Food & Water - Inside or Out?

[DarkWolf]

I'll be keeping the water OUTSIDE of the duck hut, but was wondering what you all do for food? And water for that matter.

Here's my hut in the works. Two side roof sections will be hinged. Center is fixed and will be a green roof.

So, food inside, water outside is my thoughts. Yes?

Also, what do you use as a waterer? The standard chicken waterers are not deep enough for them to get their bills into, so not sure what would be best to use. I'd thought about those deeper hanging water bowls that auto fill. Hate refilling water all the time.

In winter, what do you do for the ducks and their water?

Inquiring mind.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Nice coop! Wish I knew what to tell you about the food/water. We have a run portion of the pens that we use for water and food, so I am not sure. However, we have heated buckets that we plug in in winter to keep water thawed. Works well so far! We also have a tank heater that goes in the stock tank to keep swimming water ice free .

 

[IRL]

I'd say that water and food should stay together. Have them both outside or both inside. I don't know if you lock your ducks up at night, but the ducks should be able to drink after they eat. So food and water outside would be your best bet, my ducks don't eat much at night anyway when they are in their house. In the warmer months, a simple plastic bin, say 1x1 feet is what I use for water. In the winter, you can buy a large heated dog bowl at tractor supply that works great.

 

[Cuqui18]

Quote:
will you please post images of your final project???! it looks wonderful so far! images of the process would be delightful as well if it isnt trouble some

 

[Miss Ducky]

Food and water should be together, but it's not completely necessary, as long as they are near each other. I keep the duck food inside because deer were eating it, and it also encourages them to go in the house to lay eggs and such. It's also more convenient if you put them in the house at night. If you do put them to bed at night I would put the water inside the house, if not, right outside to minimize mess. Just play around to see what's best for your flock

 

[DarkWolf]

aduckstolemyheart: Ah.. I hadn't thought about the plug in buckets. Far as keeping food outside. How's the best way to keep it out of the eliments? Their run will be 24'x16' or perhaps more. I wonder if I shouldn't just cobble together a food station pavilion of sorts.

IRL: Thanks for the input. I figured they'd have to be kept together. To keep any mess down I'll opt for outside. The ducks will indeed be locked up in their coop at night for two reasons. 1) To keep them safe and 2) To keep the eggs in the coop instead of layed hither and yon.

Cuqui18: Sure can. Though I don't think I'll start a bonified work log like I did with my chicken coop [which still is NOT 100% finished]. But I'll be glad to post up more later.

Miss Ducky: I'll surely see how that works out too, with food inside and water just out the door. That's actually how I have the chicken coop set up with the exception of winter time.

 

[spiritdance]

I have to disagree about food and water being together for ducks. I keep them at least 6 feet apart, otherwise the ducks (and other water fowl) "wash" their food, fouling the water and transferring water to the feed, thus spoiling it. Since I have been keeping them separate, I waste less food, there's less smell (the food can spoil in a matter of hours in hot weather), their coop stays cleaner, and I don't worry about them eating spoiled food. My feeder is in the coop, but my waterer is in a "foyer" added onto the coop - the pophole opens into it, it opens into their run - and the floor under it is wire mesh. I dug down under this area and put in gravel about 18" deep so when they "bill" their water they don't create a mess on the floor. I pour a diluted bleach solution over this once a week to keep things clean and odor-free. It's worked out great for me, since I can close the "foyer" door at night, leave the pophole open, and they have access to their water at night without trashing the coop.

 

[DarkWolf]

spiritdance: I've noticed that myself. End up having to change the water daily on them now. There's always a nice sludge layer of food in the bottom of the water catch dish.

While we're on the subject of food.. Does Flock Raiser come in pellet form? I can't stand crumbles personally. There's SO much waste to it. Or at least with chickens. I'd like to switch the whole flock over, but not sure I will if it just comes in crumbles.

 

[bibkel]

I use a four ft kiddie swimming pool and they are crazy happy every time I dump and refill it. It is easier to dump and refill daily than the five ft one I got for them.
I overturn it, rinse it, and stick the running hose in it. Then I fill the food, check for eggs and watch them play for a few minutes before I turn the water off. The timing for all this is perfect to get the pool filled each day, but I would not recommend this if you have a nicer yard. Where my ducks are would qualify for that DIY show for makeovers!

All 14 ducks have climbed in at the same time, it was TOO funny!

Now it is usually about 4-6 and they are all "going at it" and flirting with each other. Every once in a while a female will start doing laps around the pool at great speeds and all the others scatter from all the splashing....I love watching my ducks!

As for food, Dh's dad built a wooden trough feeder for his goose and I LOVE it, but it gets wet in the rain so I have to put it under the trampoline during rainy weather. I keep a tarp weighted down on that side so it is dry. When I forget, there is a gooey mess.

I want DH to make another larger and with a protecting roof.....We will see.

Oh, and I do just put a pile of pellets on the lid of a 5 gallon bucket that I use to store the food, so everyone has room to eat.

We rarely freeze, no help there.

Nice coop! I keep food out of the coop, water too, ducks are MESSY.

I do like my waterer that is hose fed and has a float, so they always have fresh water, but you have to clean it out regularly...again, ducks are messy.

 

[DarkWolf]

Well, started a work log for anyone who wants to watch me cobble together the duck hut. More pictures and posts will end up there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=491456

Far as feed and water. Thanks for the input!