how long to keep the pool going ??

[BantyChooks]

It still getting up to 80 degrees here. Ducks will be swimming for a good while longer.

Stinks to be you. It's jacket weather here. My definition, anyway; it'd be coat weather by yours.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

I have diff. Size pools but during the winter I have a small baby pool I keep drives and use those shallow black horse feeding tubs for drinking...if I can get water in it they get to swim

 

[LilyLoo]

Nah, my pool's too big. It'd crack if I tried that. Not sure how many gallons it is, but it's big enough I have to bail it out rather than tipping it.

Just a note on cleaning pond: Our duck pond came with a sub pump, it has a hose that runs out to our trees. Sure makes cleaning so much faster and easier on the back then bailing out. Takes longer to fill then empty. It's the way to go if you can

 

[thumper650]

Keep it going as long as possible and your ducks will be super happy! I do the pool all winter, but switch to a smaller one and less frequent refills. I try to keep it to days that get above freezing.

I do this too. I live in the South, well south of @WickedChicksNH , in MA where it's about 1 degree warmer.
I hate the cold, but my duckies love it. I switch to a small pool, a cement mixing thingy that I got at lowes. It's ok for it to freeze and accomodates one or 2 cramped ducks at a time.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Thank you for making this topic as I was wondering the same thing! I’ve already purchased a smaller “winter pool” for those rare decent New England winter days and have been wondering when to switch over. Their summer pool is on its last legs (cracked with multiple parched holes, I have to dump and clean it in place) so it will be tossed when I switch over and I won’t be able to get a new summer pool until the big thaw next spring.

 

[thumper650]

Just a thought, it's a good time to shop for that new summer pool. Around here Kmart and Ocean State Job Lot have lots of summer junk on sale.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I usually keep the pool going until it's so cold in the mornings the pool is frozen solid, if just light freeze on top my geese take care of that in no time. Once pool is put away they get a cement mixing tub for bathing and of course they use their buckets.

 

[three brooks corner]

We live in northern maine, our pekins and anconas are let out every day temps hit 5 degrees F. We have a nice setup with a brook 150ft behind house, they free range til brook starts freezing then get a big run until spring. Ducks house is old ice fishing shack about 8 ft out from cellar door and i shovel about a 15 x 20 area of the run when snow gets deep. For a day pool we have used an old turtle sandbox for years, its heavy duty and works well for our 5 ducks. I have a garden hose coming off the wood boiler and i fill the pool with lukewarm water, some fruit and veggie scraps from the store and the ducks get at least 3-4 hours outside time. We do keep some straw in the run and free access to the shack. The ducks will keep the water open quite awhile before it freezes over then i dump it out and bring the pool into cellar for the night. Nice icy mess but it slopes away from houses and i shovel dirt and bark from wood storage room onto icy spots. We (and the ducks) are fortunate to have this setup, i know a lot of people may think this is too cold but they love it and have had no frostbite issues.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The only thing would be if they stayed in the pool over night and it froze around them. A member once rescued a duck that slept in his water dish over night and it froze he lost his foot to frost bite.

Sounds like you have a good set up going.

 

[CrystaBub]

The only thing would be if they stayed in the pool over night and it froze around them. A member once rescued a duck that slept in his water dish over night and it froze he lost his foot to frost bite.

Sounds like you have a good set up going.

So is the key to winter swimming to make sure they go somewhere dry after swimming so they don't get frostbite? If I make sure they go directly from pond to house, then they will be able to dry off and not have any issues, right???