Cold weather swimming

[Quacks and Waddles]

Hi. I have 6 Call ducks and I normally keep their kiddie pools open all winter.
I remove the ice every morning so that they can swim and clean feathers.
However, the past week has been extremely cold….0 to 5 degrees and now there’s a windchill factor today.
Should I keep them inside their barn inspite of their protests?
Thanks!

 

[Jenbirdee]

Hi. I have 6 Call ducks and I normally keep their kiddie pools open all winter.
I remove the ice every morning so that they can swim and clean feathers.
However, the past week has been extremely cold….0 to 5 degrees and now there’s a windchill factor today.
Should I keep them inside their barn inspite of their protests?
Thanks!

At that temperature, I would. It was zero here this morning and the wind is kicking up. Mine are staying in.
I use kiddy pools for three seasons, but. In winter, I switched to the cement mixing tubs. They’re sturdier , easier to dump out. But if it’s not going to get up to at least high 20s on a particular day, I won’t fill them at all. There’s way too much splashing and water freezing all around.

 

[Quacks and Waddles]

At that temperature, I would. It was zero here this morning and the wind is kicking up. Mine are staying in.
I use kiddy pools for three seasons, but. In winter, I switched to the cement mixing tubs. They’re sturdier , easier to dump out. But if it’s not going to get up to at least high 20s on a particular day, I won’t fill them at all. There’s way too much splashing and water freezing all around.

Thank you. I have those small black cement tubs also. Unfortunately their kiddie pools are frozen to the ground, so I can’t fit the small “hot tubs, as we call them, inside their outdoor pens. I may just go out and splurge on some water heaters. They have heated water bowls inside their barns.