You can build a water table for them if you really feel that they need water during the extra long winter months. During the rest of the year they really don’t need it overnight if you are putting them up about 9-ish and letting them back out early. (I think Holderread says they can go 10hrs overnight.)
I use a shallow Rubbermaid type “tub” (more like a plastic pan) that’s about 3-4” deep and about 18x24 in size. I cover this with coated wire (hardware cloth for ducklings and 1” for ducks) I use a deep dish and for ducklings I cut a large hole (big enough for heads but not bodies) into a rinsed vinegar jug. I put the jug inside the deep dish (rubber dish, dog dish whatever) and use the handle to latch it to something to keep them from dragging it off the water table. For adults, you can put your heated bucket on top of the water table and cover the top with a thin cinder block leaving an opening for only their heads.
I put this table into a corner so that it can be “anchored” in. I use bricks to surround the water table so it stays put. It also gives a surface between the shavings and the water that drips which keeps the shavings dryer and also keeps the shavings off of the wire. Everyday I have to pull up the water table and dump and hose the poo from the ducklings as they are small enough to climb onto the table and sit there. With ducks, sometimes they back up to it.
If you put a tarp on the floor, set your table into the corner, brick it in, then shavings etc down, it helps with clean up.
I use a shallow Rubbermaid type “tub” (more like a plastic pan) that’s about 3-4” deep and about 18x24 in size. I cover this with coated wire (hardware cloth for ducklings and 1” for ducks) I use a deep dish and for ducklings I cut a large hole (big enough for heads but not bodies) into a rinsed vinegar jug. I put the jug inside the deep dish (rubber dish, dog dish whatever) and use the handle to latch it to something to keep them from dragging it off the water table. For adults, you can put your heated bucket on top of the water table and cover the top with a thin cinder block leaving an opening for only their heads.
I put this table into a corner so that it can be “anchored” in. I use bricks to surround the water table so it stays put. It also gives a surface between the shavings and the water that drips which keeps the shavings dryer and also keeps the shavings off of the wire. Everyday I have to pull up the water table and dump and hose the poo from the ducklings as they are small enough to climb onto the table and sit there. With ducks, sometimes they back up to it.
If you put a tarp on the floor, set your table into the corner, brick it in, then shavings etc down, it helps with clean up.