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When you first bring your ducklings home (or take them out of the incubator), dip each duckling’s bill into a dish of sugar water (1/3 cup sugar per gallon of water) for an added energy boost. You can give them sugar water for the first few days, then switch to plain water. Room temperature or lukewarm water is best. Position the waterer at the opposite end of the brooder from the heat lamp so that splashing water doesn’t shatter the bulb.

Adding a splash of apple cider vinegar to the water every few days is also extremely beneficial as a health and immune system booster and thought to help prevent internal worms, bacterial infection and coccidiosis. Be sure not to use metal if you are adding apple cider vinegar, because it will rust even galvanized metal waterers.

What kind of waterer? A traditional Mason jar chick waterer doesn’t work well for ducklings. The design is too unstable and tips over too easily around rambunctious, clumsy ducklings. Ducklings are also able to empty a fountain (or gravity) waterer in mere minutes. Instead, I like to use a shallow, flat-bottomed dish or stoneware pie plate. Setting the water dish on a rimmed cookie sheet can help keep the water mess contained.

Ducklings need water at all times, day and night. They are prone to choking if they don’t have access to water any time they are eating, so never leave feed for them unless they have ample water as well to help them swallow their feed. They also need to be able to keep their nostril membranes moist, clear of feed and debris and to clean their eyes in the water. As they grow, they will need progressively deeper water containers, but they can easily drown or get chilled if they sit in the water, so add some stones to help prevent accidental drowning – and be sure the water is just deep enough so that they can submerge their bill and head.

Setting a waterer in a cookie sheet helps eliminate messes.

By 2 weeks old, your ducklings will start to preen and activate their oil glands, which help to waterproof their feathers. By providing them a water dish 2 or 3 inches deep, you can facilitate that process for them. By choosing a slightly deeper water container with a smaller diameter you can prevent them sitting in it for the most part.

Ducklings are drinkers! A week-old duckling will drink about half a gallon of water a week. By the time a duckling is seven weeks old, it will drink almost a half a gallon of water a DAY, so be sure there is always clean, fresh water available. Water should be changed at least daily and very possibly several times a day if you are able, to ensure debris-free, clean water. Remember though, ducklings are messy, so if you expect crystal clear water, your expectations are too high! Feed, some dirt or straw or shavings in the water are not a problem; but feces are.

Provide ducklings with fresh water every day.