A.Lee wrote:

We have found that, if they are given good water, that there is little
difference between the breeds, our Runners have always loved the water just
as much as other breeds.
All our ducks are into their ponds first thing and spend much of the day in
and out.

Go deeper first, 3-4 feet is good, as the birds wil fill it in gradually
with their working away at the backs.
5 - 6 feet across is good, they will make it broader and shallower in time.

If there is no running water into it and out - YES.

As those of you in the UK will know, we have had torrential rain today (2
inches in the rain gauge when I looked). The chickens have all sheltered
under the trees, but got pretty wet. They have then all stood around and
fluffed up and groomed themselves in the odd dry moment. However, the
Orpington, who has had a stressful time lately (lost her mate a week ago, new
chickens arrived same day) has been standing there pulling out quite a few of
her own feathers. She would have been hatched about February, and I believe
they don't moult in the first year, so is it just the rain? or stress? or
could it be something else? (They have all settled in well together and hang
around as a flock, so I don't believe it is her new companions at this
stage.)

Hi,

It would be worth checking out Vadlo (www.vadlo.com) for biology
protocols and databases.

There is powerpoint search and daily research cartoons (http://
vadlo.com/Daily_Research_Cartoon.html)