My Ducks’ have a super fun new game they invented…

[RJKnott]

It’s called “let’s fill the water dish with all the straw we can til it becomes a clump of solid muck” 4 water dishes and all look like this.

They started doing this a few days ago. Then squawk angrily at me when I come check on them because they have no water to drink

 

[Jenbirdee]

It’s called “let’s fill the water dish with all the straw we can til it becomes a clump of solid muck” 4 water dishes and all look like this.

They started doing this a few days ago. Then squawk angrily at me when I come check on them because they have no water to drink
View attachment 3764357

are they swimming in them? any water container that I put out , if they are able to climb in they will. i have some buckets now that they can’t climb in

 

[RJKnott]

are they swimming in them? any water container that I put out , if they are able to climb in they will. i have some buckets now that they can’t climb in

A couple do but they have a couple kiddie pools they can go into and they all use them.

 

[Jenbirdee]

me too i use kiddy pools . and of course they drink from them too. lol . and frommud puddles lol silly

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Ducks are filter feeders. Their bills are designed to sift muddy water for yummy bits. They are just doing what comes naturally. I wonder if you put floating food or finely chopped lettuce in their water if they wouldn’t feel the need to add straw and mud?!

 

[ruthhope]

I use water tubs. They don't eliminate getting bedding into the water, but they greatly reduce it.

 

[RJKnott]

This is just a new thing and it’s funny and weird. 4 years and this week is the first time they’ve ever done this like this.

 

[ruthhope]

You had such a long honeymoon!

 

[Sosalty]

Yep, time to try out varying sorts of water containers. Maybe some tall enough it's hard for 'em to toss dirt an straw into. Then again, if they're drinking from kiddie pools. . . I too am getting this sinking feeling that our ducks are going to get extra weird from time to time. Mine were laying eggs and their pen was clean for weeks. They stopped laying eggs some days ago, and today their pen floor is covered in poop. It's either eggs or poop that comes out.

 

[Insnesnakos]

My chickens have a similar game, it's called "let's push all the grass out of the nest boxes and get it everywhere"