Keeping ducks drinking water clean......how?

[grizzlymammoth]

I have a farm type float valve (~$20) fed by the garden hose that keeps my ducks' water bowl filled, but it doesn't keep it clean. I bought a submersible dirty water pump (~$50) and plugged it into a programmable light timer (~$10). I programmed it to turn on twice a day for 1 minute. That drains the whole bowl and then some which keeps the water fairly clean and lets us leave them for as long as their feeder will allow and it means we're not out there twice a day changing their water, which is a great thing. However, it isn't perfect. It's a little pricey for starters. For reasons unknown, the ducks will occasionally put 1-2" diameter rocks in the bowl that can clog the pump and require a clean out. It doesn't work in winter unless you have some way to keep everything from freezing. Pyrite heated garden hose would work, but that adds even more cost. And most recently, after about two years of operation, the pump motor is starting to wear out, so I'm going to have to replace the most expensive part or come up with a new system.

 

[aritchey]

I made a duck waterer from a 5 gallon bucket. I cut openings for them to place their heads inside to drink. I have a float valve to maintain the water level. I feed it by gravity from a 5 gallon jug. I plan on a bigger supply container in the future. My first attempts were using a vacuum feed supply. The water level changed within a couple inches. The vacuum was so strong it would crush the supply jug. The float valve keeps the water within about a 1/2". . There is a rubber stopper on the side of the bucket at the absolute bottom. I pop out the stopper to release the dirty water every evening. I put the stopper in and the bucket refills itself. The bucket sits on a grate in a tray that drains to the outdoors. I keep my chickens and ducks in the same coop. The ducks also drink from the chickens nipple system.

 

[CockerelDundee]

I was thinking the same about the water for my chickens and ducks, then i came across this on ebay, so i'm going to make somthing like it
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Automatic-Nipple-Drinker-Feeder-Poultry-Chicken-Hen-Geese-Duck-Bird-8mm-pipe-/151012934656?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&var=&hash=item2329128400

 

[CockerelDundee]

I was thinking the same about my hen and duck water, i saw this on ebay and i'm going to make somthing like this

 

[subhanalah]

My stinking ducks put food 8 their waterer, so I have to dump/clean them all the time anyway.

 

[jebber]

Lousy phone pic but you get the idea

And yes, still clean it every day




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Settle4nuthin]

my ducks drink from the same horizontal water nipples that my chickens drink from. i have a 40 gallon oval tub that i fill about every 2 weeks that they swim and play in.

 

[subhanalah]

my ducks drink from the same horizontal water nipples that my chickens drink from.  i have a 40 gallon oval tub that i fill about every 2 weeks that they swim and play in.

how do they get their bills in the tiny cup of the horizontal nipple?

 

[Settle4nuthin]

I dont know...but they peck the living crap out of it

 

[Skyelo559]

Hi i've found the best way is to keep a bit of fly screening at the bottom of the water bowls so they can't leave as much dirt inside of it.