Any good idea for keeping the ducks water from freezing in the winter but also so they don't make t

[thoeffel1994]

Any good idea for keeping the ducks water from freezing in the winter but also so they don't make the water dirty? Right now I am just using a bucket that I fill with water but it always is dirty within 10minutes. WOuld a waterer like this get dirty just as bad as using a bucket? https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/harris-farm-5-gallon-top-fill-waterer or https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/5-gallon-double-wall-fount

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any good idea for keeping the ducks water from freezing in the winter but also so they don't make the water dirty? Right now I am just using a bucket that I fill with water but it always is dirty within 10minutes. WOuld a waterer like this get dirty just as bad as using a bucket? https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/harris-farm-5-gallon-top-fill-waterer or https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/5-gallon-double-wall-fount

The second one looks like it has a deep pan which is important ducks need to be able to wash out their nares. I'd go for a heated bucket they have them at TSC they work on a thermostat and come on at 35* so energy saving. Ducks really need to be able to dunk their whole heads in their water er what ever it maybe but as far as keeping them clean I don't think any one has a remedy for that. I clean my buckets every evening for the next day I do this every day.

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Any good idea for keeping the ducks water from freezing in the winter but also so they don't make the water dirty? Right now I am just using a bucket that I fill with water but it always is dirty within 10minutes. WOuld a waterer like this get dirty just as bad as using a bucket? https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/harris-farm-5-gallon-top-fill-waterer or https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/5-gallon-double-wall-fount

you need to make sure to clean the buckets everyday, but having clear water all day is impossible with ducks. They totally need enough space to dunk their heads in...the ducks will get any water source dirty. They way ducks are is they eat something, then swish it around in the water, putting all kind's of mud and food into the water.

 

[Miss Lydia]

you need to make sure to clean the buckets everyday, but having clear water all day is impossible with ducks. They totally need enough space to dunk their heads in...the ducks will get any water source dirty. They way ducks are is they eat something, then swish it around in the water, putting all kind's of mud and food into the water.

rocks and sticks too. lol

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

rocks and sticks too. lol

lol
no doubt

 

[veronicasmom]

This will keep the water from freezing. Put a narrow notched board across the top so they don't swim in it. It is deep enough for them to wash their faces, but not climb in. Working great for us for many years. And we put ours in a larger rubber feed dish to catch the drips.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Farm-Innovators-Heated-Pet-Bowl-1-Gallon-Blue-Small-Animals/14660250

 

[Miss Lydia]

This will keep the water from freezing. Put a narrow notched board across the top so they don't swim in it. It is deep enough for them to wash their faces, but not climb in. Working great for us for many years. And we put ours in a larger rubber feed dish to catch the drips.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Farm-Innovators-Heated-Pet-Bowl-1-Gallon-Blue-Small-Animals/14660250

Last winter RURU on the goose thread had a heated bowl sitting in another bowl and you know how messy water fowl are with splashing water out well the heated bowl ended up sitting in water shorted out and electrocuted her goose. Very sad.

 

[Smurfbrew]

Last winter RURU on the goose thread had a heated bowl sitting in another bowl and you know how messy water fowl are with splashing water out well the heated bowl ended up sitting in water shorted out and electrocuted her goose. Very sad.

Oh, how awful! I was contemplating doing that very thing with my electric bucket, since I was getting tired of scrapping up all of the frozen wood chips around it. Now I most definitely won't! Does anyone have any suggestions for other ways to prevent ice build-up around heated dishes?

 

[Carisblues]

Last winter I built a wire platform (1"x1" wire) large enough to put the heated water bucket on and also for the ducks to come drink around it (approx. 2'x2'). Then I took a lid from a plastic food grade bucket from the grocery store bakery and cut a hole in the center and latched it to the top of the heated bucket (as it did not fit perfectly). My Ancona ducks had a bad habit of trying to climb into the bucket and bathe, so the lid helped with this problem. It was big enough for them to put their whole head and neck down into, but not big enough to climb into (about 4"diameter). The platform allowed the water to drain away and also keep the element on the bottom of the bucket from getting wet. Keeping the area around the bucket dry helped keep the water cleaner longer, as they could not dabble near the water source, but it still got dirty. That's ducks for ya!
This year I only have Welsh Harlequins, who do NOT try to swim in their bucket, so there is no lid. But, I also have the bucket on a floor of smooth rocks so that they cannot make a mud puddle. However, the water still gets dirty. Ducks are constantly cleaning out their nostrils in the water, and dirt, grass, food, etc., will end up in the bucket. Fresh water daily is necessary.

 

[veronicasmom]

FWIW, with the notched board on the top, they don't splash out much water at all. I have a choice to make, heater water dishes or frozen water, kind of have to use the heated dishes. It was 6 degrees yesterday morning when I went outside.