Ducks wont drink water

[Miss Lydia]

Especially this time of year when they need good feed and fresh water to keep their bodies fit for the cold weather.
Keep us updated.

 

[Musolff2015]

The little mud balls finally decided to clean up!!!! This morning they were actually in the run waiting to go out! For some reason they wouldnt go out the door and just kept looking out all around though. I went in the run to fill the feed and walked them out the door. So now my question is can they not see well in winter or with the snow? I know they cant see well at night. Even with porch light and headlamp, if I leave them out until dusk I have to pick up the loudest one and carry her to the run and them corral the rest to her voice. Yesterday I went to put them in in broad daylight and they would go up to the run door and just freeze until I pushed one through the door.... it's like they cant differentiate the door from the fence...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Snow blindness? I have no idea but that was a big step for them!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well there isn’t a dab of snow on the ground In that picture! lol. Sure are pretty

 

[KaleIAm]

They are gorgeous!!

 

[chickens really]

Your over thinking this and have a rubber livestock bowl of water outside the pen and they will definitely go outside to drink water. I have Calls and it's -15C today with lots of snow and all outside drinking and eating. I don't Baby my Birds.

 

[Musolff2015]

Well there isn’t a dab of snow on the ground In that picture! lol. Sure are pretty

I wish it was still that way!!! I took that picture yesterday when we had a heat wave of 30° and the dusting of snow melted. We got another ½" last night and has been snowing all day. Weve been getting up to 4" of snow at a time since the 1st week of October. Thankfully it has been melting in between. The following weeks highest is 19° with lows of 1° so I imagine this stuff isnt going anywhere now

 

[Musolff2015]

They are gorgeous!!

Thank you!!! I agree I'm pretty excited to hatch some eggs next year and see the variety we get!

 

[chickens really]

I wish it was still that way!!! I took that picture yesterday when we had a heat wave of 30° and the dusting of snow melted. We got another ½" last night and has been snowing all day. Weve been getting up to 4" of snow at a time since the 1st week of October. Thankfully it has been melting in between. The following weeks highest is 19° with lows of 1° so I imagine this stuff isnt going anywhere now

Do you have a covered run? Definitely straw down as footing and cover from elements is needed.

 

[Musolff2015]

Your over thinking this and have a rubber livestock bowl of water outside the pen and they will definitely go outside to drink water. I have Calls and it's -15C today with lots of snow and all outside drinking and eating. I don't Baby my Birds.

I would agree with you however that's far from the case. With 3 separate water containers (in coop, in run and outside) plus a large water/swamp hole in the yard that they love they did not touch a drop of water in over 4 days. Day 2 I changed a few things to try to figure out the issue. Late intl the 3rd day I obviously started going beyond measures because the need water to digest, maintain and clean up. Their eyes were getting red, beaks muddy, sneezing and they had only ate the few treats I gave them, the feed I set away from the water and the very minimal snow they were able to get. I wouldnt say I'm babying them in the slightest, im making sure they remain in the best health