Looking for the best duck waterer? You’ve come to the right place.
With more people turning to backyard poultry keeping, you might assume that everybody is relying on chickens for their eggs, meat, and yes – their entertainment!
However, chickens aren’t the only kind of poultry you can raise if you want a rollicking good time. You might also want to consider keeping ducks!
For many people, ducks are not only just as easy to raise as chickens, but in many cases, easier.
Although they have different care requirements than chickens, if you have some experience keeping backyard chickens, you shouldn’t have too much trouble raising ducks.
There is one exception to this rule, however, and that’s in regards to water.
Ducks are hardier and tend to live longer than backyard chickens, but they’re more difficult to raise when it comes to watering them.
That’s because ducks, as you likely already know, enjoy splashing and playing in their water troughs.
It’s cute to watch – but it can lead to some serious hassle when it comes to keeping your duck housing clean. Investing in the best duck waterer is essential to save you time and effort when it comes to caring for your poultry – and in keeping your ducks healthy.
What to Look for in a Duck Waterer
Capacity
The average flock of six ducks needs about three quarts of water in cool weather, but nearly twice that in warm weather. You’ll want to consider the capacity of your waterer carefully when you’re shopping so that you don’t find yourself running to the hose to refill your waterers constantly.
The size of your flock will play a big role in your waterer, too. You should have a separate watering system for every seven to nine birds in your yard.
Freeze-Proofing
While ducks admittedly drink much more water in the summer months, when it’s hot, you’ll also need to consider how you will water your ducks when it is cold outside. If you live in an area that experiences harsh freezes, keeping your duck water open is essential. Consider selecting a watering system that has a built-in heating mechanism.
Kind of Birds
The age and type of ducks you are raising will also play a major role in selecting your new duck watering system. Older, more mature birds probably can make do with a larger waterer. However, small or young birds might have trouble reaching a large watering system.
Water Supply & Spilling
If you plan on using a nipple system to water your ducks, consider a waterer that will fit well in your coop. A cup system will release much more water than a nipple system so you’ll want to consider the capacity of this container so you don’t have to worry about accidentally flooding your coop.
These systems are convenient when it comes to preventing spills, but they, unfortunately, are not the best when it comes to their capacity. You may find yourself refilling them often.
If, on the other hand, you plan on using a larger capacity, trough-style or bucket-style drinker, you likely won’t have to fill the water quite as often. However, you’ll be dealing with more mess and more spills. It’s certainly a tradeoff, but one you need to consider on your search.
Best Duck Waterer: 4 Commercial Duck Waterer Options
1. Best Automatic Duck Waterer: Rent a Coop Automatic Nipple Cup Waterer
This duck waterer is technically meant for any kind of poultry, including chickens, turkeys, and ducks. It’s great for warm days, since your ducks will be able to dip their bills inside for a quick drink.
Without any tabs to push to get the water flowing, this watering system is a great option for busy duck owners who might not be around at all times to keep refilling their watering systems. You can use the drinker with a gravity-fed system (it can be attached right to a bucket) or in a system with a pressure regulator or float valve.
What We Liked:
- Prevents contamination and mess
- Great for warm weather
- No float valves or tabs to worry about
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some assembly required to drill holes
Amazon: Click Here
2. Best No Spill Duck Waterer: Backyard Barnyard No Peck Duck Waterer
This duck waterer by Backyard Barnyard is advertised as being “no-peck.” The advantage? You don’t have to worry about training your ducks to a complicated system, as there’s no toggle pulling, no nipple pushing – really, no stress at all.
Just one drinker (they’re sold in packs of four) will provide a full cup of water every time. It has a float regulator so it provides water to your bird automatically. They’re easy to install and can be used with a wide variety of poultry watering systems – meaning they aren’t exclusive to ducks.
What We Liked:
- Easy to install
- Affordable option for a large flock of ducks
- No training required
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can be prone to overfilling
Amazon: Click Here
3. Best for Cold Weather: K&H Thermo Duck Waterer
This duck waterer isn’t the most affordable out of all of those on our list, but if you’re looking for the best duck waterer for cold weather, this is the one. It has unique water cups that allow your ducks to drink and clean off their bills but not to play. That means less water wasted and spilled – and a cleaner coop that’s not filled with ice in the wintertime.
