Indian Runners

[ilovemeducks]

I have three, two-week old, Indian Runner ducks - Ned, Dilly and Flo. They are gorgeous and very funny to watch.

They seem to be drinking and extraordinary amount of water. I am filling up their little dispenser betweeen 4 and 6 times a day. I don't want to restrict their water but the amount they are drinking is having an effect on their poo: it has a soft lump in the middle but is sitting in a pool of liquid.

They seem very happy, playful and alert. There appears to be nothing 'wrong' with them. Do they just drink more water than other ducks? I have Muscovies too and have not experienced them over-drinking - even as chicks.

Many thanks for your help.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Their fascination with water is very much over the top compared to my Muscovies and when eating they can't take one bite with downing it with their water so I rec you not take their water away. Watery poo is just part of being a duck.

Adorable lil ones

 

[Little duck farm]

My ducklings were the same filling water 4-6 times a day now I have changed to 5 gallon water jug and now I don’t have to replace for at least 3-4 days

 

[Julie Birb]

I have three, two-week old, Indian Runner ducks - Ned, Dilly and Flo. They are gorgeous and very funny to watch.

They seem to be drinking and extraordinary amount of water. I am filling up their little dispenser betweeen 4 and 6 times a day. I don't want to restrict their water but the amount they are drinking is having an effect on their poo: it has a soft lump in the middle but is sitting in a pool of liquid.

They seem very happy, playful and alert. There appears to be nothing 'wrong' with them. Do they just drink more water than other ducks? I have Muscovies too and have not experienced them over-drinking - even as chicks.

Many thanks for your help.

Their faces are very cute.

 

[ilovemeducks]

Thank you all for your answers.

I don't mind them drinking so much if that is the norm - and it seems that it is.

Not having had IRs before, I just wanted to check.

They seem to be very brave for such young chicks. The Muscovies are coming across to see them and they don't seem to mind at all.

Thanks again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovies and Runners do great together. They rarely even socialize stick to their own unless I have snacks then they all converge as 1 flock.

 

[Tannerpauldean]

I have 6 runners, and Miss Lydia is absolutely right. They have to take a drink of water after basically every bite of food. I have mine free range on my 1 acre lot, and I have 4 different water stations for them all throughout the yard so they don't have to walk far to get water. My 6 adults go through about 3 gallons of water a day, but that includes their baths.

On a side note, I actually put their primary feed, wheat berries, directly into their water dish. I make sure there are a few inches of water covering them so they have to dunk their bills in the water to get the food. #hygiene

 

[Miss Lydia]

hygiene? lol mine are slobs.

 

[Tannerpauldean]

Granted, they make a HUGE mess when the eat and drink. But by putting the grain under water they end up cleaning their bills a little bit.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've done that with wheat been a while though.