Colddddddddddddd.

[Miss Lydia]

It is funny the first thing my ducks and geese do when I let them out in the morning is take a bath it was 13 * out and I just cleaned and filled there tub [ rubber feed tub] . I thought how many ducks can fit in this tub. HA about 4 and 2 geese had to laugh. they can't be to cold. I put hay or straw down so they are off the ground a little. I have a hoop coop with a tarp over it. but I need a bigger and heavier tarp . I have 2 dog houses but they use it to lay eggs. I want the spring.

I am sure my geese would be in the pool if I had one set up not too sure about my Scovey's they have a little more sense I think lol. You geese will share a tub with your ducks?

 

[Charlye]

I understand the snow thing. I awoke on Dec 28 to 12" of snow and drifts of 3' or more. Now on 1-11-16, I still have a few piles left. My ducks/geese are free range and come in to the coop at twilight. I keep kiddie pools with water 24/7, and they swim, dip, splash, and drink all day, no matter how cold or how much ice is floating in it. Breaking ice is a daily chore :^) burrrr. The ducks more than the geese. They have separate areas, though sometimes visit other enclosures (fly over). However, with the quick turn of weather, the ducks have stopped laying. I was getting 8 - 12 a day from 21 hens, but since the big snow, I regularly get 1 egg a day. However the Orpingtons have stepped up and give from 6 to 12 a day, (18 hens) I have no doubt they will return to their prior level in the spring..... that is if it's warmer than this winter! This is my first year for feathered bipeds in 30 years. Aren't they great!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I understand the snow thing. I awoke on Dec 28 to 12" of snow and drifts of 3' or more. Now on 1-11-16, I still have a few piles left. My ducks/geese are free range and come in to the coop at twilight. I keep kiddie pools with water 24/7, and they swim, dip, splash, and drink all day, no matter how cold or how much ice is floating in it. Breaking ice is a daily chore :^) burrrr. The ducks more than the geese. They have separate areas, though sometimes visit other enclosures (fly over). However, with the quick turn of weather, the ducks have stopped laying. I was getting 8 - 12 a day from 21 hens, but since the big snow, I regularly get 1 egg a day. However the Orpingtons have stepped up and give from 6 to 12 a day, (18 hens) I have no doubt they will return to their prior level in the spring..... that is if it's warmer than this winter! This is my first year for feathered bipeds in 30 years. Aren't they great!

@Charlye Welcome to BYC!!

 

[donkeydew2farms]

MissLydia I have two tubs one in the duck pen 1 in the geese pen but 2 geese barely fit in there tub. The tubs are for drinking not full bathing.it was warmer last night less ice breaking my arm is sore. oh welcome Charlye.

 

[Charlye]

Thank you Chillin' With My Peeps. I don't know if they are available yet, but WalMart has the hard plastic kiddie pools for $8.00 to $16.00 I think. I buy them by the half dozen when they have them. Because they are so portable, they also don't have the sturdiest of bottoms, and get holes in them. Usually if you set them on rocky soil, or bend them too sharply in the winter. I have not had any "crater" under use because of anything the ducks, geese, or turkeys have done to them. Strong sides are low enough for the fowl to get in and out. Find them outside in the plant section. If they are getting spring things in, they may already have some. The larger ones are hard to get in a vehicle unless you have a van. Bring weights and tie downs if you have an open pick up bed.
You still have to break ice every morning, but they love the icy water just as well. Good luck with your project!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you Chillin' With My Peeps. I don't know if they are available yet, but WalMart has the hard plastic kiddie pools for $8.00 to $16.00 I think. I buy them by the half dozen when they have them. Because they are so portable, they also don't have the sturdiest of bottoms, and get holes in them. Usually if you set them on rocky soil, or bend them too sharply in the winter. I have not had any "crater" under use because of anything the ducks, geese, or turkeys have done to them. Strong sides are low enough for the fowl to get in and out. Find them outside in the plant section. If they are getting spring things in, they may already have some. The larger ones are hard to get in a vehicle unless you have a van. Bring weights and tie downs if you have an open pick up bed.
You still have to break ice every morning, but they love the icy water just as well. Good luck with your project!

The ones i bought at Walmart I had to double them to make them sturdy. But it worked.

 

[Miss Lydia]

MissLydia I have two tubs one in the duck pen 1 in the geese pen but 2 geese barely fit in there tub. The tubs are for drinking not full bathing.it was warmer last night less ice breaking my arm is sore. oh welcome Charlye.

Oh I know donkey I have to add pieces of wood to the top of the heated buckets to keep my ducks from using them as their personal hot tubs. My geese just lay down in front of the buckets and splash all the water out bathing. Poor things don't get a pool when our spring freezes.

I bet that is funny to see 2 geese trying to get in a water tub.

 

[Gone-Quackers]

My ducks aren't so lucky. They just have a 3 gal. heated water bucket although I do suspect they are swimming in it from the feathers floating in the water. Too much subzero weather for anything other than a heated bucket and even that has to have the ice broken off the top every once a while. I'm thinking about buying them a small stocktank with submersible heater next winter.

 

[Charlye]

The problem I had with stock tanks was I couldn't find one less than 2' high. My ducks couldn't seem to grasp that they had to go up to get to the water. I built a ramp and even steps out of bricks and paving stones, but they wouldn't use them. The only way they would swim was if they could see the water and easily get in and out. Sinking the tank to near ground level is the only way they would have used it. Hopefully you can find a shorter one or maybe your ducks are smarter than mine. lol

 

[Gone-Quackers]

My ducks heated water bucket is rather tall. So I broke the middle out of a pallet and put the bucket in the center of it giving them easier access. The ducks just have to climb onto the pallet. They have no issue with this. Also in order to get into their duckhouse they have to go up some steps made of paving stones. No issues with this either.
Although my ducks don't get on my deck a friend of mine has ducks that climb up onto their deck to beg for food.