I wished sombody had told me!!

[jjdward]

I got duck because I thought they would be fun to raise plus I have always wanted to try duck eggs. I should have done more research because I had no idea how messy they were with their watter. Right now Im using a bowl type auto waterer. Are nipple drinkers better for ducks?

 

[greyhorsewoman]

Ducks need water to digest their food. They also need water to work through their feathers as they get older and distribute the oil. They aren't chickens. They are messy.

Duck eggs are delicious!

 

[jjdward]

It didn't take long to find out that they are messy!! I was hoping that duck eggs are good. I had a great aunt that made homemade cakes for a living and all she used was duck eggs. I was thinking about a nipple drinker but didn't know if it would work with ducks.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Muscovies are less messy than the mallard breeds but both are fun in their own way.

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

I have heard of people using thise nibble drinkers,,But ducks need enough water to clean out their nose holes..So I dont know how people get away with using those..My ducks are always sticking thier nose in the water a blowing to clean,,,My babies and my adults...
PS Yes mallards are messy...That is what I have......

 

[luvmychicknkids]

No, a duck has to be able to dip their nostrils in the water so the nipple type wouldn't work. I had ducks for a few weeks and gave up because of the mess!!!!!!

 

[Luvducks]

How old are the ducks? will you be putting them outside? Once I put them in a pen with a dog box it was not so bad.

 

[jjdward]

Quote:
They are about a month old and yes they are outside now. I guess I will just have to deal with the mess!!!

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

Quote:
They are about a month old and yes they are outside now. I guess I will just have to deal with the mess!!!

My babies are 3 weeks will be 4 weeks Wednesday and still inside..They are messy I clean them out 3 times a day..They need it more some days....I am going to keep them inside for a few more weeks atleast until 6 weeks and then move them to the garage to a bigger cage..Then after feathered start introducing them to the adults...

 

[Wifezilla]

You can use the nipple drinker at night and the full waterer that they can clean their nose in during the day.

I put their water bucket in different places in the yard each morning. They also have a pond to play in. Since I live in Colorado, excess moisture isn't really an issue, but if a wet pen was a problem, I would use a rabbit waterer. It do use one of those in my brooder. Ducks figure it out fast.