Ducks in winter

[cigarmitch]

I'm just up the mountain in SW Virginia, have a mating pair of Welsh Harlequin ducks and they re wintering just fine without heat in their 4x4x4 coop. I do have a waterer heater that I made from cookie tins that has kept the ice out of the drinking water, but other than that no means of heating. They eat like truckers at a free buffet right now, but they are winterizing themselves.

 

[Goat Lover 3]

Thanks everyone! This is my very first time having ducks in the winter and my second time having goats in the winter. I have one more question. Today, I need to go to town and I will be gone all day. I heard that chickens need water during the day to keep them warm? I can't give my ducks water while I'm gone, because it will freeze! Should they have water or is it ok for them to be without water for a while. They have had water all morning though.

 

[Amiga]

I prefer to give my ducks drinking water at all times especially in the cold.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And it can be detrimental to their health to give them feed without water.

 

[lizp]

Next time you go onto town you should try to find a store that had the water bowl that you plug in with the heater. So water doesn't freeze

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Next time you go onto town you should try to find a store that had the water bowl that you plug in with the heater. So water doesn't freeze

Personally I don't feel a bowl is appropriate for ducks. A bucket covered 50% is a much better option. 2.5gal should be sufficient, altho I have a 5gal. Having liquid water available to drink is required and absolutely necessary for keeping ducks.

 

[cigarmitch]

Personally I don't feel a bowl is appropriate for ducks. A bucket covered 50% is a much better option. 2.5gal should be sufficient, altho I have a 5gal. Having liquid water available to drink is required and absolutely necessary for keeping ducks.

Is your suggestion because it will be deep enough for the ducks to dunk their head full in to moisturize their eyes?

I use a giant stainless steel dog bowl for my pair of ducks and thy have no troubles. It is deep enough to get their heads into and it holds enough clean water for the two of them all day. It is also atop a tin that has a 40 watt light bulb in it that functions as a heater. That also elevates it so that don't want to be IN the water but use it as they need it.

 

[Going Quackers]

Personally I don't feel a bowl is appropriate for ducks. A bucket covered 50% is a much better option. 2.5gal should be sufficient, altho I have a 5gal. Having liquid water available to drink is required and absolutely necessary for keeping ducks.

Agreed.

Is your suggestion because it will be deep enough for the ducks to dunk their head full in to moisturize their eyes?

I use a giant stainless steel dog bowl for my pair of ducks and thy have no troubles. It is deep enough to get their heads into and it holds enough clean water for the two of them all day. It is also atop a tin that has a 40 watt light bulb in it that functions as a heater. That also elevates it so that don't want to be IN the water but use it as they need it.

But with only a pair, you likely can keep the water under control.. i have a larger flock of 19 they would ruin, drain and downright destroy the place with a bowl lol

I don;t dislike the heated bowls, i use one with my standard chickens BUT chickens are delicate water drinkers.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is your suggestion because it will be deep enough for the ducks to dunk their head full in to moisturize their eyes?

I use a giant stainless steel dog bowl for my pair of ducks and thy have no troubles. It is deep enough to get their heads into and it holds enough clean water for the two of them all day. It is also atop a tin that has a 40 watt light bulb in it that functions as a heater. That also elevates it so that don't want to be IN the water but use it as they need it.

They must be some well behaved ducks mine would have that bowl knocked over in no time. especially the geese. I have to cover half of my heated buckets with a piece of wood to keep them from climbing in and bathing. I like the heater idea though and may go it that when my buckets finally die.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Is your suggestion because it will be deep enough for the ducks to dunk their head full in to moisturize their eyes? 

I use a giant stainless steel dog bowl for my pair of ducks and thy have no troubles. It is deep enough to get their heads into and it holds enough clean water for the two of them all day. It is also atop a tin that has a 40 watt light bulb in it that functions as a heater. That also elevates it so that don't want to be IN the water but use it as they need it. 

Yes. That and my ducks tend to go thru at least 3 gallons water per day.

I'm glad you found a setup that works well for your flock. Where are you located? I ask bcz there are several folks in my state thread using a waterer like you've described.