➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[BantyChooks]

Why are you hauling water? You need some stock tank deicers or heated buckets

Because it's cold here!
I can't keep the hose running in winter. It's even more work than buckets.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Because it's cold here!
I can't keep the hose running in winter. It's even more work than buckets.

Oh yeah now that I think about it I guess I am hauling water too. I forgot we also turn the hose/outside water off in winter.

When the water is dirty or empty, I unplug the bowl, dump it, wipe it down with a paper towel, then refill it. I usually bring a couple gallon milk jugs with me outside so I only have to make one trip rather than coming back in a million times. Although sometimes I only have one milk jug and have to make two trips anyway. But oh well. But it is really easy, fast, and simple. The bowl wipes out really easily. And it is huge. I purposely got the big one that holds like a gallon and a half. Although I must admit that it is bigger in person than I thought it was gonna be lol

But it’s easy.

Although of course their coop is also close to the house and we have an extension cord running from the garage to the run that the bowl is plugged into.

 

[RUNuts]

@BantyChooks
Thinking of you, Batty.
Crazy Lady bought some chicken feet stockings because she thought I would like them. Why in the world would she think that?

Made me think of yours in your incubator article. We got a good laugh. She did surprise me.

 

[BantyChooks]

@BantyChooks
Thinking of you, Batty.
Crazy Lady bought some chicken feet stockings because she thought I would like them. Why in the world would she think that?

Made me think of yours in your incubator article. We got a good laugh. She did surprise me.

You remember that??
We need pictures!

 

[ShrekDawg]

This is the bowl btw.

https://www.chewy.com/kh-pet-products-thermal-bowl-pet-bowl/dp/54452

But they also have all sorts of other sizes.

https://www.chewy.com/s?query=Heated bowl&nav-submit-button=

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

I respectfully disagree, though your argument is sound if you don't have the right setup and are comparing them to chickens. If you brood ducklings outside, a secure grow out pen, and have a good landscape for them (say, a little creek and pond), they are the easiest animals ever. I also love how much they poop. I clean out their pen every spring and apply all that good stuff directly to my garden. Their poo isn't hot like chickens so you don't need to compost it for a year before using. Plus, I've literally NEVER lost one to illness. Not one. Not even a duckling.

I agree with you though!
I’m not saying they get sick, honestly our ducks and goose are the healthy things we’ve had. Their poop does compost down nicely, but man not having the right set up makes it dreadful. I would love to have a little pond for them and their own coop but it’s not feasible currently. I’m also letting KDog know that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows either for ducks, especially if they have to be brooded inside. (Hatch them under a broody chicken and it’s awesome!!)

 

[Conan]

Ummm stock tank deicers, bird bath deicers, or even pond deicers, are all cheap, affordable and work to provide an ice free duck pond or water source

They're a fine idea if you have electricity down in your field, but I don't. Not enough sun during the winter for the solar units to work either.
The ducks are lucky in winter. The creek freezes over, but I stomp it open for them

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

Like a hard pond liner or the rubber/soft type?

And yeah, we get snow and ice and freezing temperatures. Although this winter has been pretty minor. And I am thinking I could just not give them a pool/swimming water in the winter?? And heat the drinking water. And/or heat/deice a pool.



LOL

Ducks need to swim no matter the temperatures. It’s how they keep themselves clean and healthy.

 

[Conan]

I agree with you though!
I’m not saying they get sick, honestly our ducks and goose are the healthy things we’ve had. Their poop does compost down nicely, but man not having the right set up makes it dreadful. I would love to have a little pond for them and their own coop but it’s not feasible currently. I’m also letting KDog know that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows either for ducks, especially if they have to be brooded inside. (Hatch them under a broody chicken and it’s awesome!!)

Oh, yeah! I can honestly say that after the first brooding of ducks indoors, I was done with them. So gross. If indoor was my only option, I wouldn't hatch any birds, least of all ducks. The right setup is crucial. If it's all outdoors and you have the right climate and habitat for them, they are easy peasy. It is sunshine and rainbows, though... it's just that the sunshine is made of poop, and the rainbows are made of poop water.
I will also say that I have three ducks laying right now. They started about three weeks ago. They have no supplemental light and are all at least four years old. What cool animals

 

[BantyChooks]

Oh, yeah! I can honestly say that after the first brooding of ducks indoors, I was done with them. So gross. If indoor was my only option, I wouldn't hatch any birds, least of all ducks. The right setup is crucial. If it's all outdoors and you have the right climate and habitat for them, they are easy peasy. It is sunshine and rainbows, though... it's just that the sunshine is made of poop, and the rainbows are made of poop water.
I will also say that I have three ducks laying right now. They started about three weeks ago. They have no supplemental light and are all at least four years old. What cool animals

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