Ducks are wonderful and a joy to have. I absolutely love my three Welsh Harlequin girls who are now four months old. Their drinking water I dump, rinse, and refill at least twice a day (because it gets dirty from them washing their mouths and noses) and fill their rubber pool once every other day. Some ducks can take cold temps but they specifically need protection from winds. My girls sleeping area is enclosed on three sides for this reason with the fourth side open into the run. Yes, they will make a mess wherever they have water, so you might consider placing their waterer on concrete slab squares, pea gravel, or I have seen where some dig a hole about 12 inches deep, lay a piece of hardware cloth over the top and place the waterer on that. Then when they drink and make a mess, the water falls into the hole and not all around the waterer on the ground. Ducks love to dig holes in the mud. Also, I don't remember anyone mentioning this....ducks have to be able to dunk their whole head into the water to wash down their food, clean their mouth and to clean their nostrils. This is a must! A chicken waterer will not suffice as it is too narrow for ducks to use. My chickens end up drinking the ducks water which is another reason I change the drinking water so often. As soon as I give my girls clean water, they come a running and quacking. They are thrilled!
