how long to keep the pool going ??

[Soon2BChixMom]

Since the fall weather has approached, my muscovies aren't as interested in their pool. They will have it available until water starts freezing and then I'm putting the pool away. I'm not messing with a frozen ice rink during the winter.
My advice, get muscovies, they aren't as water focused as other duck breeds.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mine are very happy to bathe in their water buckets in winter lol I have to cover half of their heated buckets they think they are their mini hot tubs.

 

[three brooks corner]

I think having straw available on the ground is the most important thing to help prevent frostbite on their feet when outside. Our ducks will usually stay out til dark even in cold weather unless i put them in, of course they are in and out all day long.

 

[Kessel23]

I keep the pool up as long as I keep the outside water on, so until it starts to frost and get below freezing out. If I could keep it out all winter I would. I do fill up a little metal dog bowl for them to bathe in one at a time every few weeks just to help them stay clean. I have seen the Muscovies take baths when it was 15* F outside, then they just go inside the coop and sit around waiting to dry. I have never had a duck die from the cold or even get frostbite, they are some of the most cold hardy birds in the world. I never bring out the dog bowl when it is below 0 though.

I have this wire cage around my water bowl for the ducks so they do not swim in extreme weather, it is just 2x4 inch wire that is cut to be 4x4 inch. Last year it got to -10*F during the day time and my muscovy drake knocked over the wire cage and took a bath, his feathers froze in place and we had to bring him inside to dry off. He did not even seem to be bothered by being frozen though... He was just walking around and wagging his tail and bobbing his head, that's pretty insane for a bird who originated in the tropical forests of South America. We still brought him in of course, his feathers were frozen in time and I do not think he would be bobbing his head and wagging his tail for long if we left him out.

 

[PirateGirl]

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???

They will take care of themselves. Honestly. They are really cold hardy. The only thing that could get frostbite is a foot and they will lay on their bellies and tuck their feet up in their feathers to keep them warm. Unless you have a special needs duck, they should be totally fine.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy drake has had frost bite on his knob on his face. and one of his girls got it too.

 

[chickens really]

My Calls swimming on a decent winter day.

 

[Helloworld]

The best thing to keep your baby pools warm is bird bath heaters. If you use a horse trough heater it becomes to hot.

Muscovies are very hardy with waterproof feathers. When temp goes below 20 we take pool away and they get a heated dog waterer and a dog heating pad to warm feet and beaks somewhere inside.

 

[PirateGirl]

My Muscovy drake has had frost bite on his knob on his face. and one of his girls got it too.

Oh no! Do you think mallard derived ducks are prone to frostbite on the face too? They sure do a lot of head dunking in icy water.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Probably not since they don't have flesh like Muscovy's