To risky?

[Haviris]

My mom has a large round livestock water trough that is in the goat pen, I haven't been using it because it's to large for the goats. So I was thinking about bringing it home and filling it for the ducks, but one worry. I had some chickens in the goat pen at one time and had a few roosters end up in the trough drownd, never the hens only roosters. So if I put in a ramp (I would anyway so the ducks could get in and out), do you think the chickens would be smart enough to find it and get out? Or would they just drowned?

 

[bantymum]

I dont think the hens would get out even with a ramp.
I dont think chooks are as smart as ducks. Can you try to separate the ducks from the chooks then you wont have a problem and they will all be happy!!!

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

We have that problem here once in awhile. The chickens can't get out of the water troughs if they fall in. Even with boards in the trough that they could walk out on.

The best way we deal with this is to keep the troughs full all the time. It doesn't help if a chicken falls in, but they don't have to lean so far forward to drink, so they fall in less often.

Jean

 

[Haviris]

In that case I'm thinking I won't risk it. They free range in my fenced yard, and although I have my front and back yard separated the hens always manage to find a way to slip into the other side, my rooster and ducks stays put, but not the hens, I would just feel terrible to lose one that way, so I think the ducks will just have to be happy with the kiddie pool!