Keeping water in the pen - do I have to?

[Trenary Duck Farm]

Forgive me if you already know this, but if you remove the water at night make sure you withhold the food also.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

What I do isn't pretty, but it cuts down on the mess and gives them access to water while they're penned overnight. I took a plastic milk jug and make a vertical cut down through the opening in the top about 1/3 way down the jug. Then I cut horizontally around the front. This leaves a tall enough vessel for them to drink out of but not splash around in. They have never tipped it over! Plus the handle is still on so that I can easily carry it for rinsing/refilling.

 

[Kats]

My ducks and chickens don't have water overnight (up to 14 hours), but it is important that they should not have food either. If they do have food overnight, they are going to be VERY thirsty when you let them out in the morning. I made this mistake once. It didn't kill any of them, but I learned my lesson.