This may be a dumb questions but...

[binza1979]

where do you put your duckies' food and water once they move outside?

I still have ducklings out in the garage...still too cold to move them outside since they aren't big kids yet.

I have a dog kennel for them to sleep in at night. I plan to build a 15x10 foot "run" for them. It will have a kiddie pool, their dog house, and I don't know where to put their food and water so that they don't make a HUGE mess. I know they'll make a mess, but I don't want to have to change the food and water several times a day like I currently do.

Ideas?

Thanks!

 

[maralynn28]

I don't think it's so much a matter of where but what set up. We made the mistake of having food and water in their bedding area, where they made a big mess, so now it's in the run. Hubby built a small "trough" for the food, and we have a short (8"?) rubbermaid bucket that he fashioned a lid for with holes cut out so the duckies can bob their heads in it but not go swimming in it. We used to have a dog/cat automatic waterer but they really liked to splash in it and waste the water even though they had their pool! lol

When they are big enough to be outside, they should also be big enough to just be fed 2x a day, so you don't really have to worry about changing out food. Water will almost always have to be changed out frequently since they wash their beaks in it, but I still just do mine daily and it's not a big deal just part of the routine when I feed them in the morning.

 

[binza1979]

I picked up a auto dog waterer for them. I think I'll stick with it during the summer, but may change in winter. I don't mind water splashing outside in the summer.

My chickens have access to food 23/7...Do I need to feed them just twice a day?

Thanks for all the help! I love this site!

 

[maralynn28]

Dunno about chickens, but yes once they aren't babies anymore then they don't need 24/7 feed.
I got that info from Storey's Guide (highly recommended). My ducks are also allowed to forage throughout the day, but they still come running back when they know it's time for dinner.
I know, I love this site too! I've only been doing this for almost a year but I wouldn't have survived it without this site and the wonderfully helpful people!