Ducks wont drink water

[Musolff2015]

I posted in another group but was unable to get any answers that I didnt already try. The past 2 days my ducks have refused to come out of the coop or touch their water. Yesterday i gave them cantaloupe and cucumber trying to entice them out, they refused so I just put it in the coop. They ate it all yet still didnt touch the water. Today I pushed them out of the coop and gave them feed next to a water dish they have used since I 1st got them. They ate the feed, but still wouldnt touch the water. Aside from acting nervous when I first got them out, they have been completely normal foraging the yard.
What could be going on?!?! Theres 7 and this applies to all of them.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

What kind of waterer do you have? Is it heated and plugged in? Is it a tub?

 

[KaleIAm]

This is bizarre. Maybe something scared them near their water receptacle? Could you try one that is very different?

Have you tried putting mealworms in their water? Mine love mealworm water. Floating salads?

 

[DuckyDonna]

Ok, so a little background here. What kind of ducks, how old are they, what are you feeding them? Has there been a predator attack?

 

[Musolff2015]

What kind of waterer do you have? Is it heated and plugged in? Is it a tub?

I have a gallon ice cream bucket in the run, a 2 gallon heated waterer with another 2 gallon bucket nested in for easy clean/fill, and a 1½ gallon bowl outside. The bowl they have used since day 1, ice cream bucket for a couple months minimum, and heated bucket roughly 2 weeks ago. They used the heated bucket for over a week before this as well as the others as usual. I made sure it wasnt hot (no different than out of tap), bucket itself isnt hot, no exposed wires or anything.

 

[Musolff2015]

This is bizarre. Maybe something scared them near their water receptacle? Could you try one that is very different?

Have you tried putting mealworms in their water? Mine love mealworm water. Floating salads?

I've had water in all 3, only the heated is new however they used it for a week prior. I gave more specifics on another reply. I also tried spinach which mine love (they do not lay yet) and nothing. I currently am out of mealworms

 

[Musolff2015]

Ok, so a little background here. What kind of ducks, how old are they, what are you feeding them? Has there been a predator attack?

I gave more info on water situation in other replies but to answer the rest. 3 drakes (2 pekin, 1 black swedish) almost 4 months old. And 4 female (2 blue, 1 black swedish and 1 appleyard) not certain on age. Was told they were 4-5 months getting them 2 months ago but in my best opinion seem to be the same age as my boys.
No laying or breeding behavior yet, not really expecting anything until spring given them being late hatch and us being in WI.
I was feeding sprout all flock as well as fresh produce, corn and mealworms as treats. Switched to Nutrena NatureWise all flock a little over a week ago.
We did have a fox kill our favorite of the 4 drakes a few days after they were transitioned to fully outside, also the 2nd day we had the girls, 1st that they were outside cooped seperate but able to see eachother. The fox attacked 3 more times after however I was able to quickly intervene and none were hurt. We finally got it trapped and killed a few weeks ago and they have been happily free ranging since until 2 days ago. We, our neighbors and our dog have not saw or heard any other predators in the area in the past few weeks. I also checked in, under, all around the coop/run for entry attempt, nest, poop, track there was nothing and my dog also didnt smell anything. I'm honestly stumped! I'm thankful I got then out today and they were content enough to nap in the yard, but the main concern is water which still has not been touched in any of the 3 containers or the massive backyard puddle that they normally love.

 

[aart]

the massive backyard puddle that they normally love

I was wondering about puddles......are you watching them every hour they are awake?

 

[Musolff2015]

just to update on all

I was wondering about puddles......are you watching them every hour they are awake?

They are in my fenced in backyard so I'm periodically checking on them as well as coming outside to smoke and let my dog out (they get along perfect). As far as the puddle goes our sump pump drains to backyards (poorly constructed by previous owners and hoping to fix come spring) so its more or less a swampy puddle area and large stone where the water actually dumps out. Nothing more than a couple inches deep of water and dries between storms so it's not necessarily stagnant. My dog also drinks from there and is completely as well as the kids playing in it when I let them.

 

[Ratchnick]

It is odd that they are not all in the water but i would not worry about them getting dehydrated.