Ducks - Pool Time in the Winter

[21hens-incharge]

It will usually hit -30 or so a couple times a year but I have a picture from 10 yrs ago of -45. I dont let the ducks outside until its close to -5 so a lot of mornings i have to slip some food and water into their house and they dont get much outside time on days like those. As long as temps are 5 above i give em a pool and they get 3 or 4 hours use out of it before i have to bring it in. Our property slopes away so ice buildup isnt a problem but by the end of winter i do have to raise the fence in their run area where i dont shovel.

Is that Celsius or Fahrenheit?

 

[threebrookscorner]

Fahrenheit, although at -40 they are both the same.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Fahrenheit, although at -40 they are both the same.

Yes....killer cold at -40!

 

[JNC]

My hose freezing when it’s below 32F and I end up having to detach the hose and fill it up by bucket. When it’s around 20F can’t even turn on the water because the handle freezes. So I end up having to run in and out on my house filling up their tubs. How do you keep your hose from freezing?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Frozen hose here means no pool time.

About the only way to keep the hose from freezing would be to bring it into the heated house.

 

[Alaskan]

We stop using the outdoor faucets when it gets cold.

All water is hauled in large 5 or 6 gallon water jugs, filled from the inside kitchen sink faucet. The kitchen sink has a spray faucet, which can easily be extended to reach to the top of the water jug.

Our 6 gallon ones look like these:

 

[Gkundern]

My hose freezing when it’s below 32F and I end up having to detach the hose and fill it up by bucket. When it’s around 20F can’t even turn on the water because the handle freezes. So I end up having to run in and out on my house filling up their tubs. How do you keep your hose from freezing?

Oof! You have to detach your hose when you're done or you'll burst your pipes in the house!

I have those shrinking hoses. Once a week I empty the pool with a sump pump. Then I attach the hoses and fill the pool. Let them drain, detach them, and put them in the garage for the next week.

 

[threebrookscorner]

Our duck house and winter run are 8ft right outside the cellar door so its easy to run the hose out and bring their little pool in every day, however no pool today. Its -4F here this morning and wind chill is -20s with a high of 5 or 6 for a couple hours this afternoon so its not worth the bother although when i let them out at 7 they were looking for it. Im sure 45 degree water would feel like a sauna to them this morning but no, not with the wind. I spread some straw and woodchips around the front of their house where the food and water jugs are ( i have to refill water by lunchtime) 4 ducks are still hanging around outside but the others went back inside after a half hour of eating. drinking and complaining...