Keep all water sources outside the coop

Never place pools, large waterers, or swimming containers inside the duck coop. Ducks splash water constantly and will soak the bedding within hours, creating damp, moldy conditions that breed aspergillosis (a dangerous fungal respiratory infection) and drive ammonia levels to harmful concentrations. Keep all water sources in the outdoor run only.

Why It Works

Duck coop bedding must stay as dry as possible for respiratory health. Unlike chickens, ducks produce extremely wet droppings (roughly 90% water) that already challenge bedding moisture management. Adding water containers inside the coop compounds this problem exponentially. Damp bedding also harbors the Aspergillus fumigatus mold that causes aspergillosis — a frequently fatal respiratory disease in ducks.

Tips

• Ducks can safely go overnight (10–12 hours) without water if they are fed before lockup
• In extreme cold (below 0°F), a small, deep drinker inside the coop overnight is acceptable as a compromise — place it on a tray to catch splashes
• Provide water immediately upon morning release — ducks will rush to drink and clear their nostrils
• If ducks have wet feet from rain, their tracked-in moisture alone is enough challenge for bedding — don't add more with indoor water