This duck waterer has a unique dome shape that’s ideal if you’re providing water for chickens. This shape means you don’t have to worry about chickens roosting on top and leaving manure behind everywhere. The waterer also has removable filter cups that will allow you to discard debris with ease.
With a 2.5 gallon reservoir and a spill-proof cap, this watering system also comes with an easy-to-carry handle.
What We Liked:
- Comes with a two-year limited warranty
- Stays clean with its unique shape and design
- Can be used with all kinds of poultry
What We Didn’t Like:
- Pricey option for a large flock
Amazon: Click Here
4. Best for Large Flocks: 5 Gallon Bucket Duck Waterer by Oasis
This option is the best duck waterer for large flocks. It’s technically manufactured for chickens but is equipped with cups that are large enough for other species of poultry to drink out of, too, including chickens and turkeys.
It comes with simple, reliable cups that are fully automatic with no triggers or float tabs to worry about. Each cup is about three inches in diameter.
The cups are meant to be mounted to a five-gallon bucket. When you order, you’ll get four cups with mounting hardware, a drill bit, garden hose adapter with a 90-degree elbow, a float valve, and a hole saw. Because this is what’s included, you can easily fashion any bucket or container to be used as a drinker. It’s the perfect option for a large flock of ducks!
What We Liked:
- High capacity
- Cups can hold lots of water
- Easy to install
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some work is required to put this drinker system together
Amazon: Click Here
DIY: How to Make a Duck Waterer
If you don’t want to buy a pre-made duck waterer from the store, you can also make your own.
Just gather a few simple materials, including:
- A five-gallon bucket with a lid
- A jigsaw
- A sander
- Sandpaper
You may also want to wear some safety equipment like closed-toed shoes, gloves, and safety glasses.
Use your jigsaw to drill three holes into the top section of the bucket. The holes should be low enough and large enough to let the ducks drink (they should be able to get their bills inside), but also high enough so that there is room for you to add water to the drinker. Consider the age, height, and breed of your ducks to figure out the appropriate height. It may take some trial and error to figure out where you need to position these holes.
Once you’ve cut them, sand the edges down to remove any jagged bits of plastic. This drinker should prevent the ducks from splashing around in the waterer and it will also prevent it from getting dirty.
How to Keep Ducks From Spilling Water
There are a few tips you can follow to prevent your ducks from spilling water all over the coop. One simple tip is to make sure the water is placed on a flat surface.
If it isn’t level when you fill it, the water can spill out on its own and make an ungodly mess! If you’re using a watering system that is meant to be mounted to the wall or another fixture, be sure you install it properly so that the waterer doesn’t leak or overflow.
Keeping your ducks entertained is another way to stop them from spilling water all over the place. Provide them with plenty of “yard time” or free-ranging time so that they don’t get bored. A bored duck is far more likely to play and splash around in his water supply!
Final Thoughts
Water is of incredible importance to ducks, so it makes sense that just dumping some water into a dog dish won’t cut it. You need to provide your ducks with a smarter, more customized system of staying hydrated. While you might be able to use a generic jar, can, or trough-type waterer that’s meant to be used with turkeys, chickens, or other kinds of poultry with your ducks, in most cases, you’ll need to invest in one of the best duck waterers instead.
Choosing the right duck waterer will go a long way when it comes to caring for your quacking new friends. Consider these options as you begin your search!
Read Next: Do Ducks Need Water? What You Should Know
Helpful post you wrote, I would appreciate for this valuable article and info. Thanks for sharing the article with us. I will try to find out and buy soon.
I am a new “chicken mama”. I spent several months researching what breed, coop size, run size, entertainment, and feed source. After purchasing my chicks my daughter came home with 3 ducklings. Not at all in my plans. I have since done alot of research on ducks and do not see how I can make them happy. I am not worried about food or shelter, but obviously water is a problem. Is it possible to have the duck cup waterer as the ducks only water source…ie not have a bucket of water for them to bathe in? I really don’t want my run full of water and free range is not an option. I am afraid the mess of water will make the chickens sick but have read that without water baths ducks can get lice and mites. I am at a real loss (not to mention upset with my daughter)!!!!