Night time water required for Ducks?

[Going Quackers]

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Oh gosh they are so cute and teeny!

Mine are Muscovy and 3 of them are drakes so little bowls would be tipped in an instant. I have a large rubber pan style container.. framed in so it cannot be tipped over.. I choose to keep water again so i know if need be i can delay getting to them in the morning should the need arise.

 

[FarmrGirl]

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In the winter I do provide food and water inside the duck barn but that's because I have them locked up from about 7pm - 5am and I feel that giving them some grain with a bit of cracked corn mixed in will give them extra energy to keep their metabolism up for warmth. I ensure the waterer is not something they'll be able to bathe in... it's just for drinking. I make "waterer-unfreezers" out of cookie tins and a 40W light bulb then set the waterer on top of that. Doesn't keep it warm but keeps it above freezing.

Looks like this:

 

[Going Quackers]

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I think this is an interesting point, the answers on giving water overnight probably vary due to the length of times the birds are kept indoors... my ducks are provided with feed/water overnight BUT they are locked in the barn from about 6:15/6:20pm to around 9AM so i feel it's way to long to go without.

 

[kylamccusker96]

Can a day old duckling go with out water over night I'm worrying she will drown when I'm sleeping. Worried mama duuck

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Can a day old duckling go with out water over night I'm worrying she will drown when I'm sleeping. Worried mama duuck

No. You should make sure ducklings have food and water available 24/7 for at least the first 2 weeks and some say even longer. Mine are 4 wks and still have access 24/7.
Here is a good guide for new duck owners on byc. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/
As well, see the type of container they recommend. I used similar and when they were smaller, I had a piece of wood so they could step up to drink. Only make the hole big enough for their head to get in.
Also, do you only have one duckling? Ducklings need two of their own kind to be happy.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Welcome to byc. Generally, you get more responses by either commenting on a recent thread or by creating your own. This thread is from 2011.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Lastchancechicken]

I have 4 ducks here in Anchorage and I'm wondering if they need water overnight? I don't leave food for them in their coop (I feed them in the morning and late afternoon) and they have water available all day long.

Even with my super wiz-bang duck water bowl I still end up with a bunch of wet bedding every morning. Now that winter is here it seems like it will be much easier to keep their coop dry if I only give them water outside of the coop.

Anyone have any thoughts on whether having water available overnight is a nice-ety or a necessity? I't not worth hurting them but it would be nice if they didn't need it...

Thanks,


Scott

I have 6 geese and they free range and swim all day with food near by and a bucket of clean water. I give them grains before bed. The mess they make with the water has soaked the run despite all attempts at neatness. I give up! No food or water at night any more. Just out during the day outside of the run. I feel your pain!

 

[Morgk]

I did a ton of research before getting my Welsh Harlequins. I read that they are fine at night with no water as long as they do not have access to food. Mine were making a huge mess of their box at night also so I removed both the food and water last thing before I went to bed then I always made sure to get out first thing in the morning and give them both and they did just fine. From about 3-4 weeks on, mine went 8-9 hours at night without either and they are happy, healthy, thriving, 4-month-olds now.

I’m getting welsh Harlequin and I’m wondering did you put a plywood floor in for them?

 

[DuckyDonna]

I’m getting welsh Harlequin and I’m wondering did you put a plywood floor in for them?

That’s what I’ve got but I put a heavy sheet of plastic over it