, but at night to avoid the mess they have a couple of water bottles, the ones ment for rabbits, they quickly figured out how to use them and they havnt had any problems with them so far.

 

[Amiga]

Here in New England this time of year, heat stress is not a concern. I second what duckyfromoz said - if the weather is beastly hot, they need to be able to drink and if possible, get wet.

But since right now the weather is quite chilly, my runners do without food and water overnight - 6 to 8 hours' worth, but not before they were a full six weeks old. Up to then, it was 24/7 with food and water, and many brooder cleanups.

We are getting ready to move them outdoors so they will have a plywood house and attached night pen. Food and water will be in the night pen. The first few nights, though, I may just close them into the house. I am nervous about predators, even though I am trying to incorporate every solution in the book (okay, not EVERY solution) to avoid tragedy.

But I digress . . . short recap - after 6 or 7 weeks old, if they aren't in a heat stress situation is my approach.