Is it AWFUL for ducks to drink dirty water

[ChickyNicky05]

OK so, we just got 2 one month old ducklings and I've tried three different ways to give them water - I started with just a bowl, bad idea. I then bought one of those automatic dog waterers with the jug on top, it's cheap and doesn't work well, maybe I'll buy a nicer one, not sure yet. They still get it muddy. This morning I tried to make one of those jugs with the side cut out and I slit my finger open because I was in a rush, I'm also not convinced with this idea as it doesn't hold all that much water.... we are gone for 8 hours a day and I don't want them to run out. Granted they do have a mini pool of water to play in that they could drink if needed. My boyfriend thinks I'm doing too much, he says "they're ducks, if they were out in the wild they wouldn't be drinking clean faucet water" so I shouldn't worry so much about clean water. What are everyone's thoughts? Is he right? Should I stop worrying so much?

 

[Nannychickchick]

Yes, he is lol..ducks are very messy...
Mine had 2 large stainless dog bowls of water AND a small bucket of water when they got bigger. Despite changing the water morning and night it always looked dirty. That's just the way they are but loads of fun

 

[Lifeiseasy]

I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Mine either empty or block their five gallon waterer in two days and it gets dirty in two minutes. They have a small plastic dog pool to drink out of if they need to and even though it gets dirty quickly they’ve never had a problem if I can’t get out there to clean it for like a week. Therefore, I don’t think you should worry about it at all. As long as their pool gets cleaned every now and then they’ll be fine.

 

[Miss Lydia]

No need to worry it doesn't matter how clean their drinking water is in less than 5 min it can be full of mud or feed. Just the nature of ducks . So you might try something like this

 

[happy duck]

Hi!!! I have had that thought before and this is a great post!!!! To start off: they are ducks. They do not mind a mess no matter how much you think they do. When they drink/eat they take a mouthful of food(they can not chew...they have no teeth)dunk it in the water and swallow. Therefore how is the water not going to nasty? It will, and you should give them fresh water daily, but whenever you look at the water bowls don't freak out. My ducks water is probably nasty right now cuz of food, but it is going to get nasty and that is ok! Well good luck with the water!!!!!

 

[Duck Lover88]

Just clean it every day and it will be fine.

 

[ChickyNicky05]

Thank you everyone!!!! You've really help me be at ease with the situation! My boyfriend will love to hear that he was right haha

 

[Miss Lydia]

You don't have to tell him

 

[cottontail farm]

You really have to lower your housekeeping standards to keep waterfowl.
Seriously, they're just gross with water. Gross and happy.
If you have chickens too, raising a seperate water dish out of the duck's reach will let the chickens have clean water but ducks seem to take real joy in mucking things up

 

[cottontail farm]

You don't have to tell him

X2. Good thinking Miss Lydia.