Frequency of Duck Baths?

[Ryanagon]

I just purchased my first ducks which I will be picking up tonight (Three 1 year old Cayugas - 1 Drake, 2 Ducks). I built a coop for them approximately 5'x5' with an attached run that is 5'x13'. My plan is to not provide food or water in the coop during the night but give them access to water and food during the day in the run (Does this sound alright?).

My question, though, is how often do they need to actually get in the water in preen and bathe? If I take them out to a kiddie pool is once a week enough? 3 times a week? Every day? Never? What is best for their health?

Thanks

 

[Isaac 0]

Its best to have water available as much as possible.I dont give them a kiddie pool at night.During they day they just go in the ponds.

 

[chickens really]

Lol....Ducks do not need water to bath in all the time...as long as they have water deep enough to dunk their heads and clean their nares, they do great...Kiddie pools here are only provided outside the run when free ranging...

 

[Sara Ranch]

My baby ducks used tupperware, then roasting pans, as their water dish and their bathing water. The ducks would climb in and bath. It was cute. (Had to change the water more often...but still cu te!)

I had to wait and wait and wait until Walmart finally had a kiddie pool. Bought one and set it up for the ducks. Had to put the ducks in the pool. They were unsure of things at first, then they loved it!!!

For the first week, I took them out every day, once a day. That seemed enough.

Before we entered week two, they were asking to go out twice a day. Ok, I worked with them.

Now, I take them out to a "duck playpen" that has their pool in it. They hang outside all day in their safe zone. The ducks are in and out of the pool multiple times a day! They love the water and the freedom!

My duck babies are almost 9 and 10 weeks old. My guys groom excessively! Or so it seems to me. I mean hey, by 6:30 am, I am usually dusty and dirty and haven't had breakfast yet. But those guys? Pristine.

 

[Then I Will]

Even baby swimming pools become such a mess with ducks. They poop in the water constantly! I had to empty mine almost daily when I had around eight ducks. My dad's workplace had a mama duck with ducklings that were getting snatched by the pond turtles so he offered to take the duck home and let his daughter keep them till they were grown and could be returned to the workplace pond.
My chickens weren't too happy with these arrangements but they kept the ducks in line.

So you'll also want to think about where you will dump the "sludge" when you change their pool.
If you want to give them access to water- as chickens really said- enough to duck their heads and clean their nares, you could possibly offer a raised trough for them to do just that with. Perhaps something made out of large pvc cut in half. Then you could reserve the kiddie pool for the times you want to let them swim